Modeling radar systems using hierarchical dataflow

The synchronous dataflow model is used in a variety of visual programming environments to describe and design digital signal processing systems. In this paper, we present two main improvements over existing methodologies. Both are concerned with convenient manipulations of multidimensional data. The first describes a systematic method for transposing multidimensional data structures embedded within a one dimensional stream. This enables the use of scalar stream operators for processing multidimensional data. The second shows how higher-order functions combined with visual hierarchy can be used to build intuitive, maintainable, and scalable applications that operate on multidimensional data. These techniques are combined to design a beamforming radar simulation using the Ptolemy simulation environment