© ASTRON

After several years of collaboration, the MID4Automotive project has reached an important milestone: the connectivity demonstrator is now operational. This international effort, involving German and Dutch institutes and companies, explored how Molded Interconnect Device (MID) technology can enable new approaches to radar systems and sensor interconnects.

The project was organised around two focus areas: radar and interconnect. On the interconnect side (where ASTRON was involved), work concentrated on three main topics. First, new methods were developed to implement RF amplifiers using MID technology, led by teams at TU/e and TNO. Second, the project addressed precise synchronisation of multiple sensors using the White Rabbit protocol, with contributions from ASTRON and Bosch Netherlands. Third, MID technology was explored for creating flexible, compact, and shielded housings, together with Mitsubishi Chemical Europe.

The resulting demonstrator brings these developments together. A reference signal is transmitted through the receiver chain: the active antenna, the TU/e–TNO amplifier, and the Fibre Optic Timing Distributor (Ethernet receiver) developed by ASTRON. Measurements of the complete setup show the expected passband behaviour, demonstrating that the individual components function correctly together as an integrated system.

With this, the Ethernet receiver has reached the technology readiness level of laboratory demonstrator. The next step is field testing: in the coming months, the system will be connected to LOFAR Low Band Antennas, providing insights into its performance under realistic observing conditions.