What is automotive radar and what are its advantages?

Automotive radar uses radio waves (typically 77 GHz for long range, 24 GHz for short range) to detect objects. Radar measures: Distance (time-of-flight), velocity (Doppler shift), and angle (azimuth, elevation) of objects. Advantages include: All-weather operation (works in rain, fog, darkness), direct velocity measurement, long detection range (200+ meters), and cost-effectiveness. Types include short-range (corner radar for blind spots), mid-range (cross-traffic), and long-range (adaptive cruise control). Radar provides robust detection for critical safety functions but has lower resolution than cameras and cannot identify object type visually.