Low-cost devices and methods for measuring radar transmission and/or reflectance of coated articles, as well as methods for forming coatings on articles are provided. An exemplary low-cost radar transmission and reflection measurement device includes a radar transmitter that emits a radar signal, a radar target to which the radar signal is directed, and a radar receiver that receives the radar signal. Further, the exemplary low-cost device includes a sample holder located between the radar transmitter and the radar target and between the radar target and the radar receiver. The sample holder receives a sample including a coating. The low-cost device also includes a controller connected to the radar transmitter and radar receiver. The controller measures a radar signal loss due to the coating.

A target alignment system for calibrating a safety sensor mounted on a vehicle with front and rear wheels by locating an optimum target position upon a horizontal surface for accurate calibration of the sensor. The target alignment system comprises a plurality of visual guide projectors and a pair of target assemblies which project a visible guide line perimeter around the vehicle, the perimeter including parallel longitudinal lines on either side of the vehicle, a lateral alignment guide line crossing the longitudinal lines in front of the vehicle, and a center guide line colinear with the vehicle center line. The front and rear wheels of the vehicle are longitudinally aligned causing the vehicle thrust line to match the vehicle center line. One of the visual guide projectors projects a transverse line across the center guide line, creating an intersection point which marks the optimum target position.

A support structure having a vertical element supporting a set of cameras associated with a vehicle measurement or inspection system together with at least one target structure required for realignment or recalibration of onboard vehicle safety system sensors. A camera crossbeam carried by the support structure locates the set of cameras as required to view a vehicle undergoing measurement or inspection. The target structure is affixed to the vertical element of the support structure, at an elevation suitable for observation by at least one vehicle onboard sensors during a realignment or recalibration procedure. A set of rollers facilitates positioning of the target structure on a supporting floor surface during a realignment or recalibration procedure.

An apparatus and method for aligning, calibrating, or inspecting an onboard vehicle sensor having an external field of view by providing a calibration component on a support structure for positioning at a short calibration distance from the vehicle and which is within the field of view of said sensor. The calibration component is configured to appear to the sensor as if it was positioned at a predetermined linear calibration distance from the vehicle which is greater than the actual short calibration distance.

A method includes disposing a spherical radar reflector at a location exterior a vehicle equipped with the vehicular sensing system. The vehicular sensing system includes at least two radar sensors disposed at the vehicle and a controller that processes received radio frequency (RF) signals received by the plurality of receivers of each radar sensor of the at least two radar sensors. Calibration RF signals are transmitted by at least one transmitting antenna of a plurality of transmitters of a first radar sensor and a second radar sensor the at least two radar sensors, and reflected first calibration RF signals are received by the plurality of receivers of the first radar sensor and the second radar sensor. Based on a distance between the first radar sensor, the second radar sensor, and the spherical reflector, the vehicular sensing system determines an orientation of the first radar sensor and the second radar sensor.

Apparatus and methods are provided for distance calibration of an autonomous vehicle in a nominally short distance calibration environment. In particular, apparatus, methods and systems are provided using reflective materials to artificially augment a distance to a known target. In various implementations, reflective planes are disposed in pathway between the autonomous vehicle and target. Targets of known sizes can be used to calculated a distance from the autonomous vehicle to the target. Utilizing the known optical pathway, a calibration can be performed. With the aid of an Autonomous Vehicle Rotation Table, the autonomous vehicle is rotated such that a matrix of range-angle calibrations can be executed. Frequency spectra include LiDAR and radar, but any suitable bandwidth and/or detection protocol is not beyond the scope of the present disclosure. To this end, a structured calibration environment can be diminished in size, giving rise to more accurate distance calibrations, both intrinsically and extrinsically.

A set-up tool for aiding vehicle sensor calibrations having a structure with a first and second vehicle contact points configured to contact a vehicle and establish a calibration axis. A substantially vertically projected flat blade laser may be placed in a position perpendicular to the calibration axis and used to align the set-up tool with a center of the vehicle. Once centered, the laser ma be transitioned to project a laser line, in coordination with a protractor having a base-line parallel to the calibration axis (which is now substantially parallel to a transverse axis of the vehicle), at a discreet angle away from the center of the vehicle. A target may then be placed along the laser line to aid in the calibration of vehicle sensors.

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for radar elevation angle measurement. A radar elevation angle measurement system may transmit one or more signals from a radar towards a reflection structure comprised of individually controlled motors operable to rotate one or more corner reflectors. The radar elevation angle measurement system may receive echo signals at the radar from each of the one or more corner reflectors that sequentially transitioned to an ON position based on each of the one or more corner reflectors being sequentially rotated to be in an ON then an OFF positions. The radar elevation angle measurement system may collect data associated with the echo signals received from the one or more corner reflectors. The device may identify peak signal values based on the collected data. The radar elevation angle measurement system may calculate a radar pitch angle of the radar based on the peak signal values.

A portable sensor calibration device that provides a reference to a sensor during a calibration procedure. The sensor calibration device may have a number of adjustable functions providing for functional configurability, such as interchangeable target elements, adjustable pitch, adjustable target mounting, and locking elements.

Embodiments of the present invention relates to a dummy device for performing tests for driver assistance systems. The dummy device comprises a base body with a simulation region, wherein the base body depicts an object to be simulated and the simulation region depicts a movable part of the object the simulated, and at least one simulation element which is arranged at the simulation region. The simulation element is configured to reflect and/or to emit signals such that a motion of the movable part of the object to be simulated is simulatable.