24 Jun 2025
Project involves three Freudenberg divisions, including FST, as well as external suppliers and academia
Weinheim, Germany – Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) has launched a development programme to produce high-precision waveguide antennas for radar sensors used in advanced driver assistance and automated driving systems, the company announced 3 June.
Led by FST, the incubator project brings together Freudenberg Technology Innovation, Freudenberg Chemical Specialities, external suppliers, and universities to address key technological challenges in automotive radar systems.
“At the heart of many safety and comfort features – such as adaptive cruise control and emergency braking assist – are radar sensors that rely on robust and precise antenna systems,” said Freudenberg.
As part of the project, FST developed 'precision-manufactured polymer components' with fine wave-conducting structures, produced through injection moulding.
The components were then metallised, using the expertise Freudenberg’s SurTec division.
Freudenberg is also supporting European efforts to standardise validation and calibration methods for sensor technologies.
As part of the incubator project, it is working with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Offenburg University of Applied Sciences on the “RepliCar” project.
The name stands for 'reference sensor technology for high-precision sensor validation for automated driving.'
“Our role is to… develop a modular design approach for constructing large high-resolution antennas from smaller antenna modules, which can be produced through injection moulding,” said Jens Hofmann, strategic product manager at Freudenberg.
“They are an important building block in the future portfolio of our incubator.”
Overall, FST said that it provides two service models for Tier 1 automotive suppliers through its antenna incubator project.
In the first model, Freudenberg designs the complete hardware and handles sensor integration.
The design process starts from waveguide channel routing and emitter layout, based on customer specifications. The design also considers future large-scale production.
In the second model, Tier 1 customers supply their own antenna designs and will receive consulting support from FST's incubator team.
The company also expects to build prototypes using materials and processes intended for eventual series production.
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