Scalabel & Modular Circular Polarized Antenna Array for Digital Beamforming Applications

Abstract

Range telemetry applications are evolving over time from single target tracking to multiple simultaneous target tracking applications. In such scenarios, having a single antenna array to form simultaneous multiple beams provides great advantages in terms of extremely reduced cost of installation, saving time on calibration procedure and quick turnaround time for deployment. This paper outlines the simulation studies and development of an advanced scalabel S-band array antenna designed for digital multi beam forming over a wide scan angle (+/- 60°) for digital beamforming applications. The simulated results show that the antenna achieves a realized bandwidth of ~6% of the centre frequency across the entire scan region with a circular polarization (CP) axial ratio of < 2.5dB, a scan loss of ~ 3dB and cross-pol of better than 27dB upto +/-45° scan and better than 20dB upto +/-60° scan over the band of operation. Measured radiation patterns showing simultaneous digital beam formation of two beams at two different scan angles is also presented.