Introduction to Radar

UJJWAL KUMAR MISHRA TAWFEEQ KHAN

Functions of Radar
RADAR is a method of using electromagnetic waves to remote-sense the position, velocity and identifying characteristics of targets.

History of Radar
Radar was developed for military purposes during W. W. II. The British and US Military used radar to locate ships and airplanes.

History of Radar

History of Radar
During the war, radar operators found annoying blips continually appearing on the radar screen. Scientists had not known that radar would be sensitive enough to detect precipitations. Today, radar is an essential tool for predicting and analyzing the weather.

Weather Radar
Weather Surveillance Radar, designed in 1957. It became the primary radar for the weather service for nearly 40 years.

Weather Radar
NSSL's first Doppler Weather Radar located in Norman, Oklahoma. 1970's research using this radar led to NWS NEXRAD WSR88D radar network.

The expensive radar equipment is protected by the sphere shaped cover. On the inside it looks similar to this:

Two Basic Radar Types

Pulse Transmission Continuous Wave

Pulse Transmission
Pulse Repetition Time (PRT=1/PRF) Pulse Width (PW) Length or duration of a given pulse PRT is time from beginning of one pulse to the beginning of the next PRF is frequency at which consecutive pulses are transmitted. PW can determine the radars minimum range resolution. PRF can determine the radars maximum detection range.

Pulse Diagram

PRF
Resting Time Carrier Wave

PW

Pulse Radar Components

Synchronizer Transmitter

Power Supply

Duplexer

ANT.

Display Unit

Receiver

Antenna Control

Continuous Wave Radar

Employs continual RADAR transmission Relies on the DOPPLER EFFECT

Doppler Frequency Shifts

Motion Away
Echo Frequency Decreases

Motion Towards
Echo Frequency Increases

Continuous Wave Radar Components

Transmitter Antenna OUT

CW RF Oscillator

Discriminator

AMP

Mixer

IN

Antenna
Indicator

Pulse Vs. Continuous Wave

Pulse Echo Single Antenna Gives Range & Alt. Susceptible To Jamming Physical Range Determined By PW and PRF.
Continuous Wave Requires 2 Antennae No Range or Alt. Info High SNR More Difficult to Jam But Easily Deceived Amp can be tuned to look for expected frequencies