Vox Maris simulates by software a radar equipment. It is a system that uses electromagnetic waves to measure distances, altitudes, directions and speeds of static or mobile objects such as aircraft, ships, motor vehicles, weather formations, and the land itself. Its operation is based on impulse radio broadcast, which is reflected in the target and typically receives in the same position of the issuer. From this "echo" can extract a wealth of information. The use of electromagnetic waves allows to detect objects beyond the range of other emissions (visible light, sound, etc.).
The RADAR equipment is only available in the Student stations, enabling these stations, along with other stations to activate the SART equipment, and acting together in search and rescue exercises.
The RADAR simulated in Vox Maris allows to detect the nearby boats and signals of SART equipment, accoding to the distance from the ship. It also has information of all shoreline points around the globe, offering the possibility of locating the ship in any position on the map.
Its operation is very simple and allows fast and efficient emergency communications, emergency or routine with other vessels. The operation and the graphical display of the equipment are simulated emulating the real equipment available in the market, achieving an unique realism by software allowing the user to operate in the same way that it would on the real equipment. Even the simulator is ready to operate with touch-screen, thereby increasing the realism achieved.
Among the most important simulated functions includes::
- 24nm Radar
- Zoom In/Zoom Out for the range radar control
- View of coastline, vessels involved in the simulation and SART signals
- View of rings for distance measuring
- View of current heading, speed, range and ship position
- View of current heading line
The purpose of the Radar equipment on Vox Maris is to able to detect the signals emitted by SART equipments. The RADAR equipment in the simulator allows the student to perform search and rescue exercises, allowing to watch as the radar can detect a SART signals according to the distance and position are.
Below are the different ways that can detect a SART signal, depending on the distance of the signal and the position on the ship where the radar that performs the signal detection are.
Signals more than 1.1 nautical miles
You can see a line of 12 points starting from the origin of the signal. The orientation of this line of 12 points is on the position of the ship's radar that detects the signal. As you can see in the image below, the SART signal is south of the boat.
Signal between 1.1 and 0.3 nautical miles
In the following pictures you can see a SART signal at a shorter distance of 1.1 miles, but with a distance of more than 0.3 miles. When the SART signal is within the range mentioned above on the radar 12 aligned semicircles will be displayed, indicating the proximity of the signal.
Signal less than 0.3 nautical miles
Once the SART signal is less than 0.3 miles from the boat, on the radar screen will be displayed 12 circles centered on the SART signal. Doing Zoom you can see the position of the SART signal.
