Integrates like a sensor. Opens up like an evaluation kit.
RepliCar is a modular imaging radar platform for development, testing and application-specific systems. Each radar module connects to a compact backend with a single coax cable and delivers raw ADC data and processed point clouds at the same time — from one subarray to a 3,072-channel coherent aperture.
Between evaluation kit and series sensor.
Radar development often forces a choice. Typical evaluation modules expose every parameter and the raw data, but need additional capture hardware, a lab PC and considerable set-up effort. Highly integrated sensor modules are installed quickly, but deliver only a point cloud or an object list — the signal itself stays out of reach. RepliCar combines the strengths of both.
| Typical evaluation modules | Highly integrated sensor modules | RepliCar | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware for operation | Radar board plus capture card, lab PC and vendor software | Sensor only | Radar module and backend — no further devices |
| Cabling per sensor | Several connections for supply, control and data | One connector for supply and data | One coax cable for data, control and supply |
| Raw ADC data | Available, usually recorded for offline analysis | Not accessible as a rule | Live, in parallel with the processed data |
| Processed output | Demo software; processing is up to the user | Point cloud or object list | Tracked point clouds and 3D bounding boxes via ROS 2, TCP or UDP |
| Configuration | Chirp parameters set up manually | Fixed operating modes | Tested measurement profiles, switchable at runtime and extendable |
| Own algorithms | Offline, on recorded data | Not intended | Live on the raw data, in parallel with the built-in processing |
| Antenna | Fixed on the board | Fixed in the sensor | Exchangeable antenna block, application-specific designs |
| Scaling | Separate cascade hardware and a new set-up | Several sensors, fused at object level | Same module, link and software from one to eight coherent subarrays |
| Mounting | Bare board for the lab bench | Housing for vehicle mounting | Milled aluminium housing with mounting points |
Comparison based on typical properties of the respective product categories. Individual products may differ. RepliCar cabling refers to the Subarray Module; the Compact Cascade and the Full Aperture additionally have one 12 V DC supply input.
Three components. One cable per module.
A RepliCar system consists of radar modules, the RepliCar backend and your application. There is no capture card, no lab PC and no separate control wiring — set-up, operation and recording run on the backend.
Capture
Transmits, receives and digitises in the 76–81 GHz band. Milled aluminium housing, exchangeable antenna block.
Transport
Automotive MIPI A-PHY over up to 15 m of coax: uncompressed raw data to the backend, control commands and 12 V supply to the module.
Process
NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin on a carrier board developed by Wellenzahl. Receives up to eight radar links and runs the complete processing chain.
Use
Point clouds and tracks via ROS 2, TCP or UDP over Ethernet — and direct access to the raw data stream for your own algorithms.
Built for engineers who need the signal, not just the result.
Minimal system overhead
Radar module, backend and one coax cable per module. No capture hardware, no lab PC with vendor tools, no separate supply and control wiring to each sensor.
Raw data and results in parallel
Raw ADC data stays accessible while the backend computes tracked point clouds and 3D bounding boxes. Compare your own processing with ours on the very same frame.
Open for your algorithms
Raw frames appear as standard Linux video devices, live and in parallel with the built-in processing. Processing methods switch at runtime, and recordings replay into the same pipeline.
Measurement profiles included
Tested profiles for different ranges and resolutions are part of the system and switch during operation. Add your own profiles — or have Wellenzahl develop them for your application.
Antennas for your scenario
The antenna block is exchangeable. Wellenzahl designs antennas for the field of view and range your application needs and delivers the module ready for use; experienced teams can design their own.
Ready for the field
Milled aluminium housings with mounting points for vehicles, masts and machines. Up to 15 m of coax between each module and the backend simplify routing.
One building block. Three scales.
Every RepliCar configuration is built from the Subarray Module. A master section shares one local oscillator, one reference clock and one frame trigger between several subarrays, so that they operate as one coherent radar — with more channels and a larger aperture, but the same link, software and interfaces.
Subarray Module
A complete imaging radar front end in its own housing — stand-alone radar and building block of every larger configuration.
- TX × RX
- 6 × 8
- Virtual channels
- 48
- Links to the backend
- 1 coax cable
Compact Cascade
Two subarrays act as one coherent radar. The platform on which the complete RepliCar chain runs today — and the basis of our live demonstrations.
- TX × RX
- 12 × 16
- Virtual channels
- 192
- Links to the backend
- 2 coax cables
Full Aperture
Eight subarrays form one coherent aperture for high-resolution radar imaging, processed in real time by a single backend.
- TX × RX
- 48 × 64
- Virtual channels
- 3,072
- Links to the backend
- 8 coax cables
- End-to-end latency
- < 30 ms
RepliCar Backend
NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin on a Wellenzahl carrier board. Receives up to eight radar links, supplies the modules through the same cables and runs processing, profiles, recording and the browser-based radar UI.
- Radar links
- up to 8
- Network
- 10 Gigabit Ethernet
- Outputs
- ROS 2 · TCP · UDP
- Raw data
- live · recording
Channels grow quadratically, cabling linearly. In a coherent array every transmitter pairs with every receiver, so eight subarrays give 64 times the virtual channels of one — with only one additional cable per subarray. Configurations with three to seven subarrays on request.
Where RepliCar is used.
Test and validation
High-resolution reference data for perception development, sensor data sets and the evaluation of new radar concepts on the vehicle.
Algorithm development
Direction-of-arrival estimation, imaging, sparse reconstruction and machine learning — on live raw data instead of fixed sensor outputs.
Industrial sensing
Monitoring of machines, material flows and bulk materials in dust, steam or darkness, where optical sensors reach their limits.
Traffic and security
Traffic monitoring, people detection and area surveillance, largely independent of lighting and weather.
Adapted to your application.
RepliCar is developed by Wellenzahl — from millimetre-wave hardware to real-time software. That is why the platform can be adapted where standard products stop.
Application-specific antennas
We design antenna blocks for the field of view, range and resolution your scenario requires and deliver the module ready to use. Teams with millimetre-wave expertise can also develop their own antennas for the module.
Custom measurement profiles
Beyond the profiles included, we develop and validate profiles for your targets, ranges and velocities. You can also add profiles yourself at any time.
Configurations from one to eight subarrays
From a single module to the full coherent aperture, including split operation with independent LO domains — configured for your measurement task.
Integration support
Mounting concepts, interface adaptation to your data infrastructure and on-site commissioning — so that RepliCar delivers usable data in your environment quickly.
From delivery to the first point cloud.
Mount
Fix the module to the vehicle, mast or machine using the mounting points of its housing.
Connect
One coax cable per module to the backend. Connect the backend to its supply and your network.
Select a profile
Choose a measurement profile in the browser-based radar UI — and change it during operation whenever required.
Use the data
Receive point clouds and tracks via ROS 2, TCP or UDP. Access or record the raw data in parallel.
Experience RepliCar on the real system.
Live demonstration
See the Compact Cascade in operation — in our lab or remotely — and discuss your scenario, ranges and interfaces with the developers.
- Your measurement task as a starting point
- Profiles switched during operation
- Raw data and point cloud side by side
Sample recordings
Raw-data recordings together with the corresponding point clouds, to evaluate the data quality and test your own processing before you decide.
- Raw data and processed data of the same scene
- Documented data format
- Available on request
Frequently asked questions.
What do I need besides the radar module?
The RepliCar backend and one coax cable per module. The backend is supplied with 12 V DC or via USB-C Power Delivery and connects to your network via Ethernet; the Compact Cascade and the Full Aperture additionally need a 12 V DC supply. No capture card, lab PC or vendor software is required.
Do I get access to the raw data?
Yes. The 12-bit raw ADC data of every radar transceiver is available on the backend as a live stream and can be recorded — in parallel to point clouds and tracks. Recordings replay into the same processing chain.
Can I run my own processing?
Yes. The raw data of every transceiver is available live and as a recording, in parallel to the built-in processing chain — so you can run your own algorithms alongside ours and compare the results. Within the built-in chain, the processing methods, for example for angle estimation, switch at runtime.
Which measurement profiles are available?
Eight tested profiles are included, from high range resolution (about 5 cm, up to about 30 m) to long range (30 cm resolution, more than 200 m). All profiles operate within the 76–81 GHz band. You can add your own profiles; on request, Wellenzahl develops profiles for your application.
Can the antenna be adapted to my application?
Yes. The antenna block is a separate, exchangeable component. Wellenzahl designs application-specific antennas and delivers the module with them; teams with the corresponding expertise can develop their own antenna for the module.
How fast is RepliCar?
At full scale — 3,072 virtual channels — less than 30 ms pass from capture by the radar to the processed output. The complete system, including the backend, draws about 95 W, with peaks of 130 W under GPU load. With 192 channels, the processing chain runs on the CPU alone at around 100 frames per second.
How far can a module be from the backend?
Up to 15 m of automotive coax cable per module. This is the cable length between module and backend, not the sensing range.
Can I start with one module and scale later?
Yes. Software, interfaces and data formats are the same in all configurations, so work done with a Subarray Module carries over directly to the Compact Cascade or the Full Aperture.
Discuss your application.
Tell us about your scenario, range and field of view. We recommend a configuration and show you the system live.
Imaging Radar
4D Radar
Radar sensors with multiple transmit and receive antennas (MIMO radar) are redefining performance standards in industrial sensing. By applying advanced beamforming and signal processing, these systems offer unmatched spatial resolution, precise object detection, and exceptional measurement stability—even in demanding environments with dust, steam, vibrations, or fast-changing conditions.
Beyond fill level measurement, multi-antenna radar excels in a wide range of applications, including object positioning, collision avoidance, flow monitoring, and presence detection. Whether in bulk material handling, smart factories, autonomous systems, or process automation, this technology ensures reliable and accurate data where conventional sensors reach their limits.
For industries aiming to enhance safety, efficiency, and data-driven automation, multi-antenna radar is the future-proof solution of choice.