NeXtLook: A lightweight, real-time quick-look processor for NeXtRAD

Real-time pulse compression and Doppler processing algorithms are traditionally thought to require costly, high-performance hardware platforms such as DSPs, GPUs or even FPGAs. Modern off-the-shelf computers however, commonly house two or more physical CPU cores and support twice as many concurrent threads, providing an ideal platform for parallel pulse-Doppler processing and visualisation. This paper documents the development of such a quick-look processor designed for NeXtRAD to ensure that only high-quality recordings are stored for post experiment, in-depth analysis. NeXtRAD is an experimental, multistatic, polarimetric radar operating in L and X Bands. Limited recorded data resulted in the majority of performance testing being performed on recorded data sets from NetRAD, the predecessor of NeXtRAD. An emphasis on freeware led to development within C++, using trusted, open source libraries FFTW, OpenCV and Boost. Under performance-orientated runtime parameters, the developed system can pulse compress individual range lines of 2 K samples in under 30 ms, and supports pulse repetition frequencies over 15 kHz, far exceeding NeXtRAD's requirements.