SPC recommends CompuQuest, Inc. as a preferred vendor for offline radar processing systems.
CompuQuest's Quest 1909 and Quest 2000 packages provide extensive processing capabilities for
MkV-collected radar data.
The Quest family of data acquisition and analysis systems from CompuQuest, inc are true 32-bit
Windows NT/2000/9x applications utilizing a multi-threaded architecture optimized for speed and
functionality. They offer the latest in power and versatility to the RCS and antenna measurement
communities. While the individual systems offer slightly different styles of operator interface,
they each adhere to standard Windows interface protocols. As a result, the graphical user interface
(GUI) of each provides the operator with a familiar, intuitive environment for setting up and
monitoring the data acquisition or data analysis process. A flexible plotting module provides the
operator with a wide range of display options, including polar, rectangular, color pixel and contour
formats. Operator-defined presets can be saved to disk and later recalled for quick, "one button"
operation. Additionally, the operator can design complex batch processes using these presets for
unattended, multi-run data collection or data processing sequences.
The Quest 1909 and Quest 2000 Data Analysis systems from CompuQuest, inc. offer the latest in power and
capability. Designed for flexibility, the systems can process data from a wide range of file formats
including elan, SPC
MkIV
and
MkVe
, Lintek 5000, Pt. Mugu, Common Data Format (CDF) and Bicoms. Additional
formats can be added for customers needing access to customized data. Numerous output plot formats are
available to display the target and antenna return data in either polar or rectilinear grid format. Both
2D (e.g. RCS vs. Angle) and 3D (e.g. RCS vs. Frequency vs. Angle) plotting are supported. The 3D plots can
be generated in either color pixel or contour format. Special processing capabilities are provided to
perform DC bias removal, background vector subtraction, software gating and edit and reconstruction of ISAR
images. In addition to standard ISAR imaging, the Quest 1909 system also provides functions for producing
generalized ISAR or tomographic images. This technique allows for the generation of images using a much
wider image aperture, including full body images using 360 degrees worth of data. When generating ISAR and
generalized ISAR images, the imaging module provides a collection of diagnostic and utility routines for
image manipulation and analysis. These routines include display zoom and pan, image addition and subtraction,
image statistics, and edit and reconstruction of the processed data. Complete statistical analysis functions
are included to calculate and display sector averages, medians, boxscores and cumulative probabilities. There
is also a collection of antenna processing functions in addition to the standard RCS features making both of
these truly complete data analysis packages.
The Quest 1909 Data Analysis system was designed for the customer who wants a flexible, powerful and creative
analysis tool for radar data. Selecting from an extensive list of available functions, the user is able to
build customized macros for both the processing and display of radar data. As a function is selected, a
window is displayed for the entry of parameters unique to that particular function. The functions are
inserted into the processing macro in an on-screen dialog box. When building the macro, the individual
functions can be arranged in any order, providing an unlimited number of plot outputs. Once created, the
individual macros can be saved to disk for later recall providing "one button" operation for repeatedly used
configurations. The software also contains an Automatic Reduction Mode that allows multiple macros to be
combined into a single batch setup file. This batch file automatically instructs the system to generate a
series of plots, outputting each to an attached printer if desired. The package is built around a collection
of object-oriented modules, allowing new functions and algorithms to easily be added.
The Quest 2000 Data Analysis system was designed to provide the processing power of the Quest 1909 system
and its macro-driven user interface, but with a simpler, more intuitive operator interface. Data can be
processed quickly and easily without any complex setup. With the Quest 2000 package, a wide variety of
signal processing and data plotting formats are provided, each easily accessed using dialog boxes and pull
down menus. All of the required parameters for the data reduction process are available via a single operator
screen. All of the standard processing and output formats are supported by the Quest 2000 system, so it is
ideal for the production environment. If a specialized function or capability is not supported, and the
customer prefers the ease of operation provided by this version of the software, CompuQuest, inc. can modify
the system to provide for this custom feature.
Standard Features
For additional information
or a demo version of
any of the CompuQuest products,
please contact CompuQuest, inc. at:
6118 Franconia Road
Suite 214
Alexandria, VA 22310
TEL:
703.971.6504
FAX: 703.971.0368
cquest@cquest.com
