IWR1443BOOST: How to configure TI radar sensor to detect metal at up to 40 meters?

Matthew Thiess

Part Number: IWR1443BOOST
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: DCA1000EVM

Hello,

I have recently configured and started experimenting with the IWR1443BOOST & DCA1000EVM through mmWave Studio. I've been doing a few basic tests with a stationary object, a single moving person, and 2 people (1 normal, and 1 with metal), just to get a feel for using the sensor.

The last test I mentioned is closest to my use case; I want to use this radar sensor to try to differentiate between metal and nonmetal at a range of up to 40 meters. What parameters should I be using in SensorConfig for profile, chirp, and frame for this range & use case (and are there any other settings I should adjust from the defaults)? Is there a place in the mmWave post processing utility I could go to quickly evaluate the intensity of the reflections received; how would you go about classifying materials between metal and nonmetal? I know to go much further, I would probably need to load my own application, but I wanted to try to do some initial evaluation of the concept before going through that.

Thank you!

over 3 years ago

0 Vaibhav Mahimkar over 3 years ago

TI__Mastermind 23725 points

Hello

Seems like you are talking about identification between different type of materials as opposed to detection (absence or presence).

Understanding how various materials respond to mmWave frequencies and how to use that to do the subtle distinction between materials is a topic of research for implementation side. Based on the constraints of the application you may be able to derive different techniques that suit the application needs.

Intensity of reflection is a good measure we have taken a stab to implementation based on this : mmWave Water vs. Ground Classification Lab | TI.com Video

Please see the available information from device's point cloud or you can use the RAW data from the RF sensor side to get a better understanding of various attributes of data.

point Cloud: Out Of Box Demo see Output from mmWave Demo

Raw RF sensor data : DCA1000 Training Video,

Industrial mmWave Radar Sensors | Embedded Development | TI.com See : "Modify on-chip radar configurations and algorithms"

mmwave Radar Device ADC Raw Data Capture (Rev. B)

Configuring RF parameters of the device : Programming Chirp Parameters in TI Radar Devices (Rev. A) these can be set via OOB demo config or via mmWave studio.

We recommend using the RAW data approach to understand the properties of reflection. Research (public) material response to understand properties that can be leveraged for distinction.

Thank you,

Vaibhav

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IWR1443BOOST: How to configure TI radar sensor to detect metal at up to 40 meters?