In an object recognition apparatus using a radar unit for a vehicle, in mounting
the radar unit on the vehicle, a transmission wave is outputted throughout an appropriate
angular range in a forward direction of the vehicle in a state where a margin is
given to a tolerance of the mounting angle of the radar unit on the vehicle. Laser
beams are radiated at a target placed at a predetermined positional relationship
relative to the radar unit mounted on the vehicle to extract a laser beam which
provides the maximum light-reception intensity in each of the X-axis and Y-axis
directions. Moreover, a predetermined angular range is set in each of the X-axis
and Y-axis directions so that the laser beam which provides the maximum light-reception
intensity is centered therein, and the predetermined angular range is used as a
recognition area.
