Constelli Radar Toolkit for LabVIEW

To Rapidly Develop Radar Applications

The Constelli Radar Toolkit extends the capabilities of LabVIEW and LabVIEW FPGA with functions and FPGA focused frameworks for waveform generation, analysis, and target & emitter simulations.

Offered in five packages, CRTK supports the majority of NI RF and FPGA platforms including VST (5840, 564x), USRP, VSG, and VSA.

The Constelli Radar Toolkit extends the capabilities of LabVIEW and LabVIEW FPGA with functions and FPGA focused frameworks for waveform generation, analysis, and target & emitter simulations.

Offered in five packages, CRTK supports the majority of NI RF and FPGA platforms including VST (5840, 564x), USRP, VSG, and VSA.

OVERVIEW

CRTK Suite comprises VIs and includes examples for radar signal generation and analysis on the LabVIEW host and LabVIEW FPGA. In addition, Target & Emitter Simulation libraries are offered as optional add-ons to CRTK Suite.

Generation of VIs include CW, LFM, NLFM, SFM, P1, P2, P3, P4, Zadoff-Chu, Frank, and Barker functions with PW and PRI pattern configuration. Analysis VIs include a PW and PRI calculator, chirp bandwidth, chirp rate, and a range and Doppler estimator.

The Emitter Sim library includes emitter simulation VIs such as timing configuration, attenuation and Doppler simulation.

EXAMPLES INCLUDED

Radar Signal Generation

The signal generation example demonstrates a variety of radar waveforms using the VI library. This example runs on any VSG or VST with an NI RFSG driver.

Radar Measurement and Analysis

The analysis and measurements example illustrates time, frequency, and time-frequency domain analysis; pulse and chirp measurements include PW, PRI, rise time, fall time, overshoot, undershoot, chirp duration, chirp rate, and chirp bandwidth.

Radar Target Simulation

The example is shipped with pre-compiled bitfile for NI VST (PXIe 5840, 5644/45/46) illustrating generation of two targets and one ECM target. Note: This code works for 125 MHz.

Radar Emitter Simulation

The example is shipped with pre-compiled bitfile for NI VST (PXIe 5840, 5644/45/46) illustrating real-time generation of up to four emitters with variety of radar waveforms. Note: This code works for 125 MHz.

Key Features & Benefits

- Generation HOST.
- Analysis & Meas HOST.
- Generation FPGA.
- Analysis & Meas FPGA.
- Target Simulation.
- Emitter Simulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is RTK a Radar Application or a Development Tool?

Though RTK qualifies as both, it is primarily a Development Tool for radar engineers with functions and algorithms for Radar Signal Generation, Analysis & Measurements, Target/ Echo simulation and Threat/Emitter simulations.
RTK packages are shipped with applications (examples) like Signal Generation, Analysis & Measurements, Target simulation and Emitter Simulation.

2. What can be done with RTK?

Radar Research, Design and Prototyping, Testing and Teaching can be done with RTK.

3. What are the features included in various RTK packages?

The Constelli Radar Toolkit is offered in four packages catering to functionalities such as Radar signal Generation, Analysis & Measurement, Target Simulation and Emitter Simulation.

CRTK Sig Gen, CRTK Sig Analysis, CRTK Sig Gen & Analysis are available only on HOST.
Target and Emitter Simulation Packages are available on request.
The FPGA Signal Generation, Target and Emitter Simulation Examples for VST use Custom FPGA bitfiles which are supported only in LabVIEW 2015 SP1.

4. What are the recommended drivers to seamlessly access RTK examples?

4.1 Recommended System Drivers

✔ Required
*required to run custom FPGA bitfiles on VST.

4.2 Component Versions

Important:

All the VIs of CRTK are supported on NI LabVIEW 2015 SP1 (f4 patch) or above. Whereas the VST Examples that use Custom FPGA Bitfiles are supported only on NI LabVIEW 2015 SP1 (f4 patch) with NI LabVIEW FPGA Module 2015 (f1 patch), RFSA 16.0, RFSG 16.0, and FPGA Instrument Drivers 16.0.
The VST Examples that use Custom FPGA Bitfiles include FPGA Signal Generation, Target and Emitter Simulation.

For more details, Refer

5. What are common RTK installation errors and how to trouble shoot them?

5.1 Error message: “VIPM does not support this package”

VIPM version must be 2017 or later. Download latest version of VIPM here.

Also, NI recommends that VIPM version to be later or equal to the LabVIEW version being used. For instance, if LabVIEW 2019 is being used, VIMP must be of version 2019 or later.

5.2 Error message: “This package is not compatible with any LabVIEW version on this computer”

Sometimes VIPM has trouble connecting to LabVIEW to perform installation of Add-ons. Follow this thread to troubleshoot.

5.3 Error message: “This package failed to install” error in VIPM

Ensure VIPM and LabVIEW are open in Administrator mode.

6. I developed a solution using the RTK development license that I purchased. Can I deploy the same on my client’s system or non- authorized system?

An RTK perpetual development license purchase is intended only for a single authorized development system.
If the client wants to deploy an application built using RTK on a third-party system, a deployment license must be procured from Constelli.

VALUE PROPOSITION

Configurable Communication Links for various airborne systems.
Autonomous Tracking of the Airborne platforms.
Secure Communications.
Reduce Testing time in Ground-Checkout Stations.
Built-In Self-Test for Reduced Downtime.
Seamless Integration & Remote Monitoring.
Seamless Integration with Decommutator.