Three-dimensional radiation pattern measurement strategy for ground station antennas

This article describes how to measure a three-dimensional antenna radiation pattern and the most effective method to achieve this. We present a new automated three-dimensional measurement scheme, inspired by the seed pattern of a sunflower seed head, where the seed placements are arranged in a way so that rotational symmetry is obtained to compromise the circular shape of a dish antenna radiation pattern in the three-dimensional space. This new AUTUM Antenna Radiation Measurement Strategy has produced superior results. It has been shown by this scheme that for instance the three-dimensional transmission pattern of a dish antenna can be measured automatically and easily checked against present regulations. The generic AUTUM Antenna Radiation Measurement Strategy was verified on a 4.8-m Ka-band dish antenna. It was concluded that a three-dimensional radiation pattern can be measured two to thirteen times faster than the best performing current strategies. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.