VT-063 Deep Space Tracking Antenna
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General
The VT-063 twin-axis 6.3 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 has been designed for light weight and exceptional stiffness with extensive computer modeling proving the designs
stability in all operating conditions. Metallic materials with high corrosion resistance characteristics, normally associated with deep sea exploration, have been used throughout making the system ideal for high humidity or high salt environments. The main reflector is manufactured from a carbon fiber and Kevlar honeycomb sandwich which is extremely stiff and also very light weight with very good surface accuracy and high RF reflectivity. The reflector is polymer coated to help to keep the reflective surface dry.
The pedestal consists of two interlocking sealed tube elements that support the drive mechanics and the reception head. The reception head consists of a parabolic reflector and the receiving head itself. This wideband receiving head is a JDA Systems developed monopulse system with full integrated autotracking capabilities. The antenna has unlimited movement in the azimuth as it utilizes slip ring assemblies with dual RF rotary joints. The elevation movement is from -5 degrees from one horizon to -5 degrees to the opposite horizon (-5 degrees to 185 degrees), in other words the antenna head can track targets during a direct over flight of the antenna and can also look downwards.
The pedestal also provides a protected mounting area for the main controller, optional equipment and power supplies.
The azimuth and elevation brushless overrated motors fitted inside the pedestal head assembly, both driving self braking cycloid gearbox assemblies through planetary gearboxes. All electrical and mechanical drive components are enclosed in environmentally sealed compartments.
The motor controllers are processor based intelligent units which sit on an internal data bus around which the antenna is designed. These are 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 full power at zero speed and so can be easily used to hold the antenna in
position when the antenna is not moving.
A fully sealed slip ring assembly is used in the azimuth axis through which run all signals including dual RF feeds and the bus system on which the antenna control is based.
The RF can be down converted directly in the reception head to 70MHz and then fed over the RF feeds. Uplink signals may be mixed onto the same RF cables and amplified in the head assembly to allow the antenna feed to simultaneously receive and transmit RF.
Reflector
The reflector is a multiple petal form solid surface high precision parabolic reflector manufactured from a carbon fiber and Kevlar honeycomb sandwich which is extremely stiff and also very light weight. The reflector is stiffened using a surrounding ring assembly and a multi armed support that fits closely to the rear of the reflector. A front facing tripod assembly positions the receiving head assembly precisely on the focal plane of the antenna. The receiving head is a JDA Systems developed monopulse 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 dual tracking receivers also developed by JDA Systems. An integrated processor based tracking control computer communicates directly with the main azimuth and elevation motor controllers thus giving the VT-063 an autonomous signal autotracking capability. Of course an antenna control unit is supplied with the antenna offering all standard and many advanced features.
Space is provided behind the receiving head to accommodate the electronics while casting a minimal shadow on the main reflector.
An optional self test transmitter and antenna may be fitted directly in the center of the main reflector. This allows for a looped true signal test to be carried out on the antenna at any time. As this test system is placed in the area of the reflector normally in the shadow of the reception head this has no negative effect on the antennas normal operation.
Antenna Control System
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. This offers greatly reduced cabling requirements. The antenna may also be remote monitored and controlled from multiple locations over a wide area network.
The VuSoft system is installed in a rack mounted computer chassis.
The Windows XP, 7or 8operating system on which VuSoft runs is controlled via an external mouse and keyboard. The antenna may also be controlled via a standard joystick connected to the computer.
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.
Calibration of the antenna is automatically carried out on every start up and continuously during operation. An optional GPS navigation
system, electronic magnetic compass and flux gate leveling systems can be built in, these allow the antenna to know its three dimensional position in respect to 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 the optional three axis fluxgate stabilization platform is integrated into the antenna base. This allows the antenna control software to compensate for platform movement in real time without compromising the exceptional tracking performance of the VT-063 antenna.
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-063 twin-axis 6.3 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 has been designed for light weight and exceptional stiffness with extensive computer modeling proving the designs
stability in all operating conditions. Metallic materials with high corrosion resistance characteristics, normally associated with deep sea exploration, have been used throughout making the system ideal for high humidity or high salt environments. The main reflector is manufactured from a carbon fiber and Kevlar honeycomb sandwich which is extremely stiff and also very light weight with very good surface accuracy and high RF reflectivity. The reflector is polymer coated to help to keep the reflective surface dry.
The pedestal consists of two interlocking sealed tube elements that support the drive mechanics and the reception head. The reception head consists of a parabolic reflector and the receiving head itself. This wideband receiving head is a JDA Systems developed monopulse system with full integrated autotracking capabilities. The antenna has unlimited movement in the azimuth as it utilizes slip ring assemblies with dual RF rotary joints. The elevation movement is from -5 degrees from one horizon to -5 degrees to the opposite horizon (-5 degrees to 185 degrees), in other words the antenna head can track targets during a direct over flight of the antenna and can also look downwards.
The pedestal also provides a protected mounting area for the main controller, optional equipment and power supplies.
The azimuth and elevation brushless overrated motors fitted inside the pedestal head assembly, both driving self braking cycloid gearbox assemblies through planetary gearboxes. All electrical and mechanical drive components are enclosed in environmentally sealed compartments.
The motor controllers are processor based intelligent units which sit on an internal data bus around which the antenna is designed. These are 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 full power at zero speed and so can be easily used to hold the antenna in
position when the antenna is not moving.
A fully sealed slip ring assembly is used in the azimuth axis through which run all signals including dual RF feeds and the bus system on which the antenna control is based.
The RF can be down converted directly in the reception head to 70MHz and then fed over the RF feeds. Uplink signals may be mixed onto the same RF cables and amplified in the head assembly to allow the antenna feed to simultaneously receive and transmit RF.
Reflector
The reflector is a multiple petal form solid surface high precision parabolic reflector manufactured from a carbon fiber and Kevlar honeycomb sandwich which is extremely stiff and also very light weight. The reflector is stiffened using a surrounding ring assembly and a multi armed support that fits closely to the rear of the reflector. A front facing tripod assembly positions the receiving head assembly precisely on the focal plane of the antenna. The receiving head is a JDA Systems developed monopulse 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 dual tracking receivers also developed by JDA Systems. An integrated processor based tracking control computer communicates directly with the main azimuth and elevation motor controllers thus giving the VT-063 an autonomous signal autotracking capability. Of course an antenna control unit is supplied with the antenna offering all standard and many advanced features.
Space is provided behind the receiving head to accommodate the electronics while casting a minimal shadow on the main reflector.
An optional self test transmitter and antenna may be fitted directly in the center of the main reflector. This allows for a looped true signal test to be carried out on the antenna at any time. As this test system is placed in the area of the reflector normally in the shadow of the reception head this has no negative effect on the antennas normal operation.
Antenna Control System
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. This offers greatly reduced cabling requirements. The antenna may also be remote monitored and controlled from multiple locations over a wide area network.
The VuSoft system is installed in a rack mounted computer chassis.
The Windows XP, 7or 8operating system on which VuSoft runs is controlled via an external mouse and keyboard. The antenna may also be controlled via a standard joystick connected to the computer.
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.
Calibration of the antenna is automatically carried out on every start up and continuously during operation. An optional GPS navigation
system, electronic magnetic compass and flux gate leveling systems can be built in, these allow the antenna to know its three dimensional position in respect to 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 the optional three axis fluxgate stabilization platform is integrated into the antenna base. This allows the antenna control software to compensate for platform movement in real time without compromising the exceptional tracking performance of the VT-063 antenna.
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.