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Abstract:
The radar simulation interface is the most intuitive graphical interface for displaying radar information. This article addresses the issues of the previous 2D radar graphical simulation interface, including the unintuitive representation of pitch angle parameters, inaccurate display of moving target states, and an unfriendly human-machine interface. Using the VxWorks real-time multitasking operating system as the application platform, and by implementing 3D graphical display effects with Mesa 4.0 technology in WindML 3.0, a highly stable, reliable, and practical radar 3D simulation interface has been innovatively designed and implemented. This new interface improves upon the shortcomings of the previous 2D graphical control interface while also accommodating the display of 2D simulation interfaces, achieving perfect compatibility between 2D and 3D radar simulation interfaces.
Keywords: VxWorks Mesa; Radar Simulation Interface; 3D
Abstract:
The radar system is based on radar simulation interfaces. According to the disadvantages of the former radar two-dimensional simulation interfaces, such as unintuitive representation of pitch angle, inaccurate display of moving target, and unfriendly man-machine interface, the author presents an innovative, stable, and high-powered radar three-dimensional simulation interface in the VxWorks real-time multitask operating system using Mesa 4.0 technology in WindML 3.0. This new interface not only is well compatible with former interfaces but also improves them to achieve the expected effect.
1 Introduction
The radar control simulation interface is the most direct graphical interface for displaying radar information and is the most important human-machine interaction means between the radar information system and the operator. Therefore, the visual effect of the radar simulation interface greatly impacts the operator’s ability to make timely and accurate data judgments. The design tasks of the radar simulation interface mainly include: displaying radar power range information for observation by radar operators; visualizing the radar target trajectory to show the entire process of target movement; and allowing interactive operations such as rotating, zooming, and extending the observation perspective to fully reflect the movement information of radar targets. Traditional radar image simulation interfaces are generally 2D displays using PPI circular displays. This display method has issues with inaccurate orientation display for certain radar targets with three-coordinate information and unintuitive representation of pitch angle changes. This article, based on the VxWorks real-time multitasking operating system, designs and implements a radar 3D simulation interface by transplanting Mesa 4.0 to WindML 3.0. The software design not only meets the functionality of the radar simulation interface but also allows seamless conversion with traditional 2D simulation interfaces, fully considering the human-centered design of the radar simulation interface, resulting in a friendly and intuitive human-machine interface.
2 Radar 3D Simulation Interface Design and Implementation
The radar 3D simulation interface improves upon the traditional radar 2D simulation interface design, enhancing the radar display area to ensure good compatibility between 2D and 3D simulation interfaces and more intuitively reflecting pitch angles and target motion state changes. The key to this design implementation is the transplantation of Mesa 4.0 into WindML 3.0 and its reasonable application.
2.1 Transplanting Mesa 4.0 in WindML 3.0
The transplanting principle of Mesa 4.0 mainly involves utilizing its open-source characteristics to compile the Mesa 4.0 source code into the required linkage library under WindML 3.0. The steps for example compilation are as follows:
(1) In the Tornado platform, establish a Download project with Toolchain set to SIMNTgnu;
(2) Add files, incorporating the Mesa 4.0 source files into the project directory;
(3) Create a GL folder in C:\Tornado2.0\target\h and copy gl.h, glext.h, glu.h, uglglutshapes.h, uglMesa.h into the GL folder;
(4) Set the C/C++ compiler options in the Builds tab to include the Mesa include and src paths, and compile to generate the .a file;
(5) Link the generated .a file to the PRJ_LIBS tab, compile the project, and generate the .out download file to complete the transplantation of Mesa 4.0 under WindML 3.0.
2.2 Using Mesa 4.0 in WindML 3.0
Typical application examples of using Mesa in WindML can be found in the “WindML Driver for Mesa 4.0”. The flowchart of the example steps is shown in Figure 1.
2.3 Trimming Mesa 4.0
The Mesa 4.0 3D graphics library is developed for WindML 2.0 and can be correctly applied to WindML 2.0 development applications. When applied to the WindML 3.0 window system, it is prone to window unresponsiveness issues. Therefore, it is necessary to trim the Mesa 4.0 source code regarding window issues.
2.4 Interface Effect Diagrams
Using the VxWorks simulator under Windows, a comparison of the 2D and 3D simulation interface effects was made, revealing that compared to the 2D interface, the 3D interface can more intuitively reflect moving target information and pitch angle variation states, being more user-friendly in visual effects and interface. Furthermore, key controls can achieve gradual transitions between 3D and 2D images, effectively accommodating both display modes.
3 Conclusion
This article addresses the unintuitive display and inaccurate reflection of target motion processes in traditional radar 2D simulation interfaces by implementing a 3D interface simulation effect through the transplantation of Mesa 4.0 into WindML 3.0, along with the simulation of radar target trajectories. The results clearly and intuitively reflect the changes in parameters and simulate the motion process of targets, achieving good compatibility with the 2D simulation interface and yielding satisfactory results.
References
[1] Qin Xiao, Song Huijuan, Mu Zhaoyi. Development of graphical interfaces based on WindML media library. Electronic Technology and Software Engineering, 2013(17):100-101.
[2] Lian Xuehui, Zhu Jiali, Qiao Dalei. Graphics development and application based on WindML. Radar and Countermeasures, 2015, 35(1):65-68.
[3] Zhang Guohua. Research on WindML3.0 graphical software based on VxWorks. Journal of Wuhan Shipbuilding Vocational Technology College, 2014, 13(2):68-71.
[4] Mao Ziying, Gao Guiming. Application of Mesa in WindML. Radar and Countermeasures, 2009(3):67-70.
Authors: Zhu Changfa, Jiang Xinyi, Li Xing, Wang Baoxin, Wang Jiaying (Shanghai Aerospace Technology Research Institute, Shanghai 201100)