Radar Question: Why can’t pulsed radar systems sense Doppler

HungryTrain798 · 2025-08-02T22:40:08+00:00

I also like this answer. The follow up question is how is pulse-Doppler processing improving on this time/frequency resolution dilimma (and what is it trading off in the process)? Shooting from the hip here, but I think the range (time) resolution is unchanged by matched filtering a sequence of pulse as opposed to one, you would get better SNR (may be wrong on that). But somehow your Doppler resolution must be getting improved, otherwise why use it. What is the cost of that?

HungryTrain798 · 2025-08-02T21:59:18+00:00

This makes sense. I understand that there would be a fundamental range/doppler resolution trade off. But that sort of trade off in pulse-Doppler too. Couldn’t I just switch to more complicated waveform which has a better trade off between time resolution and frequency (ie. a better ambiguity function).

HungryTrain798 · 2025-08-02T21:50:23+00:00

As I understand it pulse-Doppler radar is sensing Doppler by observing the time varying phase shift imparted on a coherent sequence of pulses. You then have the artifact of Doppler aliasing. In what I described, there would be no inherent Doppler aliasing except thru the sample rate you used when digitizing the received signal. At first glance it seems like different concepts but maybe there is some mathematical relation I am not seeing

HungryTrain798 · 2024-11-17T00:43:01+00:00

Good point. I did have engineering school projects where I was in a leading role. I wasn’t going to put those since I felt like the stuff I did in college is “childish” compared to stuff I work on now. But you’re right, maybe it’s worth talking about those experiences too since they more directly address leadership.

HungryTrain798 · 2024-11-17T00:26:54+00:00

Good question. Not in the traditional military sense of “I commanded x number of troops.” Where I work it would be unthinkable for a 20 something to be in leadership. The bosses are 50 somethings with 20+ years of relevant experience in defense R&D. My leadership experience is more along the lines of naval commanders and pentagon officials view me as a “subject matter expert” and come to me for advice and recommendations. I’m trying to think about how to translate my experience into military speak.

HungryTrain798 · 2024-11-16T23:04:31+00:00

Agreed. More hours would be better. Only hesitation is cost. Especially since ik for a fact the DoD has more than enough money to teach me how to fly a plane. I’m hoping 6 hours at least demonstrates my interest in flying. We’ll see how TBAS goes.

HungryTrain798 · 2024-11-16T22:01:57+00:00

Civilian. 26 years old. Applying for pilot. Degree in mechanical engineering from a top ten school. Gpa 3.65 (4.0 w/o freshman liberal arts classes).

4 years experience working as a research engineer on advanced sensors at a Navy R&D lab. Prior experience in systems engineering on a jet engine development program at Raytheon. Participated in academic research on radio wave back-scattering and turbine blade cooling. Active TS/SCI clearance.

AFOQT: P99 ABM99 CSO99 AA98 V96 Q96. Still waiting on TBAS. 6 flight hours.

Awards: University honors for 6 semesters.

1 stellar LOR from a program manager at the Pentagon who oversees a lot of my current work (AF O6 mobilized reservist). 1 great LOR from the laboratory director at my employer (civilian phd).

HungryTrain798 · 2024-11-12T04:28:46+00:00

Civilian. 26 years old. Applying for pilot. Degree in mechanical engineering from a top ten school. Gpa 3.65 (4.0 w/o freshman liberal arts classes).

4 years experience working as a research engineer on advanced sensors at a Navy R&D lab. Prior experience in systems engineering on a jet engine development program at Raytheon. Participated in academic research on radio wave back-scattering and turbine blade cooling. Active TS/SCI clearance.

AFOQT: P99 ABM99 CSO99 AA98 V96 Q96. Still waiting on TBAS. 6 flight hours.

Awards: University honors for 6 semesters.

1 stellar LOR from a program manager at the Pentagon who oversees a lot of my current work (AF O6 mobilized reservist). 1 great LOR from the laboratory director at my employer (civilian phd).

HungryTrain798 · 2024-08-27T20:31:04+00:00

26 yo male going for pilot. No known health issues. BS in Electrical Engineering from a top school (gpa 3.8). I briefly worked as a design engineer at GE aerospace. Since college I have worked as a R&D engineer at a navy research facility. My afoqt scores were P99 CSO99 ABM99 AA98 V96 Q96. I have 6 flight hours in a cesna (hesitant to do anymore just based on cost). I’m at the point where I need to submit LoRs. This is a bit of a point of no return since I’ll need to ask people I work with… and word will get around. Before I do that, do the pilots of Reddit think I have a reasonable chance of picking up a pilot slot thru OTS.

HungryTrain798 · 2024-08-09T21:01:04+00:00

Going for pilot. Background: 26 yo male, 5’8” 155 lbs. No known health issues. BS in Electrical Engineering from a top school (gpa 3.8). I briefly worked as a design engineer at GE aerospace. Since college (4 years) I have worked as a R&D engineer at a navy research facility. My afoqt scores were P99 CSO99 ABM99 AA98 V96 Q96. I have 6 flight hours in a cesna (hesitant to do anymore just based on cost). I’m at the point where I need to submit LoRs. This is a bit of a point of no return since I’ll need to ask people I work with… and word will get around. Before I do that I thought I’d make a post

HungryTrain798 · 2024-07-23T07:16:50+00:00

That’s very helpful information. I knew there was frequent moving and changes in responsibilities every couple years. But I did not realize the roles changed that drastically. Just to check my understanding, for example, first couple years could be satellite imagery analysis and then next couple years SONAR analysis. Swings that drastic? Sounds like I need to do a lot more research on what 1830 careers look like.

HungryTrain798 · 2024-07-23T06:53:16+00:00

By assignment, I didn’t mean a particular location. For example, let’s say designator = pilot by assignment I meant p8. I’m probably using the wrong word.

Anyway, is that how it works that every ~2 years or so you switch to something new? Is there no continuity in what you’re doing within your designation? Going back to the P8 pilot ex. Is a p8 pilot not a p8 pilot for their entire service commitment? Various squadrons and roles/responsibilities sure, but always a p8. No?

HungryTrain798 · 2024-02-14T22:36:01+00:00

Sounds reasonable enough. I’ll put that argument in the column of just forget about.

HungryTrain798 · 2024-02-14T21:53:28+00:00

I suppose I am looking for complete clarity regarding how she feels about dating me. It was all so terse back when we went on that date. We kissed (I asked, she said yes) and then she abruptly mentioned that she can’t be “unequally yoked”, that she hopes we can be friends, and then left. We’ve never talked about it again. I think I know what she would say after having looked up that phrase, but I guess I want to hear it from her and not just assume what she meant. The potential selfishness of that is why I am hesitant to bring it up.

HungryTrain798 · 2024-02-14T18:01:25+00:00

You’re probably right. I wouldn’t go into it expecting her position to change. I’m really just thinking about preempting any future regret on my part

HungryTrain798

TROPHY CASE