Radar-based object detection for vehicles

A method comprising:

• initiating transmission of an outgoing RF signal via at least one radar-emitting element implemented within at least one radar sensor of a vehicle;
• receiving, via at least one antenna of the radar sensor, an incoming RF signal generated by the outgoing RF signal reflecting off a portion of the driver that is performing at least one gesture;
• determining the gesture based on the incoming RF signal;
• comparing the determined gesture to stored gestures corresponding to known persons permitted to drive the vehicle;
• and
• authenticating the driver as a known person permitted to drive the vehicle based on the determined gesture matching one of the stored gestures.

A vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle controller configured to provide an autonomous driving mode for the vehicle;
• a radar-based object detection component comprising:
• at least one interior radar sensor positioned within an interior of the vehicle and configured to detect a series of gestures performed by a driver of the vehicle, and at least one exterior radar sensor positioned on an exterior of the vehicle and configured to detect characteristics of external objects;
• and
• a radar module implemented at least partially in hardware and configured to communicate control signals to the vehicle controller to allow the driver to operate the vehicle based on the detected gestures of the driver matching a predefined series of gestures corresponding to a known driver.