Radar applications

Abstract

Radio detection and ranging (radar) involves the transmission of an electromagnetic wave to a potential object of interest, scattering of the wave by the object, receipt of the scattered energy at the receive site, and signal processing applied to the received signal to generate the desired information product. Originally developed to detect enemy aircraft during World War II, radar has through the years shown diverse application, not just for military consumers, but also for commercial customers. Radar systems are still used to detect enemy aircraft, but they also keep commercial air routes safe, detect speeding vehicles on highways, image polar ice caps, assess deforestation in rain forests from satellite platforms, and image objects under foliage or behind walls. A number of other radar applications abound.