10033842A 120GHz Miniaturised Radar SensorClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThe global smart agriculture market is predicted to grow to $22,5 Billion by 2026, with the increasing requirement for automation creating a need for improved ranging sensors that are small, lightweight, and able to precisely detect distance and locate objects. Applications range from precise tank level monitors, to enabling farming vehicles to detect crop rows, to regulating height of spraying and tilling tools over the ground, and with beam steer, to image terrain and robustly detect fruit for automated picking. Adjacent applications include altimeters and object detection radar for drones, discrete non-contact sensing for life signs detection (movement, heartbeat, and respiration), gesture recognition, elderly care assistance (incident detection), in traffic monitoring and crowd safety. The objective of the project is to develop a highly innovative miniaturised 120GHz radar sensor module including a radar MMIC, signal processor and an integrated antenna. The sensor will provide for long range and high-resolution sensing, using less power compared to the existing lower frequency solutions. Recent improvements in III-V foundry process technology and availability of mm-wave measurement systems mean that realising a novel and high-performance integrated radar front end solution at the emerging 120GHz band is now feasible. The project is breaking new ground in several aspects due to the choice of the cutting-edge frequency, in the high-performance single chip radar front end, chip scale packaging process, and antenna in package. The project brings together the complementary skillsets of the main partners; front end mm-wave design experience of MMIC-Lab who have recently received an incubator award from the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the semiconductor packaging capability, antenna design experience and market knowledge of MEDs to complete the development. It will also establish the know-how and capability to develop a wider range of innovative integrated module products operating at the emerging mm-wave bands to 120GHz and beyond. The project will bring the 120GHz sensor product to functional engineering prototype stage with suitable characterisation and qualification data. This will enable the subsequent release to market following on from the project.