Engineering Made Easy: RADAR Basics, Working Principle, Advantages (Benefits), Limitations and Applications (Radio Detection and Ranging)

Basics of RADAR

Radar sends electromagnetic waves to distant objects and analyses the reflected wave (echo signal) to gather information about that object.
Radar is able to detect static or moving targets.
With the help of Radar we can easily find the range, angle and velocity of the target.

Radar provides superior penetration capability through any type of weather condition like rain, fog and snow.
Radar can be used in day or night.
It can detect static or moving targets.
Radar can calculate the range and angle of the target accurately.
There is no need of any medium for the radar to function, as it uses electromagnetic waves (radio waves) unlike SONAR (Sound Navigation Ranging) that uses water as the medium.
As radio waves (electromagnetic waves) are used by the radar, it can be used in space or air.
Functioning of Radar is very fast in comparison to Sonar. since Radar uses electromagnetic waves that travel at the speed of light, while the Sonar uses sound waves; and we know that speed of sound is nothing in comparison to speed of light.
Radar does not need target Corporation to emit any signals or emission.
Radar can be used for quite long Ranges.
Radar signals can target several objects at the same time.

Radars cannot identify the color of the target.
Radars cannot resolve in the details like human - eye, mainly at short distances.
Radar is not able to penetrate the sea (deep sea) to collect data about the target.
Radio signals can be interrupted by other signals as they travel through air and space.
Radar cannot be used beyond the ionosphere as these signals are deflected back to the earth.
Analysis of data that is obtained from the radar needs specialized training.
The data obtained from the radar is not complete as the reflected signals cannot report the complete details of the object (target).

Applications of Radar can be broadly classified into two categories-

Airborne Radar for satellite surveillance
Police Radar for directing and detecting speeding vehicles.
Radar blind Lander, that helps aircraft to land under bad weather conditions or at night
Radar altimeter to calculate height of planes
Radar can also be used for help in navigation on ground or sea even under poor visibility or night time it is not affected
Radars can be used to find the speed of moving targets like automobiles, guided missiles and shells etc.

Radars are used in military to direct guided missiles
They are also used for searching submarines and land masses.
Radars can be used to detect and warn for approaching enemy ships or aircrafts.
For detecting and ranging enemy targets even at night.
To drop bombs on aircrafts, ships or cities at night or under poor visibility conditions.