Zadar Labs

Zadar Labs are pursuing a software-defined radar which also uses a centralised processing approach, but Zadar uses more general machine learning approaches as opposed to the more physics-based methods that Zendar deploy.

Zadar Labs uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to optimise many attributes of the radar across the data processing chain. They currently have demonstration radars built with off-the-shelf components but are keen to establish themselves as a radar software company.

Within automotive radar, Zadar Labs has a similar proposition to SRS. Zadar constructs its radars with off-the-shelf transceivers and uses a software approach to get the most possible performance from the components. Like SRS, they use a cascaded approach for the highest performing radar in the range. SRS would likely distinguish its automotive offering with its non-uniform antenna array; however, Zadar labs are claiming superior performance metrics compared to SRS. The two are also closely matched in terms of funding, with Zadar having received US$5.6 million in funding so far.

Zadar labs are heavily focussed on optimising the performance of the radar using AI. Zadar's platform is based on using AI techniques on data collected from the analogue-digital converters, which is essentially raw radar data. This allows them to circumvent the fast Fourier transforms necessary to process radar data traditionally, freeing up computational load for its AI layers and sensor fusion.