Fourth-generation radar sensor. Click to enlarge.

HELLA’s latest generation radar system offers an increased level of integration in a 25% smaller package and with improved measuring capacity. Costs for the new unit also were dropped without limiting the number of assistance applications offered, including blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assistance, rear pre-crash alert, a rear cross-traffic alert and vehicle exit assistant.

With radar-based driver-assistance systems, many accidents can be avoided. But in order to do this, they need to be more widely implemented, not only in premium segments but also in high-volume segments. By focusing on cost reduction and the development of additional applications, we were able to make this technology attractive for high-volume segments.

—Dr. Dietmar Stapel, head of HELLA’s driver assistance systems

With more than nine million sensors produced for use in 125 models from 11 different car manufacturers, HELLA has established itself as a major supplier of 24GHz sensor solutions in the automotive market.

We are also looking at 77GHz technology. Despite higher costs and higher sensitivity, 77GHz provides much better distance resolution with a bandwith that is five times greater than 24GHz systems.

—Dr. Stapel