NXP Semiconductors N.V. has introduced its latest S32R47 imaging radar processors, built on advanced 16nm FinFET technology. This third-generation solution significantly enhances performance—delivering up to double the processing power compared to its predecessor—while also improving power efficiency and reducing system costs. When integrated with NXP’s mmWave radar transceivers, power management, and in-vehicle networking solutions, the S32R47 family meets ISO 26262 ASIL B(D) functional safety standards and supports the transition to more advanced autonomous driving capabilities.
According to Yole Intelligence’s Status of the Radar Industry 2024 report, by 2029, around 40% of new vehicles will be equipped with Level 2+ (L2+), Level 3 (L3), or even Level 4 (L4) autonomous driving systems. To meet the demands of this rapidly evolving market, automakers and Tier 1 suppliers must significantly enhance radar system performance—critical for enabling advanced features such as piloted driving and fully autonomous parking.
“The S32R47 can efficiently process three times, or more, antenna channels in real time than today’s production solutions. It enables improved imaging radar resolution, sensitivity and dynamic range – required by demanding autonomous driving use cases – while still meeting the stringent power and system cost targets set by OEMs for volume production”, said Meindert van den Beld, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Radar & ADAS.
Imaging radar leverages richer point cloud data for more detailed modeling of the environment. This is a key enabler for AI based perception systems which allow for assisted and autonomous driving in the most challenging environmental conditions, such as complex urban scenarios.
The S32R47 integrates a high-performance multi-core radar processing system, allowing denser point cloud output and enhanced algorithms that enable next- generation ADAS systems. This results in better separability of objects, improved detection reliability and more accurate classification of objects such as vulnerable road users or lost cargo.
NXP’s 3rd generation imaging radar solutions
- Built on know-how and the proven technology of two previous generations, the new solution delivers up to 2x processing performance in the radar MPU in a 38% smaller IC footprint. It also includes AI/ML support for features like enhanced Direction of Arrival (DoA) processing and object classification.
- NXP’s next generation imaging radar solutions enable new imaging radars with optimized bill of material and increased scalability in terms of antenna channels and processing capability
- NXP’s solution achieves comparable or better performance with up to 89% less antenna channels than alternative solutions, solving integration challenges with reduced system cost, size and power consumption
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