Radar in assistance systems: The correct distance

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Daimler purposely uses radar to monitor the area around the vehicle in many of its assistance systems, since radar offers a number of advantages over other types of sensor. For instance, the distance to a vehicle in front and the relative speed can be measured separately and directly. Both measurements are compared continuously and checked for their plausibility, thus lessening the likelihood of faults and ensuring better controllability. What's more, radar can be used in almost all weather conditions and offers the option of concealing the sensors in the vehicle.

Within a model series, the radar-based systems in the Daimler passenger cars use the same sensors. Here the short-range radar sensors have a particular wide angle. They have a range of around 30 metres and operate at a frequency of 24 gigahertz. In the new E-Class and 2009 S-Class, the DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control system uses a newly developed sensor for the long-range radar with a frequency of 77 gigahertz. The extended range is 200 metres. In addition, the sensor system now also has medium-range detection capability, allowing monitoring of the area up to around 60 metres ahead of the car.