Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHRReliable environmental sensing is a key requirement for autonomous navigation systems in the maritime environment. Especially on high-traffic waterways, changing visibility conditions, obstructed areas, and complex traffic situations place high demands on sensor technology and data processing. The Radar4FER project investigates the use of distributed radar systems for comprehensive environmental sensing. The goal is to enable robust and complete perception of the environment through the fusion of multiple sensor signals, thereby laying the foundation for reliable collision avoidance systems and autonomous ferries.
Integration and synchronization of multiple radar systems for safe autonomous navigation
The approach is based on the combination of several commercially available X-band radar systems installed both on a ferry and in the surrounding infrastructure (in compliance with established maritime and data security regulations). This distributed arrangement allows for different perspectives on the environment and reduces shadowing. The acquired radar data is fused and used for modern methods of object detection, tracking, and path planning.
A key challenge lies in the precise spatial and temporal alignment of the sensor data. Different sensor positions and sampling rates require powerful methods for synchronization and data fusion. To address this, the project is developing specialized algorithms that enable a consistent and reliable interpretation of the environment.
Testing the system architecture in actual ferry operations
The developed system architecture is tested in a real-world scenario along a ferry route on the Rhine. The goal is to demonstrate the performance of distributed radar systems under realistic conditions and to contribute to safe and autonomous navigation in the maritime sector.
The undertaking is supported by Radio Holland (NL) with its radar sensors and Rheinfähre Königswinter GmbH for the field tests.