Antenna Directional Pattern Testing System Based on Multirotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Abstract

Obtaining azimuth data of antennas after installation on actual platforms (such as large aircraft, ships, etc.) is crucial for effectively analyzing the platform's impact on the antennas and facilitating optimization and improvement. Traditional testing methods are unable to accurately and efficiently acquire azimuth data due to significant differences between measurements in a dark room and the actual conditions. With the rapid development of drone technology, unmanned aerial platforms have been widely utilized in various engineering fields. Utilizing the flexibility of drones in three-dimensional space and their ability to be precisely controlled through RTK technology, it is possible to use drones equipped with test antennas to measure the azimuth pattern by receiving spectrum signals transmitted by antennas on real platforms. In order to achieve precise angle control, a gimbal system is designed to control the angle of the test antenna. The effectiveness of the entire testing system is verified through experimental results.