Accession Number:

ADA289763

Title:

Electronically Steerable Agile Beam Antenna. Phase 2.

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. Sep 87-Oct 89,

Corporate Author:

TECHNICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES INC SALT LAKE CITY UT

Personal Author(s):

• Peterson, Stephen C.
• McLaughlin, Thomas J.

Report Date:

1989-10-30

Pagination or Media Count:

134.0

Abstract:

The Electronically Steerable Agile Beam Antenna ESABA was developed under Phase 111 of the Small Business Innovative Research SBIR Program. The goal of the project is to develop a rugged antenna that transmits real-time analog video from an unmanned robotic vehicle RV to a manned command center CC. The ESABA uses a Very High Frequency VHF phased array to determine the direction of the incoming VHF command link from the CC. The ESABA then electronically switches the radio frequency RF microwave signal carrying the video from the video transmitter to one of eight circular-polarized, helical antennas. The advantages of the ESABA approach over a conventional mechanical system are 1 better reliability because there are no moving parts 2 better link margin because of circular-polarized, helical design and 3 better performance because reacquisition of the direction to the CC can be done electronically in milliseconds.

Descriptors:

• *INFORMATION TRANSFER
• *DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
• *RUGGEDIZED EQUIPMENT
• *TERRAIN INTELLIGENCE
• *MICROWAVE RELAY SYSTEMS
• *STEERABLE ANTENNAS
• ROBOTICS
• REAL TIME
• CONTROL CENTERS
• RELIABILITY
• SIGNALS
• COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
• UNMANNED
• TRANSMITTERS
• VEHICLES
• VIDEO SIGNALS
• RADIOFREQUENCY
• ANALOG SYSTEMS
• MANNED
• VERY HIGH FREQUENCY
• PHASED ARRAYS
• MECHANICAL COMPONENTS
• BEAMS(ELECTROMAGNETIC)
• HELICAL ANTENNAS

Subject Categories:

• Electrical and Electronic Equipment
• Military Intelligence
• Surface Transportation and Equipment

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE