A method for utilising an array of independently controllable dielectric lenses for radio signal to allow a single antenna to be focussed on one location with a highly directive beam or on more than one location thus enable radio links to be formed with multiple locations. Within the array, each lens will consist of a shaped piece of dielectric material that can be independently, or in groups, pointed in such a direction as to change the direction of the radio signals passing through the lens. The lens will have a shape equivalent to a converging lens which may be a convex shape. Other forms of converging lens may be implemented save space and material. The antenna will have a low gain, wide area of reception and may be implemented as a planar metal antenna or as a group of planar antennas in an array. This invention provides a lightweight system for providing high gain antenna performance without the need for a complex antenna array system or the need for multiple transceiver electronics.

An example implementation may include a first device identifying a request from a second device for an instruction for aligning a satellite antenna. The first device may obtain satellite receiver data of a satellite receiver, responsive to the request. Based on the satellite receiver data, the instruction requested for aligning the satellite antenna is determined. The instruction includes determining a number of other satellite antenna angles for aligning the satellite antenna with other satellites, determining a satellite angle based on the other satellite antenna angles, and determining the instruction requested for aligning the satellite antenna based on the satellite angle. The satellite receiver data, including the instruction requested for aligning the satellite antenna, is provided by the first device to the second device.

A system for estimating a pointing error of an antenna (ANT) of a satellite, the satellite includes a payload (CU) comprising a multichannel transmitter or receiver comprising a multichannel antenna (ANT), one analogue processing chain per channel and a set of digital integrated circuits (PN), the system comprising an estimation device (EST), implemented aboard the satellite or in a ground station, for estimating a pointing error of the antenna, the device for estimating a pointing error being configured to: acquire, for at least two channels of the transmitter or of the receiver, at least two test signals, each test signal having been transmitted or received by the antenna along a different direction (.sub.A, .sub.B), for at least one pair of acquired test signals, determine, for each test signal, a relative complex gain between the test signal received or transmitted respectively on two distinct channels, determine a comparative measurement between the two test signals from either the ratio between the two relative complex gains and/or the difference between the phases of the two relative complex gains, determine a pointing error (d) of the antenna on the basis of the comparative measurement, of the expected directions of transmission or of reception of the test signals (.sub.A, .sub.B) and of a model of the gain of the antenna for each channel and in a plurality of directions.

Provided are satellite tracking antenna system in a plurality of satellite environments and a satellite tracking method using the same, and more particularly, satellite tracking antenna system and method in a plurality of satellite environments, which may receive a satellite signal by stochastically estimating and tracking a target satellite using pre-stored information on satellite orbits, without information on satellite network identity (NID) for every received satellite signal.

A mechanically steered, horizontally polarized, directional antennae for aerial vehicles, such as UAVs. The antenna system can include a planar substrate with a horizontally polarized antenna embedded therein. A rotation member, on one end, can be attached to the planar substrate, and can extend from an external surface of the aerial vehicle. An actuator can be coupled to the rotation member to rotate the rotation member. A communication controller of the aerial vehicle can control the actuator to beam horizontally polarized radiofrequency (RF) waves to a target receiver or receive a wave front from a target transmitter.

A system for calibrating a payload of a satellite, the payload includes a multichannel transmitter or receiver comprising an antenna, one analogue processing chain per channel and a set of digital integrated circuits, the system comprising a calibration device configured to: acquire for all the channels of the transmitter or of the receiver, a digitized calibration signal, set a reference channel and, for each of the other channels, determine a relative complex gain between the channel and the reference channel, for a plurality of frequencies of the calibration signal, correct the relative complex gain of a relative gain of the antenna of the satellite between the channel and the reference channel, estimate a relative delay, estimate a relative phase difference for the set of frequencies, deliver a correction of the relative gain, phase difference and delay of the channel with respect to the reference channel for a set of frequencies.

The present application includes systems and methods for determining pointing error of a satellite antenna. In one aspect a method for determining pointing error of a satellite antenna includes receiving, at a receiving station, a pointing error signal formed by the antenna and transmitted from a satellite, wherein the pointing error signal includes a first beacon (reference) signal and a modulated second beacon (error) signal. The receiving station may demodulate the received pointing error signal to recover the second beacon signal with respect to the first beacon signal, and based at least in part on the demodulated beacon signal, the receiving station may determine the pointing error of the satellite antenna.

Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for enabling orientation of directional antennas even when one or more of the directional antennas are moving. Position information for each directional antenna is transmitted using an omnidirectional antenna transmitting at a low bandwidth and a low power. The position information of the directional antennas is used to orient the directional antennas so that a high bandwidth, low power wireless connection can be enabled and/or maintained between the directional antennas. The position information is periodically transmitted and the orientation of the directional antennas is updated as one or more of the directional antennas move so that the wireless connection between the directional antennas is maintained.

Systems and methods are described for supporting dynamic antenna platform offset calibration for an antenna system mounted to a mobile vehicle. In particular, dynamic antenna platform offset calibration can be performed while communicating user data associated with the mobile vehicle (e.g., based at least in part on alignment calibration procedures including measurements of user data signals), with an antenna platform offset being updated when alignment calibration procedures have been performed at suitably separated spatial conditions. Accordingly, antenna platform offset calibration may be performed throughout the operation of the mobile vehicle without requiring that the vehicle be proactively aligned in a particular orientation for a dedicated calibration routine prior to using the antenna for communicating user data during normal operation of the mobile vehicle.

Provided are a non-metallic position sensor for electromagnetic compatibility testing, a device and a system for automatic antenna positioning. The non-metallic position sensor includes a cylinder body, a piston, and a piston rod; a side wall of a cylinder body lower chamber is provided with a first radial air hole, a second radial air hole arranged on the lower end of the first radial air hole, and a third radial air hole arranged axially symmetrically with the first radial air hole; when the piston rod moves to a first position, the first radial air hole is communicated with the third radial air hole, the non-metallic position sensor send a first air pressure signal outwards; when the piston rod moves to a second position, the first radial air hole is communicated with the second radial air hole, the non-metallic position sensor send a second air pressure signal outwards.