RADAR

PREPARED BY: RONNEL A. COMPAYAN

WHAT IS A RADAR?

The word radar is an acronym formed from the word radio detection and ranging.

Using radio waves to detect and locate objects by determining the distance and location
from the radar equipment to the object.
OPERATION

• The radar set consists fundamentally of a transmitter and receiver. When

the transmitted signal strikes an object (target), some of the energy is sent
back as a reflected signal. The small beamwidth transmit/receive antenna
collects a portion of the returning energy called echo signal and sends it to
the receiver.
For military use:
Surveillance and tracking of air, sea, land, and space targets from air, sea, land, and
space platforms. It is also used for navigation, including aircraft terrain avoidance and
terrain following
For civilian use:
Weather observation, geological search techniques, and air traffic control units. All large
ships at sea carry one or more radars for collision avoidance and navigation.
RADAR WAVEFORM AND RANGE
DETERMINATION
Pulse Repetition Frequency(PRF)
-the number of radar pulses(waveform)
transmitted per second.
Pulse Repetition Rate(PRR)
-the pulse repetition rate.
Pulse Repetition Time(PRT)
-the time from the beginning of
one pulse to the beginning of the next.

PRT=1/PRF 1 Radar mile= 2000yd or 6000ft

Range=dt/12.36
PRT=PW +rest time
Range(meters)=cdt/2
RADAR SYSTEM PARAMETERS
Second Return Echoes
-echoes that arrive after the transmission
of the next pulse.
Maximum Unambiguous Range
-the range beyond which targets
appear as second return echoes.

Maximum unambiguous range=PRT/12.2

Range in miles
PRT in microseconds
• Maximum Usable Range- the maximum distance before second return echoes start
occurring.
• Double range echoes- echoes produced when the reflected beam makes a second
trip.
• Peak Power- the useful power of the transmitter contained in radiated pulses.
• Duty Cycle- the ratio of pulse with to pulse repetition time.

duty cycle=pulse width/pulse repetition rate

maximum range = 150PW
where:
range in meters
Pulse Width (PW) in microseconds
BASIC RADAR BLOCK DIAGRAM
The pulse repetition frequency is controlled by a
timer (trigger generator or synchronizer)

Duplexer- an electronic switch that allows the use

of antenna in transmitting and receiving.
DOPPLER EFFECT

Doppler effect- is a phenomenon whereby the frequency of a reflected

signal is shifted if there is a relative motion between the source and the
reflecting object.

Fd=2vcosϴ/ʎ

Fd= frequency change between transmitted and reflected signal

v = relative velocity between radar and target
ʎ= wavelength of transmitted wave
ϴ = angle between target direction and radar system