Radio detection and ranging (radar) are sensor systems based on radio waves with frequencies up to terahertz. Modern applications can be found in astronomy, surveillance, geography, vehicles, and smartphones (for instance Google's Soli for gesture recognition). Remote sensing is the processing of data required to identify geometries and material parameters of the objects scanned by the radar, for instance when surveying the polar ice caps by satellites.

The course provides a general description of radar systems and remote sensing, and the electromagnetic theory for how the radar waves propagate in the atmosphere and reflect from objects. Each student gets to design the parameters of a radar system for a specific application, where the ability to balance different requirements should be demonstrated.