Abstract The paper begins by explaining basically what radar is and for what it's used. Then the paper recounts the history of radar's development, both theoretically and practically. From the history of radar the paper returns to the question of how it works, but analyzes the physics in depth, and breaks down the operation of each of a radar system's components. The paper finishes with a review of modern applications of different types of radar systems.
Table of Contents:
The History of Radar Robert H. Rines - American Father of Radar How Radar Works
The Radar Transmitter System
The Oscillator
The Modulator
The Transmitter
The Antenna
Types of Radar Simple Pulse Radar Continuous Wave Radar Phased-Array Radar Secondary Radar Modern Radar References
From the Paper "Parallel developments occurred in a number of countries. The highest frequency at which then-current technology allowed substantial power to be generated was about 30MHz, the top end of the HF band. UK radar development proceeded rapidly from 1935 so that by 1937 the first operational (HF) radars of the Chain Home series were demonstrated. These frequencies were in place at the outbreak of World War II and played a decisive role in the air defence of Britain during the War. Wartime radar development quickly moved on to shorter wavelengths as devices were developed to allow generation and control of the power, but the Chain Home radars remained in service, as originally installed. The Chain Home radars, operating between 25 to 30MHz, on occasions indicated returns from extreme ranges, due to ionospheric reflection beyond the horizon. But they were intended as line-of-sight radars and long-range returns from the distant ground via an ionospheric reflection were generally only a source of confusion. During the War some attempts were made to use the ionospherically propagated signal for long range detections of convoys but no success was achieved (or could be expected) and tests were dropped."
Abstract This report is designed to introduce the future officer to traffic radar. It explains to the future police officer the kind of radar units he/she may encounter on a job, how they work, public opinion of them and touches on the potential health hazards that radar units can present.
From the Paper "Since its introduction to traffic law enforcement in 1948, radar has been an integral component of vehicular speed measurement. Each year hundreds of thousands of dollars are collected in courts throughout the nation from motorists whose speed was monitored with the aid of this electronic instrument. Today, radars overall efficiency and effectiveness have been greatly enhanced. In spite of its great improvements, radar is currently being scrutinized, questioned, and challenged, not only for its reliability but also for the quality of operator training. "
Abstract The paper analyzes the radar cameras and red light cameras on the road. The paper relates how since the 1990s these technological methods for catching motorists in the act of speeding or running red lights has been touted by advocates as a powerful weapon for improving the safety of the roads. The paper explains, however, that critics call the technology Orwellian and they claim that the cameras have been employed primarily to increase revenue both for individual cities as well as the vendors who provide this technology. This paper researches the general pros and cons of the issue, examining some pertinent legislation.
From the Paper "The purpose of this paper is to examine the radar cameras and red light cameras. Since the 1990s these technological methods for catching motorists in the act of speeding or running red lights has been touted by advocates as a powerful weapon for improving the safety of the roads. However, critics call the technology Orwellian and claim that the cameras have been employed primarily to increase revenue both for individual cities as well as the vendors who provide this technology. This paper will research the general pros and cons of the issue, examining some pertinent legislation as well as the major claims of both sides of the matter. In the end, however, it is and will be my position that photo radar and red light cameras are effective only at lining the city coffers."
Abstract This essay is an examination of the shoot-down of KAL flight 007 in 1982. The author puts forth the idea that KAL 007 was used by the Reagan administration to test Soviet radar capabilities and that once the plane was shot down by Soviet fighters, the disaster was covered up.
From the Paper "Official reports claimed the 747 was shot down, crashed into the ocean, and disappeared. No large debris from the crash was every recovered, however. The Soviets claimed they had found the plane in 300 feet of water off an island near Japan , but never removed the wreckage. Only tiny pieces of the plane and small body parts were ever found. The small sizes of the pieces recovered indicate depressurization of the cabin, and that the plane was not destroyed in the air."
Tags: nuclear, radar, reagan, soviet, union, weapons, shultz, kgb, terror
Abstract This paper looks at the B-2 Stealth Bomber program which is funded by Congress and supported by different administrations. The B-2 Bomber is noted for its use of stealth technology, which makes it virtually invisible to radar as a means of detecting its presence. It examines how critics have pointed out a number of flaws in this technology and in the entire program together with a report from the General Accounting Office in 1998 was especially critical and generated a response from the Air Force in an attempt to counter the critics. It shows how an evaluation of the project suggests that while the technology could be useful, it is not yet sufficiently developed to be utilized at the level the Air Force would like and the costs would support.
From the Paper "The B-2 bomber might be useful in certain situations, but the number that are already in operation could suffice for such operations. The Pentagon originally stated that it needed only 20 B-2s for all purposes, and it has more than that now. The manufacturer claims it can make the bombers less expensively, but this does not mean they are needed (Thompson 41). While high cost might be a consideration in determining whether such a system is needed or not, the primary rationales should be need and effectiveness. In the case of the B-2, not only is it expensive, it is also probably not needed and does not work as advertised in any case. Given that there is no evidence at all that the bombers can be fixed or that they will suddenly become needed, the program should be ended. Even if there were such evidence, the costs might not be justified by the small return that would be achieved."
Abstract The paper reveals that tornadoes are one of nature's most powerful forces. The writer explores the strengths of a tornado, the type of damage it does and the steps that can be taken to warn communities of its possible arrival. The paper discusses the Doppler radar system that can detect a tornado while it is still in the sky, the tornado siren system and trained human storm chasers and spotters. The paper explains that one of the problems with tornadoes is their unpredictability, but as emergency management teams nation wide continue to improve, the public will become increasingly safer.
Outline:
Introduction
Damages
Assessment
Warning the Public
Conclusion
From the Paper "Out of all the natural disasters that can occur, tornadoes are often considered the most damaging and the most dangerous. While earthquakes are unpredictable, they have not developed a history in the United States of frequent occurrence or many deaths. Hurricanes, with the exception of Katrina usually provide enough advanced warning that the emergency management coordinators can provide notice to evacuate. Tornadoes, however, often strike with little or no warning and they can come in "swarms" during optimum weather conditions(Gugliotta, 2003)."
This paper discusses how scientists predict the number of hurricanes expected during a season as well as the development and motion of a single hurricane.
Abstract The paper looks at the role of observation in hurricane forecasting by satellites ships, buoys, reconnaissance aircraft, radiosondes and radar. The paper then relates that scientists use complicated computer models to chart the storm's intensity and progress and issue warnings to the public. The paper discusses the prediction models available and shows how it is extremely difficult to forecast hurricanes totally correctly throughout the hurricane season, since there are still too many variables in gathering and analyzing the data that is available.
From the Paper "Observation is the first element of hurricane forecasting, and it includes several methods of observing and tracking hurricanes and tropical storms that could develop into hurricanes. Observation begins when the predicted storms are far away from land and still far out to sea (all hurricanes form over oceans). The first method of observation is satellites, or the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES). These satellites are used to provide a wide variety of data on the forming hurricanes, such as "location, size, movement, and intensity of a storm, and analyze its surrounding environment" ("Observations"). In addition, the satellites emit radiation that reflects from the atmosphere, which allows the satellite to measure moisture, winds, atmospheric temperature, and cloud cover of the storm. All of this data is transmitted to the NHC, where it is analyzed."
Abstract Kids decoder rings in cereal boxes, the puzzles in the comic pages of the daily newspapers and high-tech encryption all have something in common, they are all variations of cryptography. The paper shows how, ever since the early days of civilization, people have been trying to encode massages to keep secrets from falling into the hands of the wrong person. Today the science and math of cryptography go way beyond switching letters around according to a certain pattern, but if a person remembers that the basic idea is the same, cryptography can be a fascinating endeavor into math, science, and even into language itself. This paper reviews the history of cryptography and the many things encryption has been used for in the past. It then looks at how encryption is used in modern times and for what purposes. The paper explains cryptography from a mathematical point of view, following the development of encryption and cryptography mathematically. Finally, it looks at the future of this science.
From the Paper "One of the most important developments came in the form of the Wheel Cipher. The Wheel Cipher was created by Thomas Jefferson, possibly with the help of Dr. Robert Patterson, a mathematician at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1913, Captain Parket Hitt reinvented the Wheel Cipher in strip form. This lead to the creation M-138 -A, used in World War II. Just a few years later in 1916, Major Joseph O. Mauborgne ut Hitt's strip cipher back into the wheel form, strengthened the alphabet construction, and produced the device that would lead to the M-94 cipher device. These devices, along with encryption courtesy of the Navajo people, helped the allies defeat Germany, Japan, and Italy in World War II."
Abstract The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is tasked with controlling all flights in the United States, which includes landings, take offs, flight paths and monitoring planes in flight. This is a huge job, to say the least, and the FAA, despite its best efforts, still has weaknesses within its air traffic control systems that must be dealt with. This paper addresses the two primary ones, which have to deal with computers and controllers.
From the Paper "The Standard Terminal Automation System (STARS) was designed to replace the AAS, but it, too, was plagued with inefficiencies. This had the same goal as AAS, that is, to bring together flight-plan data, air-traffic automation systems, terminal-control facilities, and radar systems nationwide. However, not only was the project completed years past the original completion date and millions of dollars over budget, but it failed to improve much of the FAA's IT infrastructure. What will replace STARS remains to be seen."
Abstract This paper discusses how the mechanization of war, which began tentatively in the 19th century, has been its dominant feature in the 20th and how this mechanization is most obvious and most often thought of, in terms of weapons: machine-gun, aircraft, missiles. It evaluates three campaigns which trace the progress of their fluidity in 20th-century warfare. It looks at how the first, the Battle of France in 1940, tested the German fluid doctrine against the French static doctrine. The second, the Tet Offensive of 1968 in Vietnam, tested the American development of fluid warfare against a doctrine, designed for the special conditions of Vietnam, to move "below the radar" of the industrial warfare system. The third, the Persian Gulf War, tested against the industrial system a new, post-industrial development that accelerated movement to hyperspeed.
From the Paper "In Hue, "the urban landscape denied the [US and South Vietnamese] their two greatest weapons -- mobility and firepower" (Arnold, p. 78). Attacking with complete tactical surprise, the VC/NVA captured the ancient citadel within two hours. An American (MACV, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam) compound across from the city managed to organize a scratch defense with only five minutes' warning after an initial rocket barrage, and narrowly held out. Once a relief force for the MACV compound arrived, two months of desperate street-by-street fighting followed before the ruined city was retaken (Arnold, pp. 69-84). If in Hue itself the "urban landscape" restricted the tactical mobility of American forces, on a strategic level the effects of mobility were both decisive and all but invisible. No account seems to mention this factor, doubtless because it is so taken for granted as not to be noticed. In the initial hours of the nationwide offensive, with almost every strong point (even Tan Son Nhut airbase), each had to look to its own defense. But once any given strong point had weathered the initial storm, it could dispatch mobile forces to the support of others harder-pressed."
Abstract This paper examines and analyzes the process of predicting tornadoes. The use of technologies such as Doppler radar and Optical Transient Detectors is discussed, as are meteorological indicators of tornado formation in supercell storms.
Abstract This paper looks at the early history of the airplane, what innovations have been made since its conception, mistakes made as airplanes evolved, and what possible changes will be made in the airline industry in the future. This information is evaluated with regard to the impact airplanes have had on transportation and the transportation industry.
From the Paper "At the end of the 1800?s, several people were trying invent the airplane. In 1891, German engineer Otto Lilienthal started to experiment with hang gliders. He based his experiments on the conceptions of Sir George Cayley, who had extensively studied birds and their flight almost a hundred years earlier (invention.psychology.msstate.edu/). Cayley discovered ?the lift function and the thrust function of bird wings were separate and distinct, and could be imitated by different systems on a fixed-wing craft (invention.psychology.msstate.edu/).? Lilienthal dealt with a fixed-wing glider at first, instead of a complete airplane. He made airline invention a respectable concept since he was a noted engineer. Prior to his involvement, inventors of airplanes were looked upon as crackpots and wild-eyed dreamers."
Abstract This paper examines the life of Michael Jackson, who has established himself as one of the most successful musical artists of all time. It shows how, for many years, Michael Jackson fell under the media's main radar, even though some felt he continued to be a superstar who, at any time, could produce a new hit. In particular, it looks at how after ABC's 20/20 aired an interview produced by Martin Bashir in February of 2003, named "Living with Michael Jackson", Jackson quickly returned to the headlines. It examines how he became the brunt of comedians? jokes, how he raised concerns of childcare advocates, how he raised the interest of the IRS, and was seen by many as a poor father and maybe even a pedophile.
From the Paper "Besides the rumors, other issues throughout the mid 90's began to raise that started to aid his fall from grace. For one thing, Jackson was getting older. But besides Jackson's age, it appeared that the singer was bleaching his skin and altering his facial features with excessive plastic surgery. Although he vehemently denied that he had multiple plastic surgeries in recent interviews, Jay Leno's monolog makes one wonder. The mid 90's brought about sudden fashion changes. The grunge wardrobe of the rock world for example made Jackson's wardrobe suddenly strange. The fact that Jackson needed protective masks and umbrellas on sunny days to shield him from the elements made additional rumors circulate that he was getting stranger as time wore on. But then, accusations and a hushed settlement concerning homosexual pedophilia made people start to question who the King of pop really was."
Abstract This paper provides a brief overview of the "free flight" system of air traffic control and compares it with the present air traffic control system. The paper also describes the limitations of the current air traffic system and then goes on to explain how the 'free flight' system promises efficiency and profitability for the airline industry.
From the Paper "With more than 50,000 flights taking to the skies everyday the present US air traffic control system places increasing strain on the control room staff who have the responsibility of tracking, guiding and directing the pilots. Under the current system, the air traffic controllers resolve conflicts in airspace using radar signals and regulating traffic by means of adjusting the altitude and speed limit of the different flights. As James Coyne, president of the National Air Transportation Association, says, ?All of the information that flows to and from a pilot today in virtually all aircraft is done on a strictly single-voice channel, back and forth, with human beings actually saying all the words live. As anyone can imagine, that is an extremely inefficient way to convey data." [Jacques Leslie] Pilots are dependent upon the instructions from the control room to avoid conflicts and disaster in airspace. Once the aircraft is cleared by the departure controller and left the TRACON (terminal radar control) airspace, it is monitored enroute by the personnel in the ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center) who continue to provide the pilots with the traffic, altitude and speed instructions. [Craig C. Freudenrich Ph.D] For most airways however, the stipulated altitude, route and speed restrictions do not contribute to optimal efficiency."
Tags: deregulation, satellite, technology, navigation, equipments, radars, aviation, communication
Abstract This paper provides an overview and background of the history of electrical engineering. The paper discusses some of its key contributors and examines the primary functions of electrical and electronic engineers today. The paper explores the future trends in employment in this field. A summary of the research is presented in the conclusion.
From the Paper "Knowledge of electricity is certainly not new. The fact that amber ("electra" in Greek) when rubbed will attract light objects has been well established for more than 2,000 years. Likewise, the unique properties of the lodestone or magnet have been widely known and used by mankind for a wide variety of purposes for over 1,000 years; however, it was not until the eighteenth century, that significant progress was made in the understanding and use of electrical energy (Electronics 1). Today, electrical engineering embraces a wide range of sciences and disciplines, and the applications for such processes continue to be identified and expanded."
