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SPx Radar Simulator

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Test, Develop & Train

Easily build complex scenarios to generate realistic radar video, tracks, AIS and navigation data in real-time.

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SPx Radar Simulator

Powerful Simulation Tool

Test and develop radar display systems, configure trackers, train operators, perform radar location surveys and more.

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Key Features

Intuitive graphical controls and tools for advanced simulation.

Easy Scenario Creation

Both targets and the simulated radar origin can be static or configured to follow user-defined motions (paths). Graphical tools are included for the creation of targets and motions, allowing complex scenarios to be created and visualised with ease.

Accepts External Data Inputs

The software can use external data, such as an existing simulation system, to build the scenario and generate radar video. It will accept navigation data, target tracks, AIS and ADS-B feeds. Artificial targets can also be added to real radar video recording or network radar video input .

Network Output of Radar Video and Tracks

Synthetic radar video, navigation data and target data are available as separate outputs on the network and the software is able to generate raw primary video, SSR (IFF) video or MTI video for each radar. This allows SPx Radar Simulator to be used as a powerful test and development tool for real-world client radar display applications.

Simulate Multiple Radars and Platforms

Multiple radars can be simulated on multiple platforms. Each radar can have different properties and may be in a different static location or following a different motion profile. Multiple radars can also be attached to a single moving platform with different offsets to simulate radars at different positions on a ship

Built-in Controls and PPI Display

SPx Radar Simulator is highly configurable with controls to define the radar parameters, targets and motions, as well as to configure how the artificial radar video is generated.

A local PPI display window allows the user to define motion trajectories and position targets using the mouse. The display can show tiled maps and world vector shoreline displays as well as the terrain, adding context and enabling geographically realistic motion trajectories to be created.

SPx Radar Simulator

SPx Radar Simulator Details

Extra Info

Realistic Synthetic Radar Video

SPx Radar Simulator can generate highly realistic radar returns, from multiple radar sources, based on a set of terrain elevation data and user target definitions. Altitude, beamwidth and pulse length considerations are used to create a realistic radar video image. There are also settings for simulated sea clutter, target RCS and radar sensitivity.

Terrain elevation data comes from NASA's "Shuttle Radar Topography Mission" (SRTM), covering most of the world's landmass, with an accuracy of 3 arc-seconds in latitude and longitude. You can also use your own set of DTED data instead. This is used to calculate radar returns from land for a given platform position and can optionally include the line-of-sight along each azimuth, so that land or targets that are obscured by terrain at shorter ranges are not displayed.

Real radar data (either from a live source or recording) can be used as an auxiliary input and supplemented with artificial data that the software is generating, allowing extremely realistic simulations. For example, the injection of rogue target into real radar video to test the reactions of an operator or the behaviour of a tracker.

Scenario Definitions

Complex trajectories can be defined that both targets or the radar platform can follow. These can be created in the display window or by specifying their heading, speed and acceleration (linear or angular) directly within a configuration file.

Several targets can follow the same motion path, separated in time or by a fixed offset and with optional positional noise. This allows simulations where many targets follow a prescribed route (e.g. airport runways, vessel traffic channels, roads or railways).

Platform navigation data, target track data, AIS data or ADS-B data as external inputs can also be used for creating artificial radar video returns allowing simulations from real data (possibly replayed) or an external scenario generator.

Shaped Targets and Buildings

Targets can be defined as complex polygons instead of just length and breadth, allowing simulations of very high-resolution radars (for example airport surface movement radars) which more accurately reflect the returns that may be expected from a real radar. Shaped targets following a motion path are rotated as required to present the correct aspect to the radar.

Buildings may also be defined with complex polygons or ESRI Shapefiles (.shp). As with targets and terrain, buildings contribute to the calculated radar video returns.

Outputs

SPx Radar Simulator is capable of providing many different output data streams in different formats, including NMEA-0183 and ASTERIX. For simulations where the platform is following a motion, NMEA-0183 navigation data messages are output.

Target track messages can also be generated for all user-defined targets. Target reports may be created and output in the form of primary radar tracks (ASTERIX CAT-48 or CAT-10), AIS messages (NMEA-0183), ADS-B messages (ASTERIX CAT-21) or multilateration reports (ASTERIX CAT-20).

Cambridge Pixel's HPx-310 Radar Signal Output card can generate radar signals (video, trigger and azimuth data) from the simulated radar video, providing a complete radar simulation package, capable of driving incumbent radar display equipment.

Configuration Files

All aspects of the simulation, including targets and motions, may be saved to and loaded from configuration files.

Target and motion data are stored in a separate ASCII text-based file (or multiple separate files) to the main configuration parameters, providing external editing and easy sharing of common scenarios across different simulations, such as simulating the same set of targets under different radar noise conditions or with the radar positioned in different locations.

Features

New Features Added

  • ASTERIX CAT-62 target report generation
  • LWE (Lightweight Ethernet) protocol supported for AIS and Navigation Data
  • ASTERIX CAT-8 weather report simulation
  • Multiple navigation data devices simulated
  • DTED format terrain data
  • Course or Heading Up modes
  • Pitch and Roll simulation
  • Plot or Track output

Core Features

  • Ready-made radar video simulator
  • Built-in scenario editor
  • Realistic radar returns generated from:
    • Terrain elevation data
    • User-defined targets
    • External target input
    • Building definitions
  • Primary, secondary (IFF) and MTI video outputs
  • Programmable radar characteristics, including:
    • PRF
    • Rotation rate
    • Beamwidth
  • Multiple radar simulation (2 standard version, 4 extended version)
  • Programmable target size, shape, RCS
  • Support for buildings:
    • User-defined
    • Shapefiles (.shp)
  • Motion definitions for platform and targets
  • Graphical motion profile editor
  • Configuration file support
  • Built-in real-time display
  • Tiled map and world vector shoreline underlays
  • Platform navigation data output
  • Primary target track output
  • AIS target output
  • ADS-B target output
  • ASTERIX CAT-240 radar video output
  • ASTERIX CAT-48 target report generation
  • ASTERIX CAT-10 target report generation
  • Radar video output using HPx-310 radar signal output card
  • External track, AIS, ADS-B and navigation data input
  • Auxiliary video source inputs:
    • Radar recording file
    • Live network radar video
    • Live HPx radar video
    • Test pattern
  • Fixed test target and random target generation
  • Target noise, radar noise and sea clutter
  • Line-of-sight calculations
  • Altitude considerations
Docs
SPx Radar Simulator Brochure
Cambridge Pixel Product Summary Brochure
Images
Radar Solution
SPx Radar Simulator
Radar Solution
Thousands of Targets
Radar Solution
Simulated Weather
Radar Solution
Overlapped Targets
Radar Solution
Multiple Radar Simulations
Radar Solution
Terrain Data
User Manual

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Real-World Application

Samsung Thales Corporation used SPx Radar Simulator along with other tools from Cambridge Pixel to aid in the development of STC’s own advanced technology solutions for Korean naval programs.