NES Radar project turns Nintendo console into air traffic visualizer

An open-source project called NES Radar has transformed the Nintendo Entertainment System into a retro-style air traffic visualizer. Developed by k6lcm, the system uses a standard NES ROM cartridge and a custom-built cable to display live aircraft position data in a visual style reminiscent of classic NES games.

Despite its name, the system does not use actual radar hardware. Instead, a Python script running on a nearby computer retrieves aircraft data and transfers it to the NES via the console’s second controller port, which has been repurposed as a serial port operating at 9600 baud. Users can input an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) airport code to visualize traffic near specific locations.

The project is limited by the original hardware, such as the ability to display only eight sprites at a time. It builds upon the developer's previous work, c64u-radar, which utilized the LAN port of the Commodore 64 Ultimate for data transfer.