AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 4.2.8.2 Tilt Compensation The checkbox Correct for Radar Tilt enables the software to recalculate the horizon by creating a new array of elevation settings based upon the tilt information provided by the compass (if installed). 4.2.8.3 Elevation Scan Elevation scan is used to search an area in the elevation domain where the area being search is broader than the vertical beamwidth of the antenna.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 4.2.9 Zones Tab Zones are setup through the client interface and this panel only allows the user at the AIMS radar server to view the zone definitions. Setup and configuration of zones are discussed in the AIMS Client operating manual.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 4.2.10 Tracker Tab The Tracker Tab (shown below) is used to set the settings of the tracker software. Please note that only the Associator is currently enabled and all the features that uniquely affect the performance of the AB Tracker have been temporarily grayed out (inoperable). 4.2.10.1 Merge Settings The merge settings are used to help reduce redundant contact reports from the same detected target (item of interest).
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual • The Associator is an elemental tracking algorithm that builds basic tracks on adjacent contact detections (within defined range). • The Tracker is a more sophisticated alpha-beta tracking algorithm that includes track projection and probability of error for track continuation (discussed in detail in separate application note). 4.2.10.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 4.2.11 SaveData Tab The SaveData Tab is fairly self-explanatory as this tab is used to establish the conditions and filename attributes that define how Raw IQ data files are saved. 4.2.11.1.1 Autosave Parameters The Autosave settings include; • • • • Automatic Save Save Every x dwells. Range Limits. Azimuth Limits 4.2.11.1.2 Manual Save Parameters The manual save settings include; • • Save Detections Start Save o Immediate o Timed.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual Duration 4.2.11.1.3 RawIQ File Saves The file saving option allows raw IQ data to be stored on the local hard drive in the directory, c:\Data. The file names used will be the system time preceded by the string value listed in the text box, “File Name Base”. Enter the desired file name and check the Save RawIQ File box. Uncheck the box to stop saving data files. 4.2.11.1.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 4.2.12 Compass Tab The Compass Tab settings include; • • • • Comm. Port Assignment. The compass communicates over a serial I/O link o CommPort. Sets the serial port connected to the compass. o TimeOut. Communications timeout value. o BaudRate. Data communications rate. MagVar. The magnetic variance, if available, should be entered for the specific region of activity. Log Received Compass Data.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 4.2.13 Camera Setup Tab 4.2.13.1.1 Camera Parameters For each camera, the settings include; • • • Name. Unique name to identify camera setup. Type. Camera type (Vicon, Pelco, Pelco-D… etc.). The type identifies the communications protocol, configurable attributes and default communications parameters. At current, the AIMS software supports the following types; o None o DI5000 o TASS o QuicksetN2 o Vicon o PelcoD.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual • • • o SerialPort COMM Port BaudRate DataBit StopBit Parity Cam Address. o TCPIP IPAddress Port Offsets. o Look Offset – Az. This offset value defines the azimuth angle difference between the home pins of the radar and the camera (see drawing below). o Look Offset – El. This offset value defines the difference in degrees between the camera look angle (at 0º elevation) and the horizon (up is positive). o Position Offset – Az.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 4.3 Required Configuration Settings As mentioned previously, the configuration of most all of the AIMS Fast-Scan system features should be performed through the client interface.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual Enter in the IP address of the AIMS radar server and click on Connect. You will then be asked for your Username and Password. On all DMT units, an account is created for “DMT Tech” with a password “dmtllc” (case – sensitive).
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 4.3.2 Cameras The standard AIMS camera controls provide functionality for connecting to a camera’s pan/tilt device (via either serial port or TCPIP connection), sending pointing commands to that device, and displaying the video feed from the associated camera.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual The camera setup starts by clicking on the “Change” button to activate the controls in the Camera 1 setup box. A camera type (such as PelcoD) may then be selected from the “Type” dropdown box. Next, a connection type is selected in the “Connection” dropdown box. The connection type refers to the camera’s pan/tilt controller (Serial or TCPIP). For the Pelco cameras, a serial port connection is selected (COMM 3).
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual After completing these setup entries, the next step is to create a camera client object by clicking on the “Create Client” button. This action creates the client object which opens the specified serial port and provides two-way serial communications with the camera controller. The setup box now appears as shown in the figure below.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual Once a camera has been defined, the camera type selection will appear in the “Type” textbox (next to the Camera 1 or Camera 2 label) with a green background, and a “Show Commands” button will appear on the Operation tab page. The Show Commands button activates a pop-up window containing a set of controls for sending commands to that camera type.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual • Point to Mouse Click • Point to radar detection 4.3.2.2.1 Manual Pan/Tilt Controls Both the Client and Radar programs provide a set of manual pan/tilt controls to continuously move a camera while a button is depressed (slew left/right, up/down) or to move the camera to specified azimuth and elevation location.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual AIMS Radar / Pop-up windows for pan/tilt controls on various camera Types The manual pan/tilt controls consist of four button controls (Up- Down –Left- Right or U-D-L-R ) which operate the same as the Client controls. The pan and tilt speed can be adjusted using the Pan Spd and Tilt Spd slide bar controls. Both command windows provide a “GoTo” control which will command the camera to move to an absolute azimuth and elevation position.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual the specified look direction as measured in the Radar’s local coordinate system (and not the camera’s local coordinate system). The Look Offset values entered earlier with the camera setup account for any differences in the Radar coordinate system and the individual camera coordinate system. Selecting the Go To Home button causes the camera to move to a look direction which is aligned with the Radar home position. 4.3.2.2.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual other display symbols on the Client PPI display. If the RadDir is not entered properly in the AIMS Client and Radar programs, then Latitude/Longitude values calculated by the Radar will be incorrect. • Look Offsets – These angles measure the difference (azimuth and elevation) between the Radar look direction at its home position and the camera look direction at its home position.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 4.3.2.5 Camera Look Offsets The figure at right illustrates the geometry for measuring the Look Offset azimuth (LookOffAz) for a camera mounted on top of the AIMS radome, with the Radar and the camera home positions indicated. The Look Offset elevation (LookOffEl) should also be set to “0.” Note that the Radar orientation is expected to be level.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 4.3.3 Compass DMT has selected the Honeywell HMR3000 as the preferred compass device. The Honeywell compass uses a 9-pin serial connector for communications with the AIMS radar. Power is also provided via this connector (see drawing). The serial communications lines should be attached to the serial I/O port on the CPU stack via the Molex connector block (pins 7,8 and 9).
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 4.3.4 GPS DMT has selected the DeLorme Earthmate GPS LT-40 as the preferred GPS device. The GPS uses a USB port on the computer stack for communications and power. The GPS draws approximately 500ma of 5VDC power; a substantial portion of the available power from the USB ports. It is assumed that the GPS unit is already mounted on a stand-post that is designed to support the installation of the GPS and compass.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5 Client Software As previously stated, although most all of the software parameters may be modified through the server interface it is recommended that the normal use and modification of the system parameters be performed from the client interface where more comprehensive error-checking and boundary conditioning is performed to prevent the user from configuring an abnormal operating condition.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual • Aiming the antenna (motion) Additional configurable features include; • • Navigating cameras and viewing video streams Saving/replaying captured data These configurable features are organized in an array of ‘tabs’ that provide user friendly check boxes and option lists and are described in the following section, “User Interface Screens”.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.2 User Interface Screen Overview The basic client screen appears like (picture below): PLAN POSITION INDICATOR (PPI) DISPLAY CAMERA VIDEO DISPLAY DETECTED TRACKS INFORMATION LOGIN SELECT RADAR CONNECTION CONFIGURATION TABS 5.2.1 Login In order to effect any changes to the display or configuration, a user must login; requiring both a Username and Password (Username is logged in the activity audit trail).
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual The client may connect to as many as 16 radar servers at one time. Adding a radar is as simple as clicking on the Radar Controls area and select “Add a Radar.” This version can add up to 16 radar systems. Each new radar is given a button in the Radar Controls area, and the tab set associated with that radar is given an index from 0 to 15. For instance, Error! Reference source not found.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.2.4 Camera Video Display The video from any attached camera is shown in the video display window. If there is no video or if there is a loss of video, this window defaults to a white background with the DMT logo. Video Servers convert analog video streams to digital streams and then pass them over a network. The video server control allows the user to connect/disconnect and to select the video feed shown in the Video Display Window.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3 Configuration Tabs The initial values and selected options on the Configuration Tabs indicate the state of the AIMS Radar once a network connection is established. Changes to the AIMS Radar parameters are made by selecting (clicking) on option buttons and check boxes. Administrator privilege is required to access most of the Setup Tab controls. Controls not available will be grayed out.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.1 Network Tab The Network Tab primary function is to provide the interface to connect and disconnect from the currently selected radar server. SYSTEM STATUS RADAR ADDRESS USER CONNECT/DISCONNECT RADAR MARK POSITION NETWORK TRANSACTIONS WINDOW ‘HARD’ DISCONNECT ERROR REPORTING WINDOW 5.3.1.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.1.4 Connect/Disconnect Radar When selected the client request to connect/disconnect from the radar server. When connected, only the disconnect button is active and when disconnected only the connect button is active. When attempting to connect/disconnect, both buttons will temporarily be disabled until the server verifies the change in status back to the client. 5.3.1.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.2 Processing All of the items on the Processing Tab and Advanced Processing Tab are designed to reduce signal from the environment (known as clutter), reject internal noise and false alarm generators, and increase intruder signal strength. MERGE ALGORITHM TRACK SOURCE MATCHED FILTER SMOOTHING FILTERS A/D BOARD OPTIONS CHANGE TRACKER SETTINGS 5.3.2.1 Track Source 5.3.2.2 Merge Algorithm 5.3.2.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual of range bins needed to match the pulse width automatically. Set MF allows the user to override the automated calculation. DMT have found that performance for the radar is often better when the MF constant is a little lower than the value calculated by the Auto MF procedure. The MF constant value is set and reported in the text box in the lower right corner of the Matched Filter settings box.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.2.4 Smoothing Filters 5.3.2.5 A/D Board Options 5.3.2.6 Change Tracker Settings The Processing tab, Figure 1, contains options for the Matched Filter, FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) processing, applying a DC Offset, and a Speed Threshold. The Advance Processing Tab, Figure 19, contains Smoothing Filters, Ramp Functions, ClutterX options.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual Range Interlacing is an algorithm that mimics the methods used by search and rescue teams to quickly scan large areas in less time. DMT has added this algorithm to speed up search by reducing the number of range bins that must be processed. Figure 8 illustrates the principle. The process should only be used with rotation speed of the radar becomes critical. Figure 2. Range Interlacing.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual The magnitude (strength) of radar signals is normally presented as either linear units (of voltage) or in dB (decibels). Traditionally, dB is used in radar applications because it allows fine details of small signals to be seen with clarity even when very large objects are present. However, DMT uses Linear Mag (linear magnitude) for most site installations. Linear magnitude offers finer control of threshold settings.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.3 Motors Antenna movement and position can be controlled using the commands on the Motors tab. This is primarily intended for use during initial setup, sensor tuning, and troubleshooting. When in position mode the radar can be moved to a specific location (azimuth and elevation) by clicking on the map. To operate in this mode select the Move Radar to Point on Map check box and simply click on the map.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual Reset Motor command must be issued before any positioning or Change Mode commands can be issued. The Reset Motor command starts the motor and sends it to the home or 0° position. Once the motor has reached the home position it will automatically enter the position mode. The Get State command will provides a status message that indicates the current mode of the motor; position or velocity.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual range, the elevation is adjusted by the Delta Elevation Angle. Upon the completion of Number of Rows, the direction of elevation scan is reversed (up-down-up-down…) The elevation scan is defined by: • • • Base Elevation Angle Number of Rows Delta Elevation Angle 5.3.3.3 Scan Speed Control Auto Scan is a learning algorithm that tries to set the optimum motor speed dynamically to insure the desired overlap in azimuth beam positions.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.4 Adv Process RAMP FUNCTIONS CLUTTER X 5.3.4.1 Ramp Functions The ramp functions are used to digitally lower signal strength over a given range swath. They are particularly useful for reducing the affects of processing artifacts generated from very large objects located at close ranges. Large objects at close ranges can reflect so much energy that it saturates the radar at that range. Saturation can cause false target detection.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual be reduced to 30% of its current value. Linear Ramp in Range means the reduction is applied over a linear slope from 0 to Ramp Percent, which the above example is 30%. This linear slope is applied over the Beginning Ranges to Ending Ranges. Step Ramp in Range means the reduction is an equal percentage over the entire range swath defined (Beginning Range to Ending Range). 5.3.4.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.5 SaveData The SaveData Tab is fairly self-explanatory as this tab is used to establish the conditions and filename attributes that define how Raw IQ data files are saved. 5.3.5.1 Autosave Parameters The Autosave settings include; • • • • Automatic Save Save Every x dwells. Range Limits. Azimuth Limits 5.3.5.2 Manual Save Parameters The manual save settings include; • • Save Detections Start Save o Immediate o Timed.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.5.3 RawIQ File Saves The file saving option allows raw IQ data to be stored on the local hard drive in the directory, c:\Data. The file names used will be the system time preceded by the string value listed in the text box, “File Name Base”. Enter the desired file name and check the Save RawIQ File box. Uncheck the box to stop saving data files. 5.3.5.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.9 Camera Setup 5.3.9.1 Camera Parameters For each camera, the settings include; • • • Name. Unique name to identify camera setup. Type. Camera type (Vicon, Pelco, Pelco-D… etc.). The type identifies the communications protocol, configurable attributes and default communications parameters. At current, the AIMS software supports the following types; o None o DI5000 o TASS o QuicksetN2 o Vicon o PelcoD.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual • • • COMM Port BaudRate DataBit StopBit Parity Cam Address. o TCPIP IPAddress Port Offsets. o Look Offset – Az. This offset value defines the azimuth angle difference between the home pins of the radar and the camera (see drawing below). o Look Offset – El. This offset value defines the difference in degrees between the camera look angle (at 0º elevation) and the horizon (up is positive). o Position Offset – Az.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.9.2 Point to Mouse Click This feature allows the user to quickly point any Camera attached to an AIMS Radar to a geographic point on the Client’s PPI display. This action is performed by selecting the desired camera for this command, and then clicking the mouse at the point on the PPI display. This feature is discussed in more detail in the AIMS Client Manual. 5.3.9.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual position. The LookOffAz is the azimuth angle in degrees, measured positive clockwise, from the Radar to the camera. The LookOffEl is the elevation angle in degrees, measured positive up, from horizontal to the camera look direction. These parameters are used by the Radar software to calculate the proper pointing commands for the camera. Errors in the LookOffAz and LookOffEl values will result in incorrect pointing commands sent to the camera.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.9.6 Camera Look Offsets The figure at right illustrates the geometry for measuring the Look Offset azimuth (LookOffAz) for a camera mounted on top of the AIMS radome, with the Radar and the camera home positions indicated. The Look Offset elevation (LookOffEl) should also be set to “0.” Note that the Radar orientation is expected to be level.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.10 LineGraph The Plot Line Graph option on the Line Graph tab plots the maximum Doppler return for each range. This is essentially a two dimensional representation of the FFT data. When selected, a line plot will be updated with each processing cycle of the AIMS Radar. The divisions on the plot can be changed by entering new values for the number of X or Y ticks.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.11 Messages This tab is used to visually monitor the reported traffic between the Radar Server and Client software. The user may elect to see the Track Reports, Broadcast Messages, All Messages or none. The Clear Messages button is used to erase any previous messages from the screen display.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.11.1 Processing Parameters The Go and Stop buttons are used to start and stop the radar. Clicking the Go button sets a flag and puts the radar into the OperateLoop. Once entered the loop is continuous. Pressing the Stop button sets another flag that prevents the Operate subroutine from being called. The Operate loop is where the digitized data is processed. Several check box options are available • Print to GUI.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual • • • Track to Alarm. Checking this box will enable slew-to-cue tracking of the camera to alarm detections. Zone 1. If Track to Alarm has been checked, the checking of this box restricts the tracking to alarms detected within Zone 1 only. Camera FOV Settings.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 5.3.11.5 Restore Factory Settings Used when all other efforts have failed to restore the operational state of the equipment! Before the equipment has left the DMT factory, during the final testing process, a factory settings file is created (“FactorySettings.txt”). Like the Saved Settings file (“SrvrSetMR.txt”), the Factory Settings file is used to restore the equipment to a known operational state. Please do not alter this file.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual 6 Troubleshooting 6.1 No Connection to the AIMS Server. If the AIMS client is not connected follow the instructions listed in Error! Reference source not found.. Be sure that the correct IP address and Port number are entered on the Network tab. If all settings are correct and no connection can be established; 1.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual • Default = 1, most commonly used values = 0, 1 or 2. Severe clutter values = 3 or higher. – Set Null Cells (discussed in user manuals), Ramps or Steps – Use Null Doppler Slices The above mentioned items have been discussed in previous sections of this paper. Figure shows what these controls look like. Figure 13. False Alarm Reduction Controls 6.4 I am not detecting as far as I would like.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual detection range will be less than the maximum rated performance. So for our example, a crawling human will be detected at ranges less than 1.5 km for a 1.5 km radar. If the person is walking behind a building or wall, the radar will not detect that object. In addition, a person partially obstructed will have a lower RCS and will also be detected at shorter ranges than a walking human. An example of this is thick vegetation.
AIMS Fast-Scan Radar v3.22 Installation and Operations Manual curve level that must be crossed before a detection is declared. Of course this is the first of many steps used in validating the detection is a real target. Figure 14. Threshold Setting Gain is used to increase the average power of the radar. The value displayed in the textbox is the actual pulse width in nanoseconds (10-9 seconds). Typical values of gain are normally set to between 100 and 300 nanoseconds.
