Configurable mmWave Radar Module
Plextek’s PLX-T60 platform allows you to accelerate product development.
Our PLX-T60 mmWave technology platform is built on the Texas Instruments IWR6843 single-chip 60 – 64 GHz mmWave radar chipset with a novel substrate integrated waveguide antenna designed to deliver enhanced sensing performance, officially recognized by TI as a third-party tool. The antenna design enables the full bandwidth of the chip to be realised, providing greater range resolution and enabling more devices to operate concurrently without mutual interference compared to other designs. Different antenna designs generate different beam patterns to suit a range of applications with optimal performance.
The PLX-T60 platform can output detections, point-cloud data, range-Doppler maps and raw baseband signals. It is also compatible with TI’s mmWave studio.
Partnering with you
The PLX-T60 platform can be integrated into your product through:
Integrating one of our existing designs as an OEM module within your product
or
Using an existing PLX-T60 platform as a base, and tasking Plextek to:
- Design a customized antenna solution to provide the required beam coverage and gain
- Modify electronic circuitry to provide desired
The mmWave radar technology can be customised for your specific application
- Build on our technology – giving you a head start on the competition
- Benefit from our long history and deep experience to accelerate your project
- Access a large team of exceptional engineers in an instant
Deploy sophisticated radar processing algorithms at the edge, reducing system SWaP and data backhaul requirements.
Real-world challenge
Adaptive mmWave radar for drone terrain navigation
When a client wanted to use mmWave radar as a smaller, lightweight, low-power, cost-effective option for terrain referenced navigation using a small radar mounted on a drone, the team adapted Plextek’s configurable mmWave radar module, the PLX-T60.
The challenge was then to fine tune the algorithms to turn a ground-based radar looking for moving targets into an airborne radar looking at complex terrain profiles below – as well as developing a whole new set of algorithms to accurately and reliably match those terrain profiles to reference data. In the end, we were able to help maintain awareness of the drone’s location to within meters, even when global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data ceased.
Key Features
Up to 250 m detection range against a person
- Plextek’s substrate-integrated-waveguide-based antenna design (patent pending) boosts efficiency and operational bandwidth whilst maintaining a consistent radiation pattern, thereby enabling:
- Higher signal-to-noise ratio*
- Better range resolution*
- Multiple concurrent device operation without causing mutual interference
- Reduced false detections* due to low sidelobe levels
- Low Size, Weight, Power and Cost
- Supports Texas Instruments mmWave studio software
- A range of antenna configurations available
*Compared with Texas Instruments IWR6843ISK Evaluation board
Technology Platform
Our mmWave Radar technology platform enables fast, customised radar solutions tailored to your specific needs.
Get in touch to start your development journey.
Example specification
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Recognized by Texas Instruments
Built on the Texas Instruments IWR6843 single-chip and is officially recognized by TI as a third-party tool.
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Size
70 x 60 x 8 mm up to 79 x 60 x 8 mm
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Weight
18g
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Frequency Range
60 – 64 GHz
Antenna return loss
better than 10 dB -
Radar Field-of-View
Azimuth – 25˚ to 72˚
Elevation – 8˚ to 12˚ -
Angular Resolution
Azimuth – from 12˚
Elevation – from 3˚ -
Range Resolution
From 4 cm
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Detection Range
Up to 250 m for a person
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Supply Voltage
5 V, 500 mA
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Connectivity
USB
Looking to customize your TI mmWave Radar?
Where many companies offer off-the-shelf products, we specialise in developing custom technology without compromise.
Plextek can tailor Texas Instruments xWR6843 beyond its standard capabilities to meet your specific requirements.
Plextek Technology Platforms
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