Radar Open System Architecture For Lincoln Space

1-S.E. Andrews 4/20/10 MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Radar Open System Architecture For Lincoln Space Surveillance

Activities Susan E. Andrews

Peter Yoho Gerald P. Banner

Thomas L. Sangiolo MIT Lincoln Laboratory

April 2010 This work is sponsored by the Air Force under A/F contract #FA8721-05-C-0002. Opinions recommendations and conclusions are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the United States Air Force


Definitions

•  Open Systems (U.S. Department of Defense/Software Engineering Institute) [1]

“ An open system is a collection of interacting software, hardware and human components, designed to satisfy stated needs, with the interface specification of its components fully defined available to the public, maintained according to group consensus in which the implementation of components are conformant to the specification.1”

•  Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) (summary from Federal Acquisition Regulations) [2]

–  Customarily used for nongovernmental purpose –  Has been sold, leased or licensed to the general public –  Exists a priori (in a catalogue or price list)2


Outline

•  Objectives & motivation •  Radar Open System Architecture (ROSA) •  ROSA implemented •  Space surveillance challenges and

benefits •  Summary


Lincoln Space Surveillance Complex Westford, Massachusetts

Millstone Haystack HAX Beamwidth (deg) 0.44 0.05 0.1 Frequency 1295 MHz 10 GHz 16.7 GHz

• Millstone – High sensitivity – Radar Cross Section

(RCS) vs Time – Small object search

• Haystack – Very high sensitivity – Range-Doppler

imaging • HAX

– High-resolution imaging

Millstone Hill Radar

Haystack Radar Haystack Auxiliary Radar

Lincoln Space Surveillance Complex (LSSC)

3 Andrews [2007]


Kwajalein Missile Range

•  ALTAIR [7]

–  High sensitivity –  Radar Cross Section (RCS)

vs Time –  Primary space tracking

radar •  TRADEX [8]

–  Alternative space tracking radar

•  ALCOR, MMW [6] –  Range-Doppler imaging

TRADEX L-band, 1320 MHz S-band, 2950 MHz

ALTAIR VHF, 158 MHz / UHF, 422

MHz

MMW Ka-band, 35 GHz W-band, 95 GHz

ALCOR C-band, 5664 MHz MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMMHMHMHMMM zz zz zz z z

Space Surveillance Hub 6. Balesteri [2000]


Objectives & Motivation

•  Establish an open systems approach as the foundation for radar systems development in order to: –  lower development time –  Improve life-cycle costs –  Increase systems performance

•  Improve : –  Portability –  Interoperability –  Compatibility –  Reusability –  Maintainability –  Affordability - improve acquisition model –  Scalability- quick insertion of new technology

•  Develop plug-and-play radar components –  Share components between DOD programs –  Migrate to commercial world

4. Sangiolo [4/2001]


Outline

•  Objectives & motivation •  Radar Open System Architecture (ROSA)

–  Radar Architectures Old & New –  Benefits –  Example

•  ROSA implemented •  Space surveillance challenges and



•  Traditional Radar Systems Model –  Master computer and centralized hardware –  Custom development, proprietary HW & SW

•  Open Systems Architecture –  Radar functionally decomposed into building

block components –  Industry standard COTS hardware and

interfaces –  Components available for technology transfer

Antenna

Transmitter Recording

Antenna Transmitter Timing

es

COTS

Custom

es

Timing

Main Computer And Recording

Main Computer

Silicon Graphics

Silicon Graphics

Origin 2000

Origin 2000

Silicon Graphics

Silicon Graphics

Origin 2000

Origin 2000

Radar Architectures Old & New



Digital Pulse Compression RF IF

Receiver

Recording

Master T WFG Upconverter

Transmitter Transmitter

Upconverter

Digital Pulse Compression

Antenna Control

Transmitter Control

Frequency and Timing Radiation

Monitor Interface

Transmitter Control

Master Timing WFG

MIC

RO

WAV

E

Recording

Loca

l C

onso

le

Main Computer

Signature Radar

ROSA Legacy

RF IF Receiver

ROSA

ROSA Block Diagram



•  COTS/Open Systems hardware core: –  VME/VXI, PCI and other IEEE standard technology –  Standard networks and interfaces

•  Additional VME boards added to provide subsystem functions •  POSIX-compliant operating system (POSIX, NFS, ANSI C) •  Built in diagnostics provided by CPU

IRIG TOD

ENET

IRIG Network

Net CPU

PCI

Remote Development and Diagnostics

IP carrier

Power Supply Monitor

VME- BUS

Board 2 Board 1 Board N Board 3

Subsystem Dependent Boards

ROSA Generic Subsystem Example

5. Sangiolo [2000]

COTS/Common

System Specific


Outline




-

-

-

-

-

New common radar system

• 80% Reduction in custom hardware

> 85 % COTS Seven custom boards for all Radars 70% reduction in number of racks

•  Automated and remote operations/diagnostics

•  Dramatic improvement in flexibility

Kwajalein Radar Modernization



Digital Pulse Compression RF IF

Receiver

Recording

Master T WFG Upconverter

Transmitter Transmitter

Upconverter

Digital Pulse Compression

Antenna Control

Transmitter Control

Frequency and Timing Radiation

Monitor Interface

Transmitter Control

Master Timing WFG

MIC

RO

WAV

E

Recording

Loca

l C

onso

le

Main Computer

RF IF Receiver

•  Common radar software for all radars –  70% reduction in lines of code –  85% reduction in languages/OS/Platforms

•  Extensive capability –  >150 waveforms supported –  16 Channel coherent integration and detection –  Multi-Target-Tracking (64 targets) –  Bayesian Classifier (WB features) –  Automated script-driven operations –  Space surveillance functions –  Common data recording format (> 80 Mbytes/sec) –  Full PRI rate digital simulation

64 targets and simulated targets over live data

New Software

ALCOR SGI

MMW Modcomp

ALTAIR Vax

TDX Gould

Existing Software

Radar SGI

Hay/Hax SGI

MHR Harris x x x

ar

Main Computer Real Time Program (RTP)



Radar Open Systems Architecture - ROSA Benefits

•  Reduced development time and operations and maintenance cost •  Decomposition provides efficient use of engineering resources

–  Allows many small development teams (distributed locations) –  Concurrent integration, test and evaluation

•  Components easily added, shared and modified –  Migration to new technology can be done at the unit level

•  New developments can begin with working components –  Better acquisition model, reduced non-recovered engineering costs

•  Subsystems encapsulate specific radar function –  Underlying hardware and software is hidden

•  Communication is key to architecture –  Subsystem components completely define their functionality and

interfaces to the outside world

MAIN COMPUTER SUBSYSTEM

Control Message

Control message

LOCAL

SYSTEM

Silicon Graphics

Silicon Graphics

Origin 2000

Origin 2000

Development and local operations Full radar operation



Outline




ROSA Development Significant to Space Surveillance

•  Debris Mode –  Stare at Fixed Azimuth and Elevations and detect and record

debris objects as they go through beam •  Trajectory Scans (α/β Scan) & (Progressive α/β Scan)

–  Scans along satellite trajectory in time and orthogonal by beam width

•  Satellite Tracking Displays –  Simplified Displays for Satellite Tracking

•  Selective Radar Channel Recording –  Ability to record selective Radar Channel data (PP; PP/OP or all

four channels) •  Deep Space Tracking (MHR SATCIT)

–  Integrate SATCIT on MHR and then HAY and HAX radars •  Wideband Network Sensors (WNS)

–  High speed network demonstration with Radar Data >1gbit/sec



Deep Space Tracking Operations – Real time Multi-pulse Integration

•  30+ year history of deep space* tracking operations [7]

–  1963 - Detected Syncom II in GEO using post-processing –  1965 – Real-time computer enables rudimentary multi-

pulse processing in real time –  1971 – Experiments using Haystack planetary radar to

observe GEO satellites –  1975 – Millstone begins routine operations tracking deep

space objects for U.S. Space Surveillance Network •  Acquisition and tracking process [7,9]

–  Operate beyond unambiguous range of radar –  Order of 1000 pulses integrated to gain 30 dB –  12 classes target models processed simultaneously

  3 levels of coherence   4 options for polarization of returns   Best model selected in real time

TRADEX ALTAIR

HAY/HAX

MILLSTONE

* Deep Space orbits here are defined to be those with periods > 225 minutes


Target Model Illustration

7. Stone [2000]


HAX/HAY ROSA WNS Block Diagram


MIC

RO

WAV

E M

ICR

OW

AVE

Transmitter

Receiver

MIC

RO

WAV

E

Transmitter

Receiver


Remote Operations – Lincoln Space Situational Awareness Center

•  Joint control room for shared site –  Operators can view other sensor activities real-time –  Direct communications among sensor operators –  Cross-sensor familiarity

•  Remote viewing of second shared site –  Real-time viewing of sensor activities and cross-sensor familiarity –  Best possible planning time

•  Joint control room for multiple sites (notional)

3. Andrews, S.E., et al [2007]


Summary

•  Radar Open Systems Architecture (ROSA) dramatically reduces the development time and cost of building radar sensors –  Efficient use of engineering resources –  Abstraction of hardware layer from software –  Portable building block components

•  ROSA has bee applied to several large radar development and modernization programs –  Kwajalein Missile Range - Common architecture for 4+ radars –  LSSC - Common architecture for 3 radars & large cost saving

•  ROSA implementations have demonstrated real-world benefits –  Technology transfer efficiencies –  Reduced development times and operations/maintenance costs



Bibliography

1. Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon Institute, 2009, http://www.sei.cmu.edu/opensystems/

2. Federal Acquisition Regulation, General Services Administration http://www.acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart%202_1.html#wp1145507, 17 Feb 2009.

3. Andrews, S.E., Bougas, W. C., Cott, T.A., Hunt, S. M., Kadish, J.M., Solodyna, C.V., “Enhancing Multi-payload Launch Support with Netcentric Operations”, 7th US/Russian Space Surveillance Workshop, October 29 – November 2, 2007 (MS-29216)

4. Sangiolo, Thomas L., “Radar Open System Architecture For The Lincoln Space Surveillance Complex (LSSC)”, Proceedings of the 2001 Space Control Conference, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, 3-5 April, 2001, STK-256, S.E. Andrews Ed (MSJA-14085, 14085A, charts and paper)

5. Sangiolo, Thomas L., “Radar Open System Architecture For The Lincoln Space Surveillance Complex (LSSC)”, Proceedings of the 2000 Space Control Conference, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, 11-13 April, 2000, STK-255, S.E. Andrews Ed (MSJA-14085, charts and paper)

6. Balesteri, D., Baldassini, J., DeCoster, W., Hogan, G., Hunt, S., Lazdowski, K., and Mathwig, J. “Kwajalein Space Surveillance Center (KSSC), 2000 Space Control Conference, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, 12 April 2000 (MS-14184)

7. Stone, M.L. and Banner, G.P, Radars for the Detection and Tracking of Ballistic Missiles, Satellites, and Planets, Lincoln Laboratory Journal, pp 217-244, Vol 12, Number 2, 2000

8. Camp, W.W., Mayhan, J.T. and O’Donnell, R. M., “Wideband Radar for Ballistic Missile Defense and Range-Doppler Imaging of Satellites” Lincoln Laboratory Journal, pp 267-280, Vol 12, Number 2, 2000

9. Banner, G.P. “Deep space surveillance – overview and radar tracking”, 3rd US/Russian Space Surveillance Workshop, 20-23 October 1998, (MS-13301)


TRADEX ALTAIR MMW ALCOR HAY/HAX MILLSTONE

FREQUENCY (GHz) 100 10 1

W K a S L UHF VHF

Freq.

Band

0.1

K u X L UHF

C

Lincoln Laboratory Space Surveillance Radars

Frequency Bands


Documents

Radar Open System Architecture For Lincoln Space