Winext combines Acconeer’s A1 radar sensor with geomagnetic sensor for improved accuracy in surface-mounted parking device
On their surface-mounted parking sensor, Winext choose to combine Acconeer’s A1 radar sensor with a geomagnetic sensor to improve the accuracy of the whole parking space detection module. This way, it provides accurate detection of the occupied and idle status and transfers the information as digital signals to relevant smart parking systems and management platform.
When the single geomagnetic sensor scheme detects the adjacent parking space or encounters the surrounding vibration, the accuracy will decrease, and a need to complement it with an additional sensor was identified. Since the PCR sensor is not affected by temperature, light, vibration and so on it perfectly solves this problem.
A1 radar sensor chosen after thorough review of alternative technologies
When selecting the auxiliary sensor of the geomagnetic sensor, the A1 radar sensor was compared with alternative technologies including 24G radar, ultrasonic wave sensor and infrared sensor. Winext found that Acconeers pulsed coherent radar technology has the advantages of small size, low power consumption, strong anti-interference ability and easy integration, as well as compliance with laws and regulations which are also important factors for the company.
The width of ISM frequency band allocated to 24GHZ frequency band is 250MHz, which makes the range resolution of radar sensor too large, meaning that the minimum measurement distance is 0.6m, and the blind area is too large for Winext’s use case. Therefore, the 24G radar conforming to the ISM standard frequency band cannot be applied to accurately measure vehicles on the surface-mounted parking detector, unless the 24GHz radar manufacturer privately expands the bandwidth and reduces the blind area.
In addition, vehicle detectors need to work for more than 5 years. At present, all 24GHZ radar sensors adopt MMIC+ antenna design. The antenna is exposed, which is easy to oxidize and corrode for a long time, affecting the performance. Acconeer’s unique PCR sensor uses Antenna-in-Package technology, which is another attractive advantage.
Chinese distributor BEYD introduced the A1 radar sensor
It all started when BEYD contacted Winext and introduced the radar’s functions, properties and application to their R&D engineers. Winext were very interested in the PCR technology and started a study. The research progress of the project could be accelerated thanks to the tools and APIs provided by Acconeer.
“It is a great pleasure to cooperate with Acconeer and BEYD for providing professional technical support and excellent pre-sale and after-sales service. At present, our cumulative shipments of MMW geomagnetic parking space detector have exceeded 50 000, and we have also reached cooperation with Tencent and become the designated supplier of Tencent Cloud Internet of Things products”
Ge Yuanling
Director of Supply Chain at Winext
Thanks to the good results, Winext already plans to use the A1 radar sensor in more products in the future, such as smart trash cans and liquid level meters.
About
Winext Technology is an Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) “end-to-end” one-stop solution provider. Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) combines Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies with the Internet of things (IoT) infrastructure for more efficient IoT operations, improved human-machine interactions and enhanced data management and analytics.
Focusing on R&D for IoT, Winext can offer whole stack IoT products and system solutions. Winext provide comprehensive IoT solution and service for Smart city, smart parking, smart energy, smart environment, smart agriculture, smart animal farming, asset tracking, IoT finance and more.
Winex’s products and services are LoRa gateways, transceiver modules, end devices including all kinds of sensors like geomagnetic parking sensor, smoke detector, temperature humidity sensor, lamp controller, door/window sensor, PIR motion sensor, gas monitor, water leakage detector, water level monitor, water pressure transmitter, LoRa GPS tracker, LoRa tester and so on, all those are LoRaWAN compliant and with EU, US, Asia frequency, and have been connected into famous LoRa network platform like Actility, Objenious, Proximus, The Things network, and more.