The SMS Defence Solutions Over The Horizon Radar (OTHR) Training Aid (OTA) is a high fidelity graphical tool aimed at reinforcing an understanding of advanced OTHR performance tradeoffs.
OTA Synthetic
Azimuth-Range-Doppler
Data Generation
Through the use of an efficient graphical user interface, OTA allows trainee operators to link important OTHR tasking decisions to the impact on key system performance indicators. With this instant feedback, trainee operators are able to experiment with waveform parameter tradeoffs and more easily appreciate and absorb complex OTHR tasking tradeoffs.
OTA allows a number of simultaneous tasks to be created and the waveform parameters for each separately controlled. Tasks created can be displayed geographically using any OTHR as the point of reference. Changes made to tasking parameters are reflected on both a Geographic Display and an ARD Display. Cell sizes and ambiguities are all re-calculated when any changes are made, as is the revisit period for each region. Trainees are therefore able to appreciate the impact of parameter changes on the attributes of each task, as well as on the surveillance capacity of the radar as a whole.
OTA generates synthetic radar greyscale image data showing the impact of a range of environmental effects on target detectability. Operators can then evaluate techniques to mitigate each effect.
OTA comes with an unclassified set of operating parameter limits, but these limits can be replaced by editing a text configuration file. This editing can be done either using a standard text editor, or within OTA using a menu option.
OTA Generates a View of the OTHR Dwell Schedule
OTA has been developed in Java and is therefore portable across a number of operating system and hardware platforms - eg PC/Windows, Alpha/Tru-64 Unix, Sun/Solaris, etc. The initial implementation has been compiled into native Windows machine code to provide optimal execution efficiency. In this way, trainees can run OTA at home on a laptop or desktop to study out-of-hours.
OTA Geographic Display showing Multi-Hop Propagation Limits
OTA Multimode Ionospheric Propagation Model
Trainers can use OTA as a 'training force multiplier' to reduce the amount of time taken to teach difficult concepts. Students will gain a more detailed appreciation of complex OTHR concepts resulting in a higher degree of confidence when controlling the radar. OTA can also be used during refresher training after a period of absence.