Radar detection system for non-contact human activation of powered closure member

A user-activated, non-contact activation system for operating a closure member coupled to a vehicle body of a vehicle, comprising:

• at least one radar sensor assembly including at least one radar transmit antenna for transmitting radar waves and at least one radar receive antenna for receiving the radar waves after reflection from an object in a detection zone and coupled to the vehicle body for sensing a motion and characteristics of the object in the detection zone and outputting a sensor signal corresponding to the motion and characteristics of the object in the detection zone;
• an electronic control unit coupled to said at least one radar sensor assembly and including a data acquisition module to receive the sensor signal corresponding to the motion and characteristics of the object from said at least one radar sensor assembly;
• said electronic control unit including a plurality of analysis modules to analyze the sensor signal to detect a plurality of extracted features and match the plurality of extracted features to a plurality predetermined matching classes associated with a valid activation gesture by a user required to move the closure member;
• and
• said electronic control unit configured to initiate movement of the closure member in response to the plurality of extracted features matching at least one of the plurality predetermined matching classes associated with the valid activation gesture.