A high speed radar data acquisition and processing system for an experimental monopulse tracking radar

• Main Author: Burgess, Norman Keith
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: Radar in aeronautics > Data processing
• Online Access: Burgess, Norman Keith (1994) A high speed radar data acquisition and processing system for an experimental monopulse tracking radar, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/21786>; http://hdl.handle.net/10539/21786

A project report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg, April 1994. === This project report describes the development of a high speed data acquisition and processing system (DAPS) for an experimental monopulse tracking radar at the Division of Manufacturing and Aeronautical Systems Technology (Aerotek), of CSIR. The system development involved replacement of existing data acquisition hardware and software with an enhanced, PC based, integrated high speed data acquisition system. The system is used for radar acceptance testing, radar monitoring during trials and capture of large volumes of data for off-line processing to pursue research into the phenomenology of radar cross section. The work performed during the execution of this project represents an effort in three technology areas. These are Digital hardware design of custom interface hardware for the ISA bus as implemented on most PC's. This was not a major aim of the project, but was required in the absence of suitable hardware. Formal software specification and design using the real time extensions of Hatley and Pirbhai to the Yourdon and de Marco data flow analysis methodology. The existing software had not been designed using any formal method, and suffered a lack of documentation throughout all phases of the development. The way this project was undertaken has served as an exercise in following the approach, which resulted in a product which is better documented and more maintainable. There are elements of total quality management that are still missing though. • Quality management during software development. At the time of commencement of the project there was no formal commitment to software quality management at Aerotek. Commitment to IS09000 accreditation in future has required that a solid quality ethic and management system be instituted. Current software development follows this approach. A discussion of the topic appears in the conclusion. The DAPS has been in use for approximately two years now. With continued minor modification to meet new user requirements, it has successfully enhanced the usability of the radar system during trials and measurements with the SAAF. === MT2017