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      Radar Detection - July, 2025

      Upgraded radar system enhances obstacle detection and increases operational safety in the field.

      Overview

      Sabanto is excited to introduce Radar Support, the next evolution in perception for autonomy systems. By integrating our new radar sensor, vehicles gain enhanced obstacle detection that is less susceptible to visual noise, providing added safety in a wider range of environmental conditions.

      Radar detection is currently in Early Access release. See “Early Access Details” below for details.

       

      What Radar Does Today

      Radar sensors enables autonomous systems to:

      Detect Obstacles Using Electromagnetic Waves: Radar detects physical objects based on signal reflection, enabling performance even in low-visibility environments like dust or low light.

      Objects Radar Can Detect

      • Irrigation Pivots: Large metallic objects such as pivots are detected by radar effectively. 

      • Metallic Obstacles: Such as equipment, trailers, and fences.

      • Unknown or generic objects within the detection zone based on size, shape, and reflectivity.

      Display Relevant System Messages

      • Vehicles will pause navigation when radar detects an obstacle in the path.

      • Alerts will be shown as: “Navigation paused: An obstacle was detected in the path ahead by the radar sensor.”

      Radar Notification

      What to Expect

      • Radar is most effective for metallic or highly reflective objects. Expect more pauses than before for metallic obstacles. 

      • A "Radar" status badge will turn red when an error is detected in vMC.

       

      System Requirements

      Hardware

      • R2D201 radar sensor, mounted behind the existing OAK camera bracket with a variable-angle mount.

      • 8.5° downward tilt required for cab vehicles; mounting angles for other platforms are still under evaluation.

      • Radar wiring uses a universal harness that branches from the infrared sensor connector.

      Calibration

      • Sensor-style calibration is not required today, but future updates may include a calibration. At this time, the installed mounting angle is critical. 

      Activation

      • Radar detection is disabled by default and must be enabled by Sabanto support.

       

      Early Access Details

      This feature is currently in Early Access, intended to support real-world testing and rapid iteration. Participation helps shape the development of radar features through direct field use and operator feedback.

      Participation Details:

      • Access is currently limited to vehicles with supported hardware.
        • No support on Open Station or Canopy vehicles in the vOS 1.18.2 release.
      • Radar detection must be manually enabled by Sabanto support.
      • Radar functionality requires vOS series 1.18 or greater. For release notes on 1.18.0 please Click Here.
      • Radar functionality may have limitations. Please see "Radar Limitations" below. 
      • To participate, contact your dealer or submit a request via the Submit Issue form to Sabanto Support. 

      Field data and operator feedback during this period are critical to refining the feature.

       

      Radar Limitations

      • Blind Spots on Wide Implements: 

          • At speeds above 5 mph, the radar collision system may fail to detect obstacles located near the outer edges of implements wider than 30 ft due to field-of-view limitations.
          • At speeds below 5 mph, the radar collision system may fail to detect obstacles located near the outer edges of implements wider than 15 ft due to field-of-view limitations.

      • Environmental Factors:

        • Dust: Radar is expected to perform well in dusty scenarios, but validation is ongoing.

        • Rain/Water: Not yet fully characterized.

        • Vegetation/Branches: May cause false positives, especially when navigating the outermost headland.

      • Material Sensitivity:

        • Non-metallic objects like rocks may go undetected.

      • Red Radar Badge Bug:
        • Units with radar installed may encounter rare scenarios where the radar system constantly reports an error preventing autonomous navigation. A device reset in vMC resolves this issue should it be encountered.  

       

      What’s Coming Next

      • Calibration for mounting angle
        • Improves detection accuracy across varying platform geometries by reducing any discrepancies from the recommended install angle and the true mounted angle. 

      • Add blockage detection

        • Alerts operators to mud, debris, or ice obstructing the sensor, reducing performance during operation.

      • Define ignore zones in the sensor’s field of view (FOV)

        • Prevents false positives caused by detecting parts of the vehicle itself, like front implements or the vehicle hood on open station platforms.

      • Increased width support

        • Increasing the detection range at which radar can detect obstacles will reduce risk from a collision occurring where the implement clips the side of an obstacle. 

       

      Provide Feedback

      Your feedback drives product improvements. Let us know how radar performs in your operation, including any unusual detections or environments you’d like supported.
      Email us at: product@sabantoag.com