AWRL6432 CPD Demo Users Guide

Table of Contents

Overview

This example project demonstrates the use of TI AWRL6432 mmWave sensors for Vehicle 2-row Life Prescence Detection (LPD) and 1-row Child Presence Detection (CPD). This lab outputs a point cloud, LPD classifier and CPD classifier decision over UART. This lab features a 2D Capon processing chain for detection within the vehicle.

Note that we are reusing the AWRL6844 in-cabin demo visualizer for AWRL6432 CPD demo. Users can refer to the AWRL6844 CPD Demo User Guide with a minor difference:

In the AWRL6844 CPD demo, live-tuning of macroDopplerScalar and zOffset are supported. This live-tuning feature is not supported for AWRL6432 CPD demo due to the sharing of one COM port for both control and data.

The L6432 EVM utilizes a cost-optimized FR4 antenna material and a limited elevation Field of View (FOV), which prevents full two-row coverage for Child Presence Detection (CPD). While the Life Presence Detection (LPD) network can reliably detect occupants across both rows (including the footwells), the CPD point cloud fails to register in challenging scenarios, such as rear-facing infants or those in the footwell. Consequently, this demo supports 2-row LPD and first-row CPD. The detailed logic in the visualizer is described here:

  1. Based on the setting of disableRearSeatsCPD (currently set to 1 for one-row CPD): the visualizer can force the CPD probability of the zones in the second row to be 100% child.
  2. Based on the setting of disableRearSeats (currently set to 0 for two-row LPD): the visualizer can force the LPD probability of the zones in the second row to be 100% non-human.
  3. Choose the per-car LPD decision of the zone with the lowest non-human prabably
  4. Choose the per-car CPD decision of the zone with the most point cloud.

Real-time demo recording clips are shown below to demonstrate the CPD performance in different test scenerios. The accumulated point cloud displays across 10 frames. The blue box indicates a child is detected and the green box indicates an adult is detected. The classifier outputs the per-seat decision. A per-car decision is added (as described above) in the visualizer.

Requirements

🛑 Before Continuing! xWRL6432 - ES2.0 Only
For xWRL6432 devices, this demo is only compatible with ES2.0. To determine the ES version of your device, review the Determine Silicon Revision Guide

Hardware Requirements

Item Details
AWRL6432 Evaluation Board AWRL6432 ES2.0 Evaluation Board
Computer PC with Windows 10. If a laptop is used, please use the ‘High Performance’ power plan in Windows.
Micro USB Cable Due to the high mounting height of the EVM, a 15ft+ cable or USB extension cable is recommended.

Additional Software Requirements

Tool Version Download Link
MATLAB Runtime 2024b (24.2) Exact version required. https://www.mathworks.com/products/compiler/matlab-runtime.html
MMWAVE-L-SDK 05.05.03.00 https://www.ti.com/tool/MMWAVE-L-SDK

Quickstart

1. Configuring and flashing the EVM

Follow the Hardware Setup of Flashing Mode instructions for xWRLx432 Low Power EVM’s.

2. Flash the EVM using Uniflash

Flash the AWRL6432_CPD_demo.Release.appimage file by following the instructions for using UniFlash

The flashable binary can be found at: <RADAR_TOOLBOX_INSTALL_DIR>\source\ti\examples\Automotive_InCabin_Security_and_Safety\AWRL6432_CPD_Demo\prebuilt_binaries\

3. Configure the EVM for Functional Mode

Follow the Hardware Setup of Functional Mode instructions for xWRLx432 Low Power EVM’s.

4. Mount the EVM and Create Test Environment

Mount the sensor at the desired location securely so that the sensor is stable during runtime. Update the desired configuration file so that it reflects the device’s location. More information on mounting can be found in the section below.

5. Launch the Visualizer

🛑 MATLAB Runtime Version R2024b (24.2) Required
Exact version R2024b (24.2) required.

  1. Launch the visualizer executable located at <RADAR_TOOLBOX_INSTALL_DIR>\tools\visualizers\LowPower_Incabin_GUI\
  2. Double click to launch occupancy_demo_gui_AWRL6432.exe.
  3. A black console window will appear. After 30-60sec, a configuration window will appear as shown below.

6. Config Visualizer

  1. The COM ports will be auto-populated. Users should confirm or change as needed. For AWRL6432, same physical COM port is used for both control and data.
  2. Two modes are supported, liveDemo mode and playback mode. By default,liveDemo mode is selected.
  3. (Optional) Select and enable the webcam if it is connected to the PC
  4. Adjust Display/Save Time Window (Frames) setting as needed to control the number of frames to record before the demo pauses every time.
  5. You should see the chirp configuration file automatically selected in the configuration dialogue. If the configuration file is not the correct one, browse to select a file provided in your desired directory.
  6. Users can enter the pre-recorded file name under <RADAR_TOOLBOX_INSTALL_DIR>\tools\visualizers\LowPower_Incabin_GUI\src\fHistFiles\. The file name needs to be valid if the playback mode is selected.
  7. Press Done to start the visualizer.
  8. The visualizer window will appear, and Users will need to press OK to start the running. After several seconds, the visualizer will start output the point cloud and occupancy decisions in their respective panels: