A weather radar system initiates a horizontal scan at a first tilt angle, then adjusts the tilt angle down during an intermediate phase of the horizontal scan, and finally adjust the tilt angle back to the first tilt angle for an end phase of the horizontal scan. The intermediate phase may comprise a fifteen-to-twenty-degree arc centered about a centerline of the weather radar antenna. The radar system may perform test horizontal scans at intervals within a predefined range, each having a different fixed tilt angle to identify tilt angles having desirable signal-to-noise ratio and signal-to-clutter ratio at different phases of the scan. Alternatively, the system may execute a vertical scan and at one or more horizontal positions to identify desirable tilt angles at various phases.

In one example, an antenna system is described. The antenna system includes a primary antenna on an aircraft. The primary antenna is mechanically steerable and has an asymmetric antenna beam pattern with a narrow beamwidth axis and a wide beamwidth axis at boresight. The antenna system also includes a secondary antenna on the aircraft, the secondary antenna including an array of antenna elements. The antenna system also includes an antenna selection system to control communication of a signal between the aircraft and a target satellite via the primary antenna and the secondary antenna. The antenna selection system switches communication of the signal from the primary antenna to the secondary antenna when a performance characteristic for communication with the target satellite satisfies a threshold due to a position of the aircraft relative to the target satellite.

In one example, an antenna system is described. The antenna system includes a primary antenna on an aircraft. The primary antenna is mechanically steerable and has an asymmetric antenna beam pattern with a narrow beamwidth axis and a wide beamwidth axis at boresight. The antenna system also includes a secondary antenna on the aircraft, the secondary antenna including an array of antenna elements. The antenna system also includes an antenna selection system to control communication of a signal between the aircraft and a target satellite via the primary antenna and the secondary antenna. The antenna selection system switches communication of the signal from the primary antenna to the secondary antenna when a performance characteristic for communication with the target satellite satisfies a threshold due to a position of the aircraft relative to the target satellite.

A device for orienting a load about a main axis X and a secondary axis Y is disclosed having a first shaft, called transmission shaft, intended to support the load and configured to be rotated about the main axis and the secondary axis, a second shaft configured to be rotated about the main axis X, a third shaft configured to be rotated about a third axis of rotation, in the same direction as the main axis, a first connection component between the transmission shaft and the second shaft, configured to prevent relative movements between the transmission shaft and the second shaft in, on the one hand, a degree of rotational freedom about the main axis X and, on the other hand, three degrees of translational freedom.

A device for orienting a load about a main axis X and a secondary axis Y is disclosed having a first shaft, called transmission shaft, intended to support the load and configured to be rotated about the main axis and the secondary axis, a second shaft configured to be rotated about the main axis X, a third shaft configured to be rotated about a third axis of rotation, in the same direction as the main axis, a first connection component between the transmission shaft and the second shaft, configured to prevent relative movements between the transmission shaft and the second shaft in, on the one hand, a degree of rotational freedom about the main axis X and, on the other hand, three degrees of translational freedom.

A satellite-communications gateway includes a hub and an antenna configured for satellite communications. The antenna is mounted to the hub and supported by the hub. The antenna includes a plurality of panels forming a parabolic dish. The panels are carbon fiber-reinforce polymer. The parabolic dish has a diameter in a range of 9 to 13 meters.

The present invention relates to a director mount arrangement for automatic alignment of a subsystem relative to a platform, wherein said director mount arrangement is arranged to pivotably support the subsystem. The director mount arrangement comprises a pivot frame arrangement and a control system. The control system comprises a control unit arranged to generate control signals so as to control the orientation of and stabilize the subsystem. The control signals are generated based on angular rate of subsystem and orientation operating commands provided from an operator. The control unit further generates estimated control signals based on platform orientation information and determine a difference between the control signals and the estimated control signals, wherein the difference is indicative of mechanical misalignments between the subsystem and the platform. The control unit further generates alignment corrections based on the determined difference so as to automatically align the subsystem relative to the platform.

The present invention relates to a director mount arrangement for automatic alignment of a subsystem relative to a platform, wherein said director mount arrangement is arranged to pivotably support the subsystem. The director mount arrangement comprises a pivot frame arrangement and a control system. The control system comprises a control unit arranged to generate control signals so as to control the orientation of and stabilize the subsystem. The control signals are generated based on angular rate of subsystem and orientation operating commands provided from an operator. The control unit further generates estimated control signals based on platform orientation information and determine a difference between the control signals and the estimated control signals, wherein the difference is indicative of mechanical misalignments between the subsystem and the platform. The control unit further generates alignment corrections based on the determined difference so as to automatically align the subsystem relative to the platform.

Systems and methods are provided for a digital beamformed phased array feed. The system may include a radome configured to allow electromagnetic waves to propagate; a multi-band software defined antenna array tile; a power and clock management subsystem configured to manage power and time of operation; a thermal management subsystem configured to dissipate heat generated by the multi-band software defined antenna array tile; and an enclosure assembly. The multi-band software defined antenna array tile may include a plurality of coupled dipole array antenna elements; a plurality of frequency converters; and a plurality of digital beamformers.

Systems and methods are provided for a digital beamformed phased array feed. The system may include a radome configured to allow electromagnetic waves to propagate; a multi-band software defined antenna array tile; a power and clock management subsystem configured to manage power and time of operation; a thermal management subsystem configured to dissipate heat generated by the multi-band software defined antenna array tile; and an enclosure assembly. The multi-band software defined antenna array tile may include a plurality of coupled dipole array antenna elements; a plurality of frequency converters; and a plurality of digital beamformers.