Continental Reaches 200 Million Radar Milestone for Greater Safety and the Mobility of Tomorrow

The radar technology used in vehicles has undergone a complete transformation over the last few years. Continental played a major role in the development of the world’s first radar system for cars: in 1999, Daimler offered an adaptive cruise control feature in its S-Class model. This system was the first to work with a long-range radar with a range of 150 meters, which was remarkable at the time. The system was limited and – compared with today’s solutions – very large and heavy. It consisted of two components: a radar head that was installed behind the radiator grille and a control unit. The two components weighed a total of 1.3 kilograms and were roughly the size of a shoebox. However, even back then, both Mercedes and Continental favored this sophisticated technology. Unlike infrared sensors, for example, radar sensors function independently of light and visibility conditions – including in fog and darkness.

Today’s radar systems no longer have much in common with the first generation. “Smart radar sensors, for example, are already equipped with powerful microchips, which directly process the signals received from the sensor and – usually in combination with data from other sensor systems such as cameras – make it available in real time,” explains Norbert Hammerschmidt, head of Components Business in the Autonomous Mobility business area. Continental leads the way in the development of highly efficient radar systems, which today cost only a fraction of the first pioneering system and require very little space – the size of two matchboxes. The latest radar sensors are used either for short-range functions, such as in parking assistance systems or lane departure warning systems on the highway, or for traditional long-range operation with ranges of up to 300 meters. In addition, modern systems are so precise that they can even clearly identify objects at great distances in situations that are unclear to the human eye. For instance, when changing lanes on a highway, they can detect a motorbike approaching from behind with a significant speed difference or partially hidden pedestrians in urban traffic situations.