Some Basic Conception of Radar

电子科技大学 格拉斯哥学院 2017级 刘易明
Basic Conception
Radar, as the abbreviation of radio detection and ranging, means using radio to find the target and determine its location and velocity. In modern world, radar is widely used from observing weather to enemy detection.
Working Principle
I. The reflection of electromagnetic wave.
We all know that a beam of wave such as light, sound wave will reflect in the face of barriers. The reflection of light and sound wave helps our eyes and ears to sense outside worlds, while the reflection of electromagnetic wave helps radars. Electromagnetic wave sending by radar will reflect when it meets a barrier and then received by radar. If radar receive reflected wave, it can be determined that an object is in the direction of that wave.
II. The velocity of electromagnetic wave is known.
By principle I , we can detect the direction of objects. However, direction is not enough. In order to measure its location, we need to use the velocity of electromagnetic wave. The time between sending and receiving wave multiply by the velocity of wave is the total distance the wave propagates. And that is right twice of the distance of the object.
III. The Doppler Effect
After determining the location of an object, we also want to know its velocity. That is where Doppler effect used. Doppler effect describes the frequency of reflecting wave will change if the reflector is moving and give an equation of the relationship between the frequency and the velocity. According to the frequency of wave radar sent and received, the velocity of object can be calculated.
Applications
Radar can work in every time and every weather, and can detect the location and velocity of objects precisely. Therefore, it is widely used in not only social economical development, but also in military. According to its applications, radar can be classified into Early Warning Radar, Search and Warning Radar, Guidance and Command Radar, Gun Aiming Radar, Altimeter Radar, Battlefield Surveillance Radar, Airborne Radar, Radio Altimeter Radar, Radar Fuse, Meteorological Radar, Navigation Control Radar, Anti-collision Radar and IFF Recognition Rada and so on.
Summary
Radar, as a typical modern technology, is related to everything in our life. Without radar, our life will become very inconvenient: we can not get the weather forecast, take airplanes, use GPS and so on. Nowadays, the radar technology has developed quite well, but we have not made it fully used. As a university student, we should try our best to learn and aim at contributing to society.