Data Recording
A vital part of the radar chain is the data processing unit, with at its output a data stream containing radar plots or tracks under a specific format. The IE Radar Data Recorders are designed to record this data which can be displayed and analysed by dedicated RASS software tools after conversion into a uniform format.
The radar data recording functionality of the RIM782 is similar to the USB Data Recorder (UDR765). The RIM782 has 2 serial data inputs (RS232 or RS422) which support different kinds of radar protocols. Tools are provided to analyse the recorded data for protocol errors or convert the data directly into a display format. The additional inputs azimuth and time make it a real radar evaluation tool. This allows for example evaluating the extraction delay. Furthermore, since the full communication protocol is recorded together with the radar data, an analysis of the line quality and communication protocol syntax is possible.
The RIM782 is also capable of recording radar video signals.
Supported protocols:
- The RIM782 can input the following passive protocols (up to 128 Kb/s) in RASS-R (similar in RASS-S):
- U-HDLC: passive recording of HDLC based protocols, including LAP-B and X25.3 passive monitoring. (eg. ASTERIX, RDIF)
- SYNC 13: Passive recording of most bit protocols as implemented on US radars (CD1, CD2, ASR9, etc …)
- LINK 1: Passive recording of military LINK 1 protocol
- AIRCAT500 – EV760 – TVT 2 – EADS – RSRP – TPS 77 – RAT31
- The RIM782 can output the following passive protocols: U-HDLC – TVT 2 – AIRCAT500
- The following protocols can be recorded and replayed bitwise in RASS-R; recorded and converted in RASS-S at 9600 baud:
AUSTRO – BMIL – CD – ERICSSON 200/SRT – EUROCONTROL – FPS 117 – HUGHES – RAT31S – SVE – TOSHIBA – TRS 22xx
A GPS450 can be connected for UTC time stamping of each incoming radar message with an accuracy of 50μs. This allows the analysis of the processing delay of the radar.
The USB Data Recorder (UDR765) allows you to record 2 lines of serial radar data passively (spy-mode). Tools are provided to analyse the recorded data for protocol errors or convert the data directly into a display format. The software also allows you to record data on LAN, using TCP-IP or UDP-IP based protocols.
Since the UDR765 only allows to record passively, the connection itself is spied
upon by the UDR765. If more than two channels are required, multiple UDR765s can be
"stacked". The additional inputs azimuth and time make it a real radar evaluation
tool.
This allows for example evaluating the extraction delay. Furthermore, since the full
communication protocol is recorded together with the radar data, an analysis of the
line quality and communication protocol syntax is possible.
Supported protocols:
- The UDR765 can input the following passive protocols (up to 128 Kb/s) in RASS-R (similar in RASS-S):
- U-HDLC: passive recording of HDLC based protocols, including
- LAP-B and X25.3 passive monitoring. (eg. ASTERIX, RDIF)
- SYNC 13: Passive recording of most bit protocols as implemented on US radars (CD1, CD2, ASR9, etc …)
- LINK 1: Passive recording of military LINK 1 protocol
- AIRCAT500 – EV760 – TVT 2 – EADS – RSRP – TPS 77 – RAT31
- The UDR765 can output the following passive protocols: U-HDLC – TVT 2 – AIRCAT500
- The following protocols can be recorded and replayed bit-wise in RASS-R; recorded and converted in RASS-S at 9600 baud:
AUSTRO – BMIL – CD – ERICSSON 200/SRT – EUROCONTROL – FPS 117 – HUGHES – RAT31S – SVE – TOSHIBA – TRS 22xx
A GPS450 can be connected for UTC time stamping of each incoming radar message with an accuracy of 50μs. This allows the analysis of the processing delay of the radar.
LAN Recording
Two types of LAN recording tools are developed to record the data that is transported between radar and center or between 2 centers using IP based protocols (UDP-IP or TCP-IP). Active as well as passive UDP-IP or TCP-IP LAN recordings are possible. The following protocols are currently supported: ASTERIX, RDIF, DDE, EADS SIP-PEX, EADS PEX-ST. The recordings are performed using the build in Ethernet port of the computer running the tool.
After the recording has been performed, the data can be converted into a suitable data format for further evaluation (RASS-C Mayer-IOSS or the RASS-S data format). The most important output of the convert process is the RASS plot file, which can be viewed and analysed in the Inventory program as part of the Local Plot and Track Analysis functions of the RASS-S toolbox.
The data conversion program can run in parallel with the recording function, in order to provide immediate viewing of the recorded data. This way the data can be verified visually while recording.
Inventory
The Inventory tool allows you to visualise data in different formats (PPI, vertical diagram, A or C code versus time, Range versus elevation...).
Key features:
- Multi layer presentation of data
- User definable X, Y and Z scale data (any radar data field)
- Input filtering including logical combinations on data fields (AND, OR, NOT)
- Labelling functions
- Real-time display layer for use with data recording and conversion program
- Statistical analysis functions such as a histogram calculation
- Direct linking to multi-level analysis software for visualising the video level of selected plots
- Direct linking with the ASTERIX viewer software for direct viewing of the message data linked to a selected plot
- “Third View” allows additional third axis to be shown as colour information
- Display can have any size (small window to full screen)
The recorded plots and tracks can be filtered or selected for specific properties. Upon loading the RASS-S data, special filter conditions can be set. Specific A codes can be selected, range or azimuthal filters can be set. In fact, data can be filtered on the contents of each of the possible data fields. The multitude of viewing modes allows multiple analysis methods on the recorded data.