Improving cubesat downlink capacity with active phased array antennas

Klein, J. Matthijs; Hawkins, Joe; Thorsen, Denise

doi:10.1109/aero.2014.6836238

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…This factor limits the operating frequency range, as an antenna array requires a wavelength-specific spacing between its elements. Another issue with integrating antenna arrays on CubeSats is the power required for phase shifting techniques [188]. Table 12 lists the performance of planar antenna arrays.…”

Section: Planar Arrays For Cubesatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Table 12 lists the performance of planar antenna arrays. The design in [188] is an active phased planar array that complies with the CubeSat size standards. As the design was tested in the anechoic chamber, it was found that it could deliver a 5-dBi average gain at 2.5 GHz, and it might be possible to expand the design to a 16-element deployable antenna array able to produce a gain of 11 dBi on a 2U CubeSat.…”

Section: Planar Arrays For Cubesatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Survey on CubeSat Missions and Their Antenna Designs

Theoharis

Raad

et al. 2022

Electronics

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CubeSats are a class of miniaturized satellites that have become increasingly popular in academia and among hobbyists due to their short development time and low fabrication cost. Their compact size, lightweight characteristics, and ability to form a swarm enables them to communicate directly with one another to inspire new ideas on space exploration, space-based measurements, and implementation of the latest technology. CubeSat missions require specific antenna designs in order to achieve optimal performance and ensure mission success. Over the past two decades, a plethora of antenna designs have been proposed and implemented on CubeSat missions. Several challenges arise when designing CubeSat antennas such as gain, polarization, frequency selection, pointing accuracy, coverage, and deployment mechanisms. While these challenges are strongly related to the restrictions posed by the CubeSat standards, recently, researchers have turned their attention from the reliable and proven whip antenna to more sophisticated antenna designs such as antenna arrays to allow for higher gain and reconfigurable and steerable radiation patterns. This paper provides a comprehensive survey of the antennas used in 120 CubeSat missions from 2003 to 2022 as well as a collection of single-element antennas and antenna arrays that have been proposed in the literature. In addition, we propose a pictorial representation of how to select an antenna for different types of CubeSat missions. To this end, this paper aims is to serve both as an introductory guide on CubeSats antennas for CubeSat enthusiasts and a state of the art for CubeSat designers in this ever-growing field.

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Section: Planar Arrays For Cubesatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Planar Arrays For Cubesatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Survey on CubeSat Missions and Their Antenna Designs

Theoharis

Raad

et al. 2022

Electronics

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“…Moreover, in the absence of knowledge of the position of the other spacecraft, beamsteering capabilities are a must. Hence, directive selfsteering, such as planar phased antenna array and slot antenna, are typically used [20] [21].…”

Section: Directive Self-steering Antennamentioning

confidence: 99%

Cubesat Antenna Analysis and Design: Are you using the right computational electromagnetic tool?

Latachi

Rachidi

Karim

2021

AEM

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Antenna systems play a critical role in establishing wireless communication links and sustaining remote sensing requirements for Cubesat applications. In addition to the usual antenna design requirements, Cubesat-based spacecrafts impose additional stringent constraints related to the on-board available space, power consumption and development costs. To develop optimal antenna prototypes while considering all these constraints and decrease trial and error related costs, computational electromagnetics (CEM) simulation tools are used. The accuracy of simulation results depends to a great extent on the choice of the appropriate CEM tool for the particular antenna problem to be analyzed; ergo, identifying and answering key questions about design objectives and requirements is necessary for informed decision-making throughout the selection and design processes. However, this could be quite challenging because of existing gaps both in the practitioners’ knowledge about different CEM tools capabilities, limitations, and design know-how. This is especially true for non-specialists such as students and academics involved in student driven Cubesat projects. Therefore, the rationale of this manuscript is to bridge those gaps and clarify some common misconception commonly encountered during the selection and design processes. In that regard, first, an overview of existing antenna configurations commonly used in Cubesat communications is provided. Next, antenna design general workflow is presented. Then, capabilities and limitations of different CEM solving methods are presented. After that, CEM software selection process trade-offs and possible sources of errors are discussed from a practical viewpoint. Finally, a case study of Masat-1 antenna system design is presented as practical example.

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“…Besides planar types, reflector-based antennas are also utilized [9]. Now if we focus on antennas that allow for beam pattern synthesis, the list narrows to arrays allowing phase shift and amplitude adjustments in each antenna element, such as phased arrays [10], [11], reflect arrays [12], [13], and transmit arrays [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multibeam Beamforming for Direct Radiating Arrays in Satellite Communications Using Genetic Algorithm

Andrés Vásquez-Peralvo,

Querol,

Ortíz

et al. 2024

IEEE Open J. Commun. Soc.

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Recent advancements in onboard satellite communication have enhanced the capability of dynamically modifying the radiation pattern of a Direct Radiating Array (DRA). This is crucial not only for conventional communication satellites like Geostationary Orbit (GEO) but also for those in lower orbits such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Key design factors include the number of beams, beamwidth, Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP), and Side Lobe Level (SLL) for each beam. However, a challenge arises in multibeam scenarios when trying to simultaneously meet requirements for the aforementioned design factors which are reflected as uneven power distribution. This leads to over-saturation, especially in centrally located antenna elements due to the activation times per beam, commonly referred to as activation instances. In response to this challenge, this paper presents a method to balance the activation instances across antenna elements for each required beam. Our focus is on beams operating at 19 GHz on a CubeSat positioned 500 km above the Earth's surface. We introduce a Genetic Algorithm (GA)-based algorithm to optimize the beamforming coefficients by modulating the amplitude component of the weight matrix for each antenna element. A key constraint of this algorithm is a limit on activation instances per element, which avoids over-saturation in the Radio Frequency (RF) chain. Additionally, the algorithm accommodates beam requirements such as beamwidth, SLL, pointing direction, and total available power. With the previous key design factors, the algorithm will optimize the required genes to address the desired beam characteristics and constraints. We tested the algorithm's effectiveness in three scenarios using an 8×8 DRA patch antenna with circular polarization, arranged in a triangular lattice. The results demonstrate that our algorithm not only meets the required beam pattern specifications but also ensures a uniform activation distribution across the antenna array.INDEX TERMS Antennas, beamforming, direct radiating array, satellite communications.

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Improving cubesat downlink capacity with active phased array antennas

Cited by 9 publications

References 4 publications

A Survey on CubeSat Missions and Their Antenna Designs

A Survey on CubeSat Missions and Their Antenna Designs

Cubesat Antenna Analysis and Design: Are you using the right computational electromagnetic tool?

Multibeam Beamforming for Direct Radiating Arrays in Satellite Communications Using Genetic Algorithm

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