Radar

Basic principle-

Radar is a system or technique for detecting the position, movement, and nature of a
remote object by means of radio waves reflected from its surface.The term radar, an acronym for
radio detection and ranging,

Radar was developed (c.1935–40) independently in several countries as a military instrument for
detecting aircraft and ships. One of the earliest practical radar systems was devised (1934–35) by
Sir Robert Watson-Watt, a Scots physicist

In 1946 radar beams from the earth were reflected back from the moon. Radar contact was
established with Venus in 1958 and with the sun in 1959, thereby opening a new field of
astronomy—radar astronomy.

Principles of Radar
Radar involves the transmission of pulses of electromagnetic waves by means of a directional
antenna; some of the pulses are reflected by objects that intercept them. The reflections are
picked up by a receiver, processed electronically, and converted into visible form by means of a
cathode-ray tube. The range of the object is determined by measuring the time it takes for the
radar signal to reach the object and return. The object's location with respect to the radar unit is
determined from the direction in which the pulse was received.

The velocity of the object is measured by applying the Doppler principle: if the object is
approaching the radar unit, the frequency of the returned signal is greater than the frequency of
the transmitted signal; if the object is receding from the radar unit, the returned frequency is less;
and if the object is not moving relative to the radar unit, the return signal will have the same
frequency as the transmitted signal.

Radar measurement of range, or distance, is made possible because of the properties of radiated
electromagnetic energy.

1. Reflection of electromagnetic waves

This constant speed allows the determination of the distance between the reflecting objects
(airplanes, ships or cars) and the radar site by measuring the running time of the transmitted
pulses.
 

This energy normally travels through space in a straight line, and will vary only slightly because of
atmospheric and weather conditions. By using of special radar antennas this energy can be focused into
a desired direction. Thus the direction (in azimuth and elevation of the reflecting objects can be
measured.

Radar Basic Principles

The following figure shows the operating principle of a primary radar set. The radar antenna
illuminates the target with a microwave signal, which is then reflected and picked up by a
receiving device. The electrical signal picked up by the receiving antenna is called echo or
return. The radar signal is generated by a powerful transmitter and received by a highly sensitive
receiver.
 Figure 1: Block diagram of a primary radar

All targets produce a diffuse reflection i.e. it is reflected in a wide number of directions. The
reflected signal is also called scattering. Backscatter is the term given to reflections in the
opposite direction to the incident rays.

Radar signals can be displayed on the traditional plan position indicator (PPI) or other more
advanced radar display systems. A PPI has a rotating vector with the radar at the origin, which
indicates the pointing direction of the antenna and hence the bearing of targets.

Transmitter
The radar transmitter produces the short duration high-power rf pulses of energy that are into
space by the antenna.

Duplexer
The duplexer alternately switches the antenna between the transmitter and receiver so that only
one antenna need be used. This switching is necessary because the high-power pulses of the
transmitter would destroy the receiver if energy were allowed to enter the receiver.

Receiver
The receivers amplify and demodulate the received RF-signals. The receiver provides video
signals on the output.
Radar Antenna
The Antenna transfers the transmitter energy to signals in space with the required distribution
and efficiency. This process is applied in an identical way on reception.

Indicator
The indicator should present to the observer a continuous, easily understandable, graphic picture
of the relative position of radar targets.

Applications of Radar
The information secured by radar includes the position and velocity of the object with respect to
the radar unit. In some advanced systems the shape of the object may also be determined.
Commercial airliners are equipped with radar devices that warn of obstacles in or approaching
their path and give accurate altitude readings. Planes can land in fog at airports equipped with
radar-assisted ground-controlled approach (GCA) systems, in which the plane's flight is observed
on radar screens while operators radio landing directions to the pilot. A ground-based radar
system for guiding and landing aircraft by remote control was developed in 1960.

Radar is also used to measure distances and map geographical areas (shoran) and to navigate and
fix positions at sea. Meteorologists use radar to monitor precipitation; it has become the primary
tool for short-term weather forecasting and is also used to watch for severe weather such as
thunderstorms and tornados

Radar can be used to study the planets and the solar ionosphere and to trace solar flares and other
moving particles in outer space

Various radar tracking and surveillance systems are used for scientific study and for defense

A radar system known as Space Detention and Tracking System (SPADATS), operated
collaboratively by the Canada and the United States, is used to track earth-orbiting artificial
satellites.
Three 34-meter (110-foot) diameter Beam Waveguide antennas located at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications
Complex in the Mojave Desert in California. This is one of three complexes that make up NASA's Deep Space Network that
provides radio communications for NASA's interplanetary spacecraft and is also used for radio astronomy and radar
observations of the solar system and the universe.

internal construction. Behind the skin of some aircraft are structures known as re-entrant triangles.
Radar waves penetrating the skin of the aircraft get trapped in these structures, bouncing off the
internal faces and losing energy. This approach was first used on the F-117.

Stealth technology

techniques used with personnel, aircraft, ships, submarines, and missiles, in order to make them less
visible (ideally invisible) to radar, infrared,[2] sonar and other detection methods.