SPx - Modular Software for Radar Processing and Display

SPx is Cambridge Pixel's integrated radar processing and display software based on COTS software and Open Standards. Summary of benefits:

Low-cost, industry-standard processing hardware.
Exploits the capabilities of modern multi-core processors and graphics processors
Provides high-performance radar processing and display with cost-effective, easily-maintained hardware platforms.
Extensible and flexible software architecture.
Based on open standards and the principles of open architecture
Open-standard network protocols and open standard radar compression and distribution

Download our SPx brochure here.

Available as single modules to add capability to your existing application, or a fully interoperable suite that forms a stand-alone application, SPx is modular, flexible and extensible to meet your needs. Each SPx module has a well-defined function and a set of parameters that adjust its operation. Furthermore, the internal operation of the module may be overriden with your own code that allows you to add capability, algorithms and extensions to the SPx framework. With SPx you are in control of the final application.

Modular, flexible and configurable
Software Scan Conversion (PPI, A-Scan, B-Scan)
Radar Processing library
Radar video compression and network distribution
Plot Extraction and Target Tracking
Clutter Processing
Track Fusion from plot extractor or tracker
Radar recording and replay
Auto compositing of radar with existign graphics
WIndows and Linux/X11 options

SPx Software

SPx provides a software library based on a set of C++ classes and pre-built servers. You can use the capabilities you need by simply creating objects and linking them with your application code. SPx supports client-server configurations or "integrated" applications with all capability contained in a single executable. See here for SPx Programming information.

SPx provides both radar compression and decompression components that employ algorithms specifically designed for radar video. Careful attention is paid to preserving signal quality and minimising latency for network distribution. The module is fully parameterised and is easily incorporated into a C/C++ based application program, or simply built with other SPx components as needed. Like all other SPx modules, your application remains in control.

SPx provides radar processing capabilities including clutter processing, plot extraction and target tracking. The software is fully parameterised, allowing you to customise its behaviour to meet your exact requirements. It is also extensible, allowing you to use the cababilities that you need, and adding your own special processing if preferred. Acquire only the modules you need and enhance as desired. SPx-Scan provides a set of high-performance radar scan-conversion modules that create PPI, A-Scan or B-Scan displays (display formats explained here) with industry-standard graphics hardware. SPx-Scan may be used stand-alone or combined with any of the other SPx modules for a complete acquisition and display chain. The SPx-Scan scan-converter supports multiple windows, multiple radars and provides superior quality displays using industry-standard computing components. SPx-Scan is easy to incorporate into a display application, optionally using other SPx modules to deliver the radar video, or using your own hardware and software where that exists.

SPx is supplied as one or more software modules with well-defined inputs, outputs and control parameters. You can easily add SPx modules into your C/C++ application, adding only the capabilities that you need. Multiple SPx modules can be used by linking them through an SPx Manager that takes responsibility for connecting the output of one module to the input of the next. Your application still gets control of the parameters of each SPx module, where you need it, and you can even add your own modules into the chain if you wish to pre-process the data or add your own capabilities. SPx is unique because it keeps you in control. If you eventually need to enhance or upgrade the functions of an SPx module you can simply drop in a form-fit function replacement, without affecting the rest of the system.


SPx Test Generator The SPx test generator module provides a programmable set of radar test patterns to support system configuration and testing. The test pattern generator supports pre-defined patterns, with the option for user-defined modes. The output data rate is configurable through scan rate and prf, which is programmble in the range 100 Hz to 10 kHz, and for scanning mode, which includes rotating scan, sector scan and random scan.	SPx Scenario Generator The SPx scenario generator supports the generation of radar video containing moving targets and simulated target noise. The object allows targets to be insrted and generated for multiple radars, allowing multi-radar installations to be simulated.	SPx Network Input The SPx network input object accepts raw or compressed radar video across a network interface. The remote server may be another SPx application generating video in SPx format, or else may be a custom application generating video in a supported format. The SPx architecture is very flexible, so that the addition of custom network formats straight-forward. Network data comprises video with an optional header, together with meta data, which may include navigation and status messages. When network video is received, it may be processed, displayed or recorded with the SPx objects.


SPx Processing The SPx processing library provides a collection of radar processing components that may be applied to server or client-side application to manipulate radar video. The library includes processes for gain control, filtering, thresholding, clutter processing and and scan-integration. More information here	SPx Compression and Decompression The SPx compression and decompression functions are used by the network distribution and radar record and replay classes. The classes support the ZLIB and ORC lossless compression standards, and may be used in conjunction with the processing library to optionally pre-process the video improve compression at the expense of some loss. More information here	SPxScan Conversion The SPx software scan converter provides a high-performance display capability for Windows (XP/Vista/7) and X11. The scan converter accepts radar video from the SPx input modules or processing chain, and scan converts to a PPI or A-Scan display, supporting multiple videos in a window and real-time fade. More information here