RADAR

RADAR is an acronym for Radio Detection and Ranging

• It is a type of electromagnetic Sensor used on many platforms from groundcraft, to aircraft, in large facilities, and more.
• RADAR relies on accurate metrics.

Description (Specifications)

RADAR is a sensor system that bounces radio waves (electromagnetic energy) off of a target and detects the reflection.

• It is an active sensor.
• More advanced versions of RADAR may be capable of tight beam transmissions.
• RADAR apparatus can be designed to perform a specialist role, such as Terrain Following RADAR or ground penetrating RADAR.

All-weather RADAR

RADAR performance can be impaired by atmospheric conditions: all-weather RADAR has improved function in a variety of environmental conditions.

• It is an active sensor.

RADAR Direction Finder

RADAR broadcasts can be detected by many sensor systems: a RADAR Direction Finder specifically locates RADAR devices based on the radio waves that they emit. It consists of a receiving array (typically a dish) and a control and interface unit.

• It is a passive sensor.
• A RADAR Direction Finder can detect signals across a variety of wavelength bands.
• It is able to precisely pinpoint the source of a RADAR broadcast.

Countermeasures

• RADAR can be countered by EMM (electromagnetic masking – "stealth" technology)
• It can be confused or overwhelmed by RADAR Jammers.

History & Background (Dossier)

RADAR is limited by realspace physics. The EM broadcasts that the RADAR produces take time to reach their target and their echoes take an equal amount of time to bounce back to the sensor apparatus.

• A RADAR broadcast travels at approximately 300,000 km per second. For example, a RADAR tracking a target at a distance of 900,000 km will have a signal delay of 6 seconds (3 seconds for the EM broadcast to reach the target and 3 seconds for its echoes to return).

Technological Overview of Sensory Devices

• RADAR → LADAR → Densitometer → Neutrino Sensor → Neural Activity Sensor

Technological Overview of RADAR Technology

• RADAR is available from TL–5 onwards.
• Military RADAR's start as large ground-based facilities, but are eventually miniaturized to a point here smaller atmospheric fighter aircraft can carry them.

• Consumer RADAR devices generally become available at TL–7 including speed registering devices and jammers for Ground Cars.

References & Contributors (Sources)

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• Marc Miller. Referee's Manual (Game Designers Workshop, 1987), 68.
• Frank Chadwick, Dave Nilsen. Fire, Fusion, & Steel (Game Designers Workshop, 1994), 50.
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science