VT-012™ 1.2m Autotracking Antenna
| vt-012.pdf |
General
The VT-012 twin-axis 1.2 meter diameter Autotracking antenna system from JDA Systems is the culmination of a multi year company sponsored research and development project that has rethought the tracking antenna for the twenty first century.
Pedestal
The antenna body has been designed for light weight and exceptional stiffness with extensive computer and wind tunnel testing proving
the designs stability in all operating conditions. Materials with high corrosion resistance characteristics, normally associated with deep sea exploration, have been used throughout.
The pedestal consists of a wide and stable alloy azimuth rotator to which is mounted a "U" shaped elevation yoke that supports
the antenna head. The elevation yoke construction is a Kevlar composite fiber lay-up. In cross section the structure is a completely enclosed symmetrical paraboloid box of great strength and stiffness. The azimuth rotator also provides a protected mounting area for the main controller, optional equipment and power supplies.
The azimuth and elevation DC brushless motors are identical, both driving directly through cycloid gearboxes. All electrical and mechanical drive components are enclosed in environmentally sealed compartments some of which may be filled with dry gas for better performance and pest resistance.
The motor controllers are DSP based intelligent units designed to supply the motors with the control and power they require but also to protect
the motors from overload thus dramatically extending the life of the motors and gearboxes. The motors can supply high power at zero speed and so can be easily used to hold the antenna in position when the antenna is not moving.
Sealed slip ring assemblies are used in both axes through which run all signals including the bus system on which the antenna control is based.
Antenna
The reflector is a solid surface high precision carbon composite parabolic reflector. A curved Kevlar radome is mounted "clamshell" style to the reflector resulting in a symmetrical aerodynamically clean structure offering an extended environmental operating range.
The radome also supports and positions the digital rotary RF head assembly precisely on the focal plane of the antenna. The RF receiving head is a JDA Systems developed digital rotary scan unit that offers a wide reception band and extremely good low signal level performance.
This unit is unique in that it offers fully automatic signal tracking with or without the use of an external antenna control unit.
This unique self contained autotracking capability is made possible by placing all of the necessary microwave level functions in the head itself which contains an all band dual channel tracking receiver also developed by JDA Systems. An integrated DSP based tracking control computer communicates directly with the main azimuth and elevation motor controllers thus giving the VT-012 an autonomous signal autotracking capability.
Of course an antenna control unit is supplied with the antenna offering all of the standard, and many advanced, features.
Ample space is provided behind the receiving head to accommodate the electronics and on axis cameras while casting
a minimal shadow on the main reflector.
Antenna Control Systems
The Antenna controller software VuSoft is a highly advanced and well proven software product from JDA providing the functions of auto
calibration, slaved "pointers", Program Tracking, Pre Tracking and Full Autotracking systems together with optional data acquisition and data
storage.
The antenna itself is controlled via an Ethernet link allowing for greater distances between the control room and the antenna. Both of these offer greatly reduced cabling requirements. The antenna may optionally be remote monitored and controlled.
The VuSoft system is installed in a rack mounted computer chassis. The Windows 7 thru 11 operating system on which VuSoft runs is controlled via an external mouse and keyboard. Where appropriate an optional cable free remote control tablet is also available.
The antenna control unit computer supports many standard interfaces (i.e., USB, Ethernet, RS-232 etc.) and is available to control many
of the JDA Systems products such as Receivers, Combiners, Bit Synchronizers, Decoms, Bit Error Rate Test Sets, Power Meters, RF Switch Relays etc. Therefore with the receivers, combiners, bit syncs and decoms integrated into controller the antenna may operate as a fully independent telemetry recovery system with built in IRIG106 Chapter 10 recording capabilities. The optional integrated battery backup systems may run the antenna for up to 12 hours without external power, making the system ideal for mobile or remote operation.
Calibration of the antenna is automatically carried out on every start up and continuously during operation. A GPS navigation system and electronic magnetic compass are built in as standard, these along with a leveling system allow the antenna to know its three dimensional position in respect the earth at all times. The VuSoft software refers to an integrated geodetic data base to allow the antenna to correctly auto track the target even in difficult geographical conditions.
For marine, or unstable platform operations a nine axis INU stabilization platform is integrated into the antenna. This allows the antenna control software to compensate for platform movement in real time without compromising the exceptional slave tracking performance of the VT-012 antenna.
The antenna is optionally protected against inclement weather by the use of the latest in passive ion shedding anti lightning strike systems and an optional ultrasonic non moving part weather station, which operate with up to one cm of surface icing. These make the antenna the most survivable system available.
The chances are that one of our existing Antenna Control System Baselines will meet your needs, but if not then the modular design of these systems allows us to rapidly and inexpensively customize Antenna Control System functionality to exactly meet them.
The VT-012 twin-axis 1.2 meter diameter Autotracking antenna system from JDA Systems is the culmination of a multi year company sponsored research and development project that has rethought the tracking antenna for the twenty first century.
Pedestal
The antenna body has been designed for light weight and exceptional stiffness with extensive computer and wind tunnel testing proving
the designs stability in all operating conditions. Materials with high corrosion resistance characteristics, normally associated with deep sea exploration, have been used throughout.
The pedestal consists of a wide and stable alloy azimuth rotator to which is mounted a "U" shaped elevation yoke that supports
the antenna head. The elevation yoke construction is a Kevlar composite fiber lay-up. In cross section the structure is a completely enclosed symmetrical paraboloid box of great strength and stiffness. The azimuth rotator also provides a protected mounting area for the main controller, optional equipment and power supplies.
The azimuth and elevation DC brushless motors are identical, both driving directly through cycloid gearboxes. All electrical and mechanical drive components are enclosed in environmentally sealed compartments some of which may be filled with dry gas for better performance and pest resistance.
The motor controllers are DSP based intelligent units designed to supply the motors with the control and power they require but also to protect
the motors from overload thus dramatically extending the life of the motors and gearboxes. The motors can supply high power at zero speed and so can be easily used to hold the antenna in position when the antenna is not moving.
Sealed slip ring assemblies are used in both axes through which run all signals including the bus system on which the antenna control is based.
Antenna
The reflector is a solid surface high precision carbon composite parabolic reflector. A curved Kevlar radome is mounted "clamshell" style to the reflector resulting in a symmetrical aerodynamically clean structure offering an extended environmental operating range.
The radome also supports and positions the digital rotary RF head assembly precisely on the focal plane of the antenna. The RF receiving head is a JDA Systems developed digital rotary scan unit that offers a wide reception band and extremely good low signal level performance.
This unit is unique in that it offers fully automatic signal tracking with or without the use of an external antenna control unit.
This unique self contained autotracking capability is made possible by placing all of the necessary microwave level functions in the head itself which contains an all band dual channel tracking receiver also developed by JDA Systems. An integrated DSP based tracking control computer communicates directly with the main azimuth and elevation motor controllers thus giving the VT-012 an autonomous signal autotracking capability.
Of course an antenna control unit is supplied with the antenna offering all of the standard, and many advanced, features.
Ample space is provided behind the receiving head to accommodate the electronics and on axis cameras while casting
a minimal shadow on the main reflector.
Antenna Control Systems
The Antenna controller software VuSoft is a highly advanced and well proven software product from JDA providing the functions of auto
calibration, slaved "pointers", Program Tracking, Pre Tracking and Full Autotracking systems together with optional data acquisition and data
storage.
The antenna itself is controlled via an Ethernet link allowing for greater distances between the control room and the antenna. Both of these offer greatly reduced cabling requirements. The antenna may optionally be remote monitored and controlled.
The VuSoft system is installed in a rack mounted computer chassis. The Windows 7 thru 11 operating system on which VuSoft runs is controlled via an external mouse and keyboard. Where appropriate an optional cable free remote control tablet is also available.
The antenna control unit computer supports many standard interfaces (i.e., USB, Ethernet, RS-232 etc.) and is available to control many
of the JDA Systems products such as Receivers, Combiners, Bit Synchronizers, Decoms, Bit Error Rate Test Sets, Power Meters, RF Switch Relays etc. Therefore with the receivers, combiners, bit syncs and decoms integrated into controller the antenna may operate as a fully independent telemetry recovery system with built in IRIG106 Chapter 10 recording capabilities. The optional integrated battery backup systems may run the antenna for up to 12 hours without external power, making the system ideal for mobile or remote operation.
Calibration of the antenna is automatically carried out on every start up and continuously during operation. A GPS navigation system and electronic magnetic compass are built in as standard, these along with a leveling system allow the antenna to know its three dimensional position in respect the earth at all times. The VuSoft software refers to an integrated geodetic data base to allow the antenna to correctly auto track the target even in difficult geographical conditions.
For marine, or unstable platform operations a nine axis INU stabilization platform is integrated into the antenna. This allows the antenna control software to compensate for platform movement in real time without compromising the exceptional slave tracking performance of the VT-012 antenna.
The antenna is optionally protected against inclement weather by the use of the latest in passive ion shedding anti lightning strike systems and an optional ultrasonic non moving part weather station, which operate with up to one cm of surface icing. These make the antenna the most survivable system available.
The chances are that one of our existing Antenna Control System Baselines will meet your needs, but if not then the modular design of these systems allows us to rapidly and inexpensively customize Antenna Control System functionality to exactly meet them.