Miniaturized Retrodirective Arrays for a Nanosatellite Platform

Abstract

A retrodirective antenna array (RDA) is capable of autonomously steering its radiation pattern toward the source of an interrogating signal, without having prior knowledge of the interrogator location. Integrating an RDA into a mobile platform, such as a nanosatellite, presents unique challenges due to the platform's restrictions in terms of size, weight, and power limitations. This project focused on developing novel RDA architectures that are directly suited for this resource-constrained platform. The three new RDA architectures that were developed during this research project are described. They are based on slope detection, null scanning, and a combination of power detection and null scanning.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA554114

Entities

People

  • Reece T. Iwami
  • Wade G. Tonaki
  • Wayne A. Shiroma

Organizations

  • University of HawaiĘ»i System

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Antenna Arrays
  • Antennas
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Attitude Control Systems
  • Beam Steering
  • Command And Control
  • Control Systems
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Nanosatellites
  • Phase Detectors
  • Radiation Patterns
  • Scanning
  • Signal Processing
  • Small Satellites
  • Solar Panels
  • Steering

Readers

  • Neural Network Machine Learning.
  • Phased Array Antenna Design.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects