1. Thomas Weilacher WG FM Chairman
Frequency band 76/77 GHz
Thomas Weilacher WG FM Chairman
CAN/US/CEPT/ECC
Spectrum Management Consultation
Maisons-Alfort, May 2015 1

2. Current regulation
76-77 GHz is covered by current harmonised regulation in Europe (see ERC Recommendation Annex 5) for ground based vehicle and infrastructure systems.
Current applications in use: automotive radars (cruise control, so-called long range radars for collision avoidance), traffic monitoring, railway level crossings, used also in wingtips of big aircraft during taxiing for collision avoidance.
Compatibility studies are on-going to ensure that no compatibility problems will arise with the dominant automotive radar use in the future.

3. Helicopter obstacle detection radars
Triggered by ETSI systems reference document: ETSI TR
Spectrum compatibility studied in ECC Report 222: The impact of Surveillance Radar equipment operating in the 76 to 79 GHz range for helicopter applications on other radio systems (radio astronomy, radio amateurs, ground based radar applications).
A new draft ECC Decision on the harmonised frequency range GHz, technical characteristics, exemption from individual licensing and free carriage and use of obstacle detection radars for helicopter use was approved by WG FM for submission to the ECC for approval for public consultation in July 2015.
Helicopter applications have to ensure radio astronomy exclusion zones around a limited number of RA stations in Europe. The ECC Decision includes the information on how to ensure this.

4. Helicopter scenario Published ECC Reports
The system will be used in an environment with obstacles in the vicinity of the helicopter, only. It will be switched off if the helicopter leaves this environment.
Obstacle Detection system up to 250 m distance, e.g. to avoid wirings.

5. Global harmonisation issues
Current regulation as well as planned helicopter application under general authorisation in Europe
FCC has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comment on, among other things, the use of aircraft “wingtip" radars in the GHz band: this is already allowed in Europe (76-77 GHz) - Helicopter obstacle avoidance application could also be considered in this context
76-77 GHz sensors also to be used in sensor platforms of future cars – inter-alia other sensors (-> autonomous driving)
Japan has recently changed regulation to include the whole GHz range for automotive radars (before: only 500 MHz)
European car manufacturers reported concerns that the FCC plans implementation under part 95, unlike all other vehicular radars which are covered by part 15 of the FCC regulations