Radarbased

Radar-based systems use radio waves to detect objects and measure their properties. They emit microwave or radio-frequency pulses and analyze the echoes to estimate range, relative velocity, and bearing. Different radar configurations exist, including pulsed radar, continuous-wave radar, and frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar; FMCW is widespread in automotive and industrial sensing due to its ability to provide both distance and velocity information in a compact form. Radar can operate in all weather and lighting conditions, making it a robust choice for sensing applications.

Applications of radar-based sensing span transportation, meteorology, aviation, maritime, robotics, and security. In the automotive industry, radar-based systems support adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. Weather radars track precipitation and atmospheric movement. Maritime and aviation radars provide navigation and collision avoidance. In robotics and drones, radar enables autonomous navigation and obstacle detection, often alongside cameras or lidar in a sensor fusion framework.

Core concepts include the radar equation, target cross section, and Doppler processing. Signal processing techniques such as clutter suppression, constant false alarm rate detection, and synthetic aperture methods are used to improve detection and resolution. Challenges include resolution limits determined by wavelength and aperture, interference and weather effects, and the need to manage false positives in cluttered environments.

Because radar can detect non-reflective or hidden objects and function in poor visibility, radar-based technologies are widely used, but they require careful design to address cost, power consumption, regulatory constraints, and potential interoperability issues with other sensors.