Unmanned aerial system for antenna measurement and diagnosis: evaluation and testing

Abstract

This contribution analyses the performance of an unmanned aerial system for antenna measurement (UASAM) for different kinds of measurement scenarios. UASAM is conceived for antenna diagnostics and characterisation at the operational location of the antenna under test (AUT). The system measures the amplitude of the near field radiated by the AUT. Then, these measurements are post-processed using phase retrieval techniques and equivalent currents methods to obtain an electromagnetic model of the AUT. This model can be used for antenna diagnostics and for evaluating the far field pattern. Similar to antenna measurement systems in anechoic chamber, UASAM allows defining different acquisition grids depending on the type of AUT (planar, cylindrical, arc cylindrical), which also influences the flight time. In addition to this, the capability to measure circularly polarised antennas from amplitude-only measurements is presented, discussing the limitations found during the tests, and comparing the results with those from measurements at a spherical range in an anechoic chamber