Generating radar signals can be challenging for any test signal generator. Radar technology, which was once primarily used for military applications, is becoming a standard feature in the collision-avoidance systems of an increasing number of commercial vehicles. Testing these systems requires a signal source capable of combinations of carrier frequency, modulation bandwidth, and tightly controlled pulses that can be difficult to produce.
The need to emulate multiple-antenna radar systems based on phased-array antennas—or, more recently, multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) antenna architectures—makes it necessary for a radar test signal source to generate multiple signals with tightly controlled timing and phase alignments.
Radar signals have traditionally been produced by means of a baseband signal generator and an RF/microwave modulator. However, with the emergence of high-speed, high-frequency arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs) based on high-speed digital-to-analog converters (DACs), it is now possible to directly generate radar signals with carrier frequencies to 20 GHz (beyond Ku-band frequencies). In contrast to the baseband/modulator approach, the use of an AWG delivers higher signal quality, greater repeatability, and much better cost-effectiveness than traditional radar signal generation options.