NXP Semiconductors has dramatically improved the performance of autonomous vehicles with a new imaging radar processor.

NXP has unveiled its latest S32R47 imaging radar processor.

This third-generation processor, which uses 16nm FinFET technology, delivers up to twice the processing performance compared to existing products, improved system cost reduction and power efficiency, and is designed to meet the requirements of future software-defined vehicles (SDVs).


The new S32R47 family, combined with NXP’s mmWave radar transceiver, power management, and in-vehicle networking solutions, meets the functional safety standard ISO 26262 ASIL B(D) requirements to maximize the safety and performance of autonomous vehicles.

In particular, this processor enhances high-resolution detection capabilities, enabling more precise identification and classification of objects such as vulnerable road users (VRUs) and lost cargo. This enables the development of a variety of advanced autonomous driving applications, including pilot driving and fully automated parking functions.

Market research firm Yole Intelligence forecasts that by 2029, 40% of vehicles on the road will be passenger cars with Level 2+ (L2+) or Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving. Accordingly, automobile manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 suppliers are increasingly required to further enhance autonomous driving functions.

“The S32R47 processor can process three times as many antenna channels in real time as existing solutions in production today,” said Meindert van den Beld, senior vice president and general manager of radar and ADAS at NXP. “This enables improved imaging radar resolution, sensitivity and dynamic range while meeting stringent power and system cost targets set by OEMs.”

Imaging radar enables more detailed modeling of complex urban environments by leveraging richer point cloud data. This is a key element of AI-based perception systems and is essential for accelerating the advancement of autonomous driving technology.

NXP’s S32R47 processor integrates a high-performance multi-core radar processing system that enables next-generation ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) through high-density point cloud output and enhanced algorithms. This plays a role in supporting safe driving by significantly increasing the reliability of detection of vulnerable road users and objects.

Key features of NXP’s third-generation imaging radar solution include a 38% smaller IC footprint compared to previous generations, up to twice the radar processing performance, and improved Direction of Arrival (DoA) and object identification capabilities, including support for AI and machine learning (ML).

Additionally, it enables the implementation of next-generation imaging radar with high scalability based on an optimized bill of materials (BOM), and achieves similar or better performance with up to 89% fewer antenna channels compared to existing solutions, reducing system costs and optimizing power consumption.

NXP’s new S32R47 radar processor is already sampling to lead customers and targets next-generation OEM platforms. NXP offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions ranging from corner radar to high-resolution 4D imaging radar to meet the diverse needs of automakers.