Cambridge Pixel has published an insightful article addressing the complexities of integrating legacy radar systems, particularly those utilized in counter-drone operations, for selective enhancements.
modernizing radar systems for applications such as surveillance, air defence, maritime safety, or naval operations can be a costly endeavor. While a comprehensive overhaul involving antennas, transceivers, radar processing units, and display systems may seem ideal, it often proves too be financially unfeasible and needless if certain components remain functional and serviceable. This raises the critical question of whether specific parts of the system can be upgraded, allowing for the retention of existing components while enhancing others where feasible and cost-effective.
In the realm of processing, contemporary PC-based radar processing and display technologies can effectively replace outdated specialized radar hardware, delivering enhanced performance and easier maintenance without the hefty costs associated with proprietary systems. However, the challenge lies in seamlessly integrating new technologies with older systems.
Integrating new equipment with existing systems presents several hurdles, including:
Documentation Challenges: The necessary documentation outlining the interfaces may be nonexistent, incomplete, or even in a foreign language.
Knowledge Gaps: It may be essential to analyze existing data to infer the intended functionality, often requiring a reverse engineering approach.
Standard Non-conformity: While there is a desire for interfaces to adhere to industry standards, this is often complex by the unique internal interfaces of different system components.
A fundamental aspect of cambridge Pixel’s product design is its modular architecture, which allows for the integration of software and hardware components that can be combined with existing equipment. Tailored engineering solutions can facilitate the incorporation of new software and hardware into an existing radar framework without necessitating a complete system replacement.
As an example, in a national air defense initiative, Cambridge Pixel’s technologies were employed to enhance an existing radar system. The original radar’s transmitter and antenna were retained,while the radar processor,target extractor,and display software were upgraded. the new radar processor interfaced with the radar video from the legacy receiver using standard radar signals.
Cambridge Pixel’s HPx series of radar interface cards offer a versatile array of input options, enabling configuration for various signal types and voltage levels. The legacy radar’s signal can be influenced by the cabling connecting it to the receiving equipment,necessitating some adaptation and gain adjustments in the receiver circuitry to counteract cabling effects. This adaptation is often specific to the installation.
Once the radar video is digitized, software modules handle processing, plot extraction, and target tracking, with the resulting tracks sent to the display system. This project exemplifies how modern radar processing solutions can prolong the operational life of older radar systems. By utilizing standard PC hardware, networks, and graphics cards, the platform becomes more manageable and easier to update.
Creating connections between new and legacy systems requires various conversions, translations, and adjustments to align data formats. Cambridge Pixel offers a suite of software tools specifically designed for radar processing that support such projects, including:
- Data recorders for capturing existing signals and network data
- Visualization tools for displaying data
- Network converters that can redirect or duplicate network data
- Track switches for controlled routing of track messages across networks
- Track filtering based on specific criteria (area, threat level, classification)
- Format conversion tools that transform radar video, plots, or track data from one format to another
- Track annotation features that enrich target messages with additional details, such as threat data, GPS coordinates, or secondary track details (IFF or ADS-B)
Cambridge Pixel’s solutions can be tailored to effectively bridge the gap between the data generated by legacy equipment and the format required for new upgrades.
