RADAR Full Form

Radar full form in English is known as Radio Detection And Ranging. It is an electronic device that uses the microwave segment or ultra-high frequency of the radio spectrum to identify obstacles in order to control and identify the area of a spot or the range of an object. RADAR can also be used to investigate or identify the speed and regulation of an operational or targeted object. Several countries had secretly planned and produced the application of RADAR during WWII. The term RADAR was initially coined by the United States Navy in 1940. The general public is familiar with radar as it is used by law enforcement to determine the speeds of motor vehicles. However, This type of radar does not display an object's exact position but rather calculates its radial speed vector using the Doppler effect.

What is RADAR Full Form?

RADAR  full form, as mentioned above, is Radio Detection and Ranging. A radar detector, which is made up of a simple UHF/microwave broadband receiver can be installed in a car or truck to alert drivers to the existence of police radar. However, Radar detectors are prohibited in some states. The Weather Service employs ‘Doppler radar’ to determine not only the locations and extent of storm but also the wind patterns and aloft velocities which is mentioned in the system. Doppler radar uses a combination of both position-sensing and speed-sensing radar to determine the location and intensity of severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, cyclones and tornadoes.

Radar is used on high-frequency (HF) radio bands ranging from (5 MHz to 20 MHz) in an attempt to receive an early warning in the event of a nuclear attack via ballistic missiles. The ionosphere level of the atmosphere refracts HF waves, allowing for a much larger system range than radar at UHF or microwave frequencies. The signals from these systems became unstable during the 1970s and early 1980s due to the interference they caused. The term "woodpecker" was coined by several radio amateurs to describe the sound of HF over-the-horizon radar pulses in communications receivers.

What is the Working Principle of RADAR?

We have already discussed radar full form in English and its uses, now the principle on which the RADAR works is mentioned below:

• RADAR works by transmitting an electrical signal and flow through the environment.
• Moreover, the objects recognised as targets disperse nearly all of the energy, but only a small or minimum portion is diverted back to the RADAR.
• As distributed radiation enters the receiver channel from the targets, scattered signals combine to form a strong signal.

Various Applications of RADAR

The uses of RADAR are widely spread. It is also used to detect various intimate missions to identify the security threats. Few more applications of the RADAR are:

• Radars are used to carry a variety of military operations. They are used for naval, ground and air defense purposes to identify the threat.
• Generally, the Satellites and spacecraft are tracked and detected using RADARs.
• RADARs are used to control air traffic in a safe and secured manner. During bad weather, it is used to guide aircraft for proper landing and take-off to avoid any mishaps.
• RADARs are widely used by the transportation sector for law enforcement, particularly in highway patrol to measure the speed of a vehicle during a pursuit.

What are Benefits of Using RADAR?

The RADAR emits a short radio pulse of very high power into space, called a ‘probe pulse’. The probing pulse is focused in a specific direction using a device called ‘directional antenna’ and propagates through space at the speed of light. Therefore the speed and accuracy of RADAR is a significant benefit. However, few more benefits of using RADAR are:

• Radar can penetrate natural mediums such as fog, clouds, snow and mist.
• Radar signals can also pass through the isolators.
• Radar is capable of pinpointing an object's location through its accuracy.
• Radar can help in determining the exact distance between two objects.
• Radar can determine the difference between stationary and moving targets making it clear for the mission.
• Radar signals do not require a medium for transmission which saves the time consuming factor.

Extended Application of RADAR

Generally, a large number of applications use RADAR in its system. With the advent of modern-era technology, it has potentially become a reliable/economical or efficient, and generally used technology for detecting objects from a distance. A few of the extended uses and applications of RADAR are:

• In Air Traffic Control- In both passenger aircraft and ground control stations, RADAR is used to carry out the detection and navigation. The use of RADAR can also transmit the signal and warn the pilots and air traffic control about extreme, unfavorable, or unforeseen circumstances or weather conditions.
• In Military Applications- The fighter jets use RADAR technology to detect and find out the altitude and detect the presence of any other physical structure or aircraft nearby. RADARS, on the other hand, are also used in ships and submarines for carrying out the task of navigation and also help in the detection of mines.

Use of RADAR in Automobiles- Autonomous vehicles use RADAR and other technologies like LIDAR and camera sensors to create a virtual 3D profile of the surroundings. Generally, the use of high-frequency RADAR is more in cars as the point of accuracy is given more priority than range.

Certain Limitations of RADAR

Along With various advantages, certain limitations of RADAR is mentioned below:

• Setting a lock or position on an entity with radar takes a long time.
• Radar also has a larger beam size ranging more than 50 feet in diameter.
• The Radar has a limited range of 200 feet which limits its wider application.
• Radar can also interact with a variety of objects and mediums in the air.
• Radar cannot distinguish between multiple targets or provide a compact solution.

What is Radar Imaging?

Radar can detect one target from another (for example- a bird from an aircraft) and some systems can recognise specific clusters of targets (for example- a commercial airliner as opposed to a military jet fighter). Target recognition is achieved by measuring the target's size and speed as well as observing the target in one or more dimensions with high resolution. Propellers and jet engines alter the radar echo from the aircraft which can help with the target recognition. 

For example- The flapping of a bird's wings in flight produces a distinctive modulation that can be used to detect the presence of a bird or to distinguish one type of bird from another and prevent any mishaps.