Next-generation radars handle both communication and object tracking. Their constant vigilance quickly drains batteries. Engineers took a cue from astronomy: hunting for exoplanets via the transit method only needs a telescope when a planet crosses its star's disk. Here, too: as long as the target follows a predictable path, the transmitter rests. Predictions come from a Kalman filter — an algorithm that estimates not just the trajectory, but also its own confidence. If a maneuver begins, uncertainty grows (entropy in the system rises, meaning data disorder) and the radar briefly wakes up. The paradox is that occasional pings not only save power but also boost accuracy: less noise from empty scans. Communication doesn't suffer, and devices live longer.
The Kalman filter was perfected on the Apollo lunar modules; today it's inside every smartwatch.