科研项目

电子科技大学 格拉斯哥学院 2017级 石金可
Radar, derived from Radar in English, is the abbreviation of radio detection and ranging, which means “radio detection and ranging” in Chinese, i.e. the use of radio to detect targets and determine their spatial location. Because of this, radar is also known as “radio positioning”. Radar is an electronic device that uses electromagnetic waves to detect targets. Radar irradiates the target by transmitting electromagnetic wave and receives its echo. From this, the information of distance, range change rate (radial velocity), azimuth and altitude from the target to the emitter of electromagnetic wave can be obtained.

The basic concept of radar was formed in the early 20th century, but it did not develop rapidly until after World War II. At the end of the 19th century, with the gradual establishment of electromagnetic theory and significant breakthroughs in electromagnetic wave experiments, the foundation for the generation of radar was laid. In 1864, Maxwell put forward the electromagnetic theory and predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves. In 1886, Hertz, a German physicist, proved the existence of electromagnetic waves through experiments, and verified the occurrence, acceptance and scattering of electromagnetic waves. Two years later, in 1888, Hertz successfully used the instrument to generate radio waves. From 1903 to 1904, Szyn Helsmeyer invented point motion. He developed the most primitive collision avoidance radar by using a radio echo detection device, which can detect electromagnetic waves reflected from ships.

During World War I, because of the urgent need for a kind of equipment to search the air in Britain, the scientific community began to study the Pulse Doppler Radar used to detect aircraft and ships extensively at that time. At that time, the radar was mostly used in military operations. During World War II, the function of radar was further enhanced, and the high-power magnetron, which had the most important influence on the development of radar, came out, and radar electronic warfare took place for the first time in this period.

After the end of World War II, the technology of moving target display appeared in the late 1940s. This technology is conducive to finding targets in the background of ground clutter, cloud and rain clutter. Because high performance moving target display radar must transmit coherent signals, power traveling wave tube, klystron, forward wave tube and other devices have been developed.

In the 1950s, high-power klystrons began to be used with radar. The transmitting power of this kind of radar is two orders of magnitude higher than that of magnetrons. Its applications mainly include microwave radar, pulse compression, synthetic aperture radar, meteorological observation radar and recording pulse Doppler technology.

Since the 1970s, due to the rapid development of digital signal processing technology, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has developed rapidly. Phased array radar and pulsed Doppler radar developed in the 1970s. In this period, with the scientific progress of microelectronics and other fields, the connotation and research content of radar are constantly expanding. Its detection methods are not only limited to radar detectors. Radar detection methods have been developed to use infrared, ultraviolet, laser and other optical detection methods to fuse and cooperate.

Since the 1980s, phased array radar technology has been widely used in tactical radar. During this period, the main phased radar developed successfully include the Patriots of the U.S. Army, the Aegis of the Navy and the 1B system of the Air Force.

After 1990s, with the gradual development of science and technology, more stringent requirements have been made on the ability of radar to observe stealth targets, the productivity and operational efficiency of anti-radiation missiles and electronic warfare. It is required that radar measure target characteristic parameters, classify targets and recognize targets. In modern warfare, integrated radar systems such as AWACS and JSTARS, which have the capability of identifying enemies or foes in battlefield, have become the information command center in battlefield.

Contemporary radar’s simultaneous multi-function capability enables battlefield commanders to scan targets in various search/tracking modes and automatically correct interference errors. Most of the control functions are accomplished within the system.

With the development of the times, radar technology will play an increasingly important role in our social life, and radar will also have a broader market application prospect. At present, radar has played an important role in detection, guidance, early warning, navigation, meteorology, remote sensing, etc. However, with the development of microelectronics technology, computer technology, electronic countermeasures technology, stealth aircraft technology and the multiple needs of radar to complete special tasks using special technology and signal processing methods. In turn, it can greatly accelerate the development of radar technology, and promote the maturity and wider application of radar technology. In the future, all kinds of new radar systems and other radar with complete functions will play a more important role in daily life and military field.