TI Designs: TIDA-010022 - People Counting and Tracking Using mmWave Radar Sensor
This TI Design (TIDA-010022) presents a comprehensive solution for people counting and tracking applications. It leverages the capabilities of Texas Instruments' IWR1642 mmWave radar sensor and the low-power, sub-1 GHz wireless communication provided by the CC1352 wireless MCU.
Key Features and Applications
The design demonstrates the use of the IWR1642BOOST evaluation module and the LAUNCHXL-CC1352R1 wireless MCU LaunchPad. This system is capable of localizing people up to 6 meters (short-range) and 14 meters (long-range). Key features include:
- Accurate people counting and tracking using mmWave radar technology.
- Long-range, low-power wireless connectivity via the CC1352 device.
- Immunity to environmental factors like darkness, brightness, and smoke.
- Wide field of view for comprehensive coverage.
The solution is ideal for applications such as occupancy detection, motion detection, automated doors, IP network cameras, and lighting control.
System Architecture and Components
The system comprises a mmWave sensor node and a collector node. The mmWave sensor node, featuring the IWR1642, processes radar data for range, velocity, and angle information. This data is then transmitted wirelessly using the CC1352 to a collector node. The design guide details the system block diagram, power supply considerations, and wireless network design, including the use of the TI-15.4 Stack for sub-1 GHz communication.
Highlighted products include:
- IWR1642: Single-chip 76- to 81-GHz mmWave sensor.
- CC1352: SimpleLink multi-band wireless MCU LaunchPad.
- Power management ICs (LP87524B-Q1) and LDO voltage regulators (TPS7A8101, TPS7A88-Q1).
Hardware and Software Setup
The document provides detailed instructions for hardware setup, including necessary modifications to the IWR1642 BoosterPack and CC1352 LaunchPads. It also guides users through loading firmware onto the CC1352 and IWR1642 devices using Texas Instruments' UniFlash tool. Software development involves importing and patching example code from the SimpleLink CC13x2 SDK.
Testing and Results
The reference design includes sections on test setup and results for people counting, power consumption, and wireless RF range. The system demonstrates a power consumption of 3.6 W and a wireless RF range of approximately 70 m in typical office environments.
Further Information
For detailed design files, schematics, bill of materials, PCB layout recommendations, and software files, please refer to the official TI Designs resources available at www.ti.com/tool/TIDA-010022.
