Project brief
The digital signal processing chain for a civil airborne weather radar, implemented on Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ using HLS. Features pulse compression with a 30:1 ratio for range resolution enhancement, MTI clutter cancellation achieving 50dB improvement, Doppler turbulence and wind shear detection, and ARINC 708 formatted weather symbol generation for cockpit weather displays with 3D volumetric rendering.
The explanatory architecture focuses on the signal-processing stages described in the record, rather than presenting synthetic imagery as measured radar output.
The engineering challenge
Extract useful weather information from radar returns while suppressing clutter and formatting cockpit output.
Engineering approach
- Arrange pulse compression, clutter cancellation, and Doppler analysis as a processing chain.
- Translate processed weather features into display-ready data.
- Support automatic and manual scan-management inputs within the processor architecture.
Features & capabilities
- X-band (9.375 GHz) pulse Doppler with 30:1 pulse compression
- MTI moving target indication with 50dB clutter cancellation
- Doppler spectrum analysis for turbulence severity classification (4 levels)
- Reactive wind shear alerting (600m forward detection)
- ARINC 708 digital weather bus to cockpit display systems
- Real-time 3D volumetric weather map at 120nm range
- Ground clutter suppression and enhanced mode for predictive wind shear
- TILT/RANGE/GAIN auto-management with manual override
Software & engineering tools
Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ ZU9EG, HLS C++, 12-layer RF/digital PCB, ARINC 708, SMA connectors, Rogers 4350B RF material