Modeling and Simulation of a Helicopter-Mounted SATCOM Antenna Array

Author

Reese, Mark S. ; Balanis, Constantine A. ; Blncher, C.R. ; Barber, George C.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr., Comput., & Energy Eng., Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ, USA

Volume

53

Issue

2

fYear

2011

fDate

4/1/2011 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

51

Lastpage

60

Abstract

A seven-element helicopter-mounted microstrip-patch switched-beam antenna array for satellite communications (SATCOM) is described. The performance of the array antenna was simulated. A prototype was constructed, and measurements of the antenna´s patterns were made. The effects of the blades of the helicopter on the patterns of the antenna were investigated. Fluctuations of 10 dB or more in magnitude due to the effects of the blades were observed in the patterns.

Keywords

aircraft antennas; antenna radiation patterns; blades; helicopters; microstrip antenna arrays; satellite antennas; antenna pattern; helicopter blades; helicopter-mounted SATCOM antenna array; satellite communication; seven-element helicopter-mounted microstrip-patch switched-beam antenna array; Antenna arrays; Helicopters; Modeling; Simulation; Switching systems; Array antennas; helicopter antennas; microstrip antennas; satellite communication;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Antennas and Propagation Magazine, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1045-9243

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/MAP.2011.5949326

Filename

5949326