Continuous Wave and Pulsed Radar Modeling

Continuous Wave (CW) and Pulsed Radar are two fundamental radar systems in radar modeling, exhibiting significant differences in operational principles and application scenarios. MATLAB simulations enable comprehensive understanding of their characteristics and performance metrics.

Continuous Wave Radar (CW Radar) CW radar systems transmit continuous electromagnetic wave signals, primarily used for measuring target velocity (via Doppler effect) or short-range detection. Since the signal transmission is continuous, it eliminates time resolution limitations but faces challenges in direct distance measurement. Common applications include speed sensors and proximity monitoring systems. Implementation Approach: In MATLAB, CW radar can be simulated using continuous waveform generation functions like `chirp` for frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) or simple sinusoidal signals with Doppler processing using `fft` for velocity calculation.

Pulsed Radar (Pulsed Radar) Pulsed radar systems transmit short-duration high-frequency pulses and calculate target distance by measuring echo time delay. This system offers high range resolution, making it suitable for long-range detection and tracking. However, pulsed radar requires complex signal processing techniques like pulse compression and matched filtering (implemented using `xcorr` or custom convolution algorithms) to enhance detection accuracy. Key Algorithm: The range calculation algorithm typically involves threshold detection on correlated pulses, with distance computed as R = c·Δt/2 where Δt is the round-trip time delay.

MATLAB's Role in Radar Modeling: Signal Generation and Modulation: Simulate CW or pulsed waveforms including Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) using `chirp` function or phase-coded pulses with `pulsewaveform` toolbox. Echo Processing: Simulate target-reflected signals and compute key parameters like time delay (using `finddelay`) and Doppler frequency shift (via spectrogram analysis with `spectrogram` function). Performance Analysis: Evaluate critical radar system metrics including detection range (through radar equation implementation), resolution (using ambiguity function analysis), and anti-jamming capabilities with SNR calculations.

Through MATLAB simulations, engineers can optimize radar parameters such as Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF - adjustable via `pulsewaveform` properties) or carrier frequency to enhance overall system performance.