MATLAB®/Simulink® analytic radar modeling environment

Analytic radar models are simulations based on abstract representations of the radar, the RF environment that radar signals are propagated, and the reflections produced by targets, clutter and multipath. These models have traditionally been developed in FORTRAN and have evolved over the last 20 years into efficient and well-accepted codes. However, current models are limited in two primary areas. First, by the nature of algorithm based analytical models, they can be difficult to understand by non-programmers and equally difficult to modify or extend. Second, there is strong interest in re-using these models to support higher-level weapon system and mission level simulations. To address these issues, a model development approach has been demonstrated which utilizes the MATLAB/Simulink graphical development environment. Because the MATLAB/Simulink environment graphically represents model algorithms - thus providing visibility into the model algorithms can be easily analyzed and modified by engineers and analysts with limited software skills. In addition, software tools have been created that provide for the automatic code generation of C++ objects. These objects are created with well-defined interfaces enabling them to be used by modeling architectures external to the MATLAB/Simulink environment. The approach utilized is generic and can be extended to other engineering fields.