Next-Generation Web-Based Control: Modernizing the Integrated Radar System at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory

The Jicamarca Radio Observatory (JRO) remains a cornerstone of ionospheric research, requiring precise coordination of complex hardware subsystems to execute diverse radar experiment modes. To enhance operational efficiency and user accessibility, we present the development of a new version of the Integrated Radar System (SIR), a centralized web application designed for the comprehensive control and monitoring of core radar hardware.
The SIR serves as a unified command layer for several critical components:
- Jicamarca Acquisition Radar System (JARS): Managing high-speed data digitization and acquisition parameters.
- Radar Controller (RC): Governing the master timing and pulse sequences necessary for the radar operations.
- Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS): Providing precise frequency synthesis and modulation control.
- Automatic Beam Switching (ABS): Facilitating rapid, automated antenna beam steering for multi-mode experiments.
The new iteration of the SIR transitions from legacy interfaces to a modern, responsive web architecture. This shift provides researchers with a high-fidelity, real-time dashboard and a streamlined configuration workflow that reduces experimental setup time and minimizes the risk of human error. By decoupling the control logic from the hardware-specific protocols, the system offers improved remote accessibility and scalability for future hardware integrations. This work details the software architecture, the challenges of integrating heterogeneous subsystems, and the resulting improvements in the reliability and flexibility of Jicamarca’s radar operations.