Calterah UWB Technology Takes Automotive Kick Sensors to Next Level, Enabling Smarter Tailgates
2025-09-11
As vehicles become smarter and user expectations rise, automotive tailgate control is being reshaped by innovations. Kick sensing for tailgates, a typical feature of touchless access, supports hands-free tailgate control after recognizing users’ foot movements. Eliminating the hassle of opening the tailgate with hands full, kick sensors enable seamless, user-friendly interactions with vehicles.
Kick-sensing solutions have evolved through several generations. Infrared sensors used early on are cost-effective but easily affected by lighting conditions. Capacitive sensors often struggle with sensitivity and stability under extreme temperatures or high humidity. The performance of ultrasonic systems degrades significantly with the presence of rain and snow. 77 GHz and 60 GHz millimeter-wave radar systems offer strong penetration and environmental adaptability, but they cost more. In recent years, ultra-wideband (UWB) has entered the kick-sensor field, standing out with centimeter-level accuracy in motion detection, low power consumption, and adaptability to a wide range of scenarios.
Calterah’s groundbreaking UWB SoC family, Dubhe, not only powers UWB digital keys but also offers radar functions with configurations of 1T4R (1 transmit path and 4 receive paths) and 2T4R. The digital key anchors can be reused as kick sensors for tailgates, with both technological and cost advantages.
Calterah UWB SoCs for Smarter, More Reliable Hands-Free Tailgate Control
The Dubhe family includes the automotive CAL1104AQ (1T4R) and CAL1106AQ (2T4R) chips, both tailored for kick sensing radar. Compared against traditional 1T2R solutions on the market, Calterah’s 2T4R solution leverages proprietary RF, baseband, and algorithm technologies to achieve an impressive 142 dB link budget. With more channels and antennas, the chip delivers higher antenna gains and superior signal isolation in MIMO designs. Dubhe SoCs also offer options for directional and omnidirectional antennas. With 14° angular resolution, Dubhe has a clear edge in angular separation in complex scenarios. These advantages ensure precise and robust detection and recognition of foot motions.
The strong environmental adaptability and resistance to interference of Dubhe chips are well demonstrated in real-world scenarios. In field tests, Dubhe enables stable and accurate detection of foot gestures. Moreover, thanks to its excellent angular resolution, it can distinguish a foot kick or sweep from similar movements such as rolling of a ball or motions by a walking pedestrian, avoiding false triggers. Meeting the strict requirements of kick sensors in detection precision, coverage, and stability, Dubhe SoCs can help create a hassle-free experience by empowering smart, hands-free tailgate control.
On the power-efficiency side, Dubhe is built on a 22 nm process, reducing power consumption by 20% compared with mainstream 28 nm products, and by up to 65% compared with 40 nm solutions. This ensures extended battery life for applications requiring longer standby. Compliant with automotive-grade standards, Dubhe chips have fulfilled AEC-Q100 reliability requirements, ensuring long-term, stable operation in the automotive application environment. The chips also comply with ISO 21434 for cybersecurity, with software development following the ASPICE process.
With its innovative architecture and advanced process technology, the Dubhe 1T4R and 2T4R UWB SoCs achieve breakthroughs in performance, reliability, and energy efficiency for kick sensing radar, empowering smart tailgate systems. As vehicles continue to evolve toward higher levels of intelligence, Calterah’s high-performance UWB solutions powered by Dubhe chips will play an increasingly vital role in a wider range of automotive sensing applications.
