The RVP8TM Digital Tx/Rx and Signal Processor for Weather Radar

1
The RVP8TM Digital Tx/Rx and Signal
Processorfor Weather Radar

• Elena Saltikoff

2
The Famous RVP7

• Most widely sold Doppler weather radar processor
  (over 200 units)
• All the algorithms of RVP7 are ported to the new
  RVP8 Architecture.
• RVP8 new capabilities, new hardware solutions
  and a digital transmitter.

3
Digital Transmitter and Receiver(digitally
synthesized IF waveform)

• More control of the signal
• Real time signal correction for I/O samples -
  Amplitude correction- Phase stability of
  magnetrons to nearly as good as klystrons (better
  clutter cancellation)
• Linear dynamic range 98 dB for a 1 ?s pulse
• Linearization (saturation 3-5 dB later due to
  oversampling)

4
For Klystron Radars also

• Pulse Compression (less power, less
  interference)
• Frequency agility (dual frequency, more range
  resolution)
• Phase agility (2nd trip cancellation)

5
Long Expected Life Cycle

• Easy to maintain, upgrade and expand
• Open hardware standard PCI bus technology
• Linux, Pentium, Standard I/O
• SoftPlaneTM to control critical I/O
• API (Application Program Interface) for own
  innovations

6
Nexrad gets RVP8, too

• Prototype RVP8 July 2002
• 10 sites during 2003
• 150 sites more 2004 2005
• RVP8, RCP8 and IRIS/Radar

7
Examples of newish algorithms

• Adaptive FFT Doppler filter
• Random Phase Doppler Doubler (for
  Doppler dilemma)
• SQI threshold for V and Z
• 2D speckle filter (remove and fill)

8
Adaptive FFT Doppler filter Cancellation limits
move dynamically within set limits
9
Random Phase Doppler Doubler

• Study the phase of two pulses (for magnetron
  random, for klystron controlled)
• Use SQI threshold for each
• Recover the 2nd trip echo
• Allows use of higher PRF

10
2D Speckle filter

• Study 8 neighbors in range and azimuth
• Delete or fill

?
11
Want to know more ?

• 23-page technical description available
• 3-page paper at ERAD (OHora et al.)
• www.sigmet.com

Ill add some slides for those who want
technical details. Thats Hannu, really, cheers
!
12
RVP8 Example Basic Magnetron System
DAFC
Digital STALO
triggers
IFD
Received IF Magnetron IF
fiber downlink
antenna angles
10 /100 BASE-T LAN
K / V / M
PCI BUS
13
Linearity