Radar or Lidar What to choose for Automotive Applications

24 Giugno 2026
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Igal Bilik, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel; IEEE Fellow and Distinguished Lecturer 24/06/2026 alle 15:30  aula riunioni al piano terra DII

 

Abstract

This lecture addresses one of the hottest technological debates in the modern automobile industry: selecting radar or LiDAR technologies for autonomous and active safety-equipped vehicles. The lecture presents a structured comparison of the two technologies, focusing on their distinct operational characteristics, advantages, and limitations. Radar and LiDAR operate at different frequency bands, which leads to significant differences in how they interact with the environment. Radar is favored for its robustness in adverse weather and low-light conditions, providing long-range detection at a relatively low cost. It also allows for flexible integration behind nontransparent vehicle fascia, making it highly adaptable for commercial vehicle use. On the other hand, LiDAR offers superior angular resolution and spatiotemporal consistency, which are critical for tasks such as object recognition and mapping in autonomous driving.

This lecture begins by outlining the core functionalities of radar and lidar systems and exploring how their unique physical properties, such as wavelength and propagation behaviors, influence their performance in various driving scenarios. Key factors such as range, accuracy, detection reliability, and operational costs will be evaluated, along with a detailed analysis of signal processing techniques used by each sensor type. Additionally, the limitations of LiDAR, including its higher cost and sensitivity to environmental factors, will be contrasted with radar's challenges, such as interference and resolution constraints.

By highlighting recent advancements in both technologies, including digital radars with high-resolution imaging capabilities and efforts to reduce the cost of long-range LiDAR, this lecture aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the trade-offs involved in choosing between radar and LiDAR for different automotive applications. Future research directions, such as the integration of multi-sensor systems and potential cross-modality innovations, will also be discussed to inspire further developments in autonomous vehicle sensing technologies.

BIO

Affiliation: ECE School, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel

Igal Bilik (Fellow, IEEE) received the B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel, in 1997, 2003, and 2006, respectively. From 2006 to 2008, he was a Post-Doctoral Research Associate with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA. From 2008 to 2011, he was an Assistant Professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, MA, USA. From 2011 to 2019, he was a Staff Researcher with the GM Advanced Technical Center, Herzliya, Israel, leading automotive radar technology development. Between 2019 and 2020, he led the Smart Sensing and Vision Group, GM Research and Development, responsible for developing state-of-the-art automotive radar, LiDAR, and computer vision technologies. Since 2020, he has been an Assistant Professor with the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Since 2020, he has been a member of the Radar Systems Panel Committee of the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS). He is a member of the Editorial Committee of IEEE Transactions on Radar Systems. He received the Best Student Paper Awards at the 2005 IEEE International Radar Conference and the 2006 IEEE International Radar Conference, the Student Paper Award at the 2006 IEEE 24th Convention of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in Israel, the GM Product Excellence Recognition in 2017, and IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems Industrial Innovation Award in 2024. He has been the Chair of the Civilian Radar Committee of IEEE AESS. He is an Acting Officer of the IEEE Vehicular Technology Chapter in Israel and chairs the Autonomous and Connected Transportation Committee at the Israeli Center for Smart Mobility Research. He was an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems from 2020 to 2024. He has been an Associate Editor of IEEE Sensors Journal and IEEE Transactions on Radar Systems since 2022. He is a Senior Editor of IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronics Systems.