How does the use of active sensing technologies differ from passive methods?

The use of active sensing technologies is associated with the ability to emit energy, such as radar waves or laser pulses, which can gather information regardless of weather conditions. This contrasts with passive methods, which depend on external light sources like sunlight or star light, making them less effective in situations with poor illumination or adverse weather, such as cloud cover or heavy rain.

By using its own energy source, active sensing can penetrate clouds, fog, and other environmental barriers, enabling it to provide data continuously, regardless of the atmospheric conditions. This capability makes active sensing particularly valuable in applications where visibility is compromised.

While passive methods do offer advantages such as potentially lower energy consumption and reliance on naturally occurring light, they inherently restrict their functionality based on environmental lighting conditions. Furthermore, active sensing technologies can yield more detailed and precise information, as the emitted signals can be modulated to encode specific data about the target. Hence, the ability to operate effectively under varying weather conditions sets active sensing apart from passive methods.