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.

A technique for controlling an airborne antenna system (304) for a radio telecommunications network mounted on an aircraft (300) is described. As to a method aspect performed by the aircraft (300), a physical antenna orientation of the antenna system (304) relative to geographic cardinal directions is determined. The physical antenna orientation is stabilized in a predefined direction relative to the geographic cardinal directions by controlling a rotational actuator (514) of the antenna system (304).

A vehicle includes a vehicle platform, an antenna, and an antenna positioner configured to position the antenna relative to the vehicle platform. An inertial navigation system (INS) is associated with the vehicle platform and configured to generate INS output data. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) is associated with the antenna positioner and configured to generate IMU output data having a timing latency difference relative to the INS output data. A controller may be configured to control the antenna positioner based upon the INS output data and the IMU output data adjusted for the timing latency therebetween.

A sensor based monitoring system (SBMS) for a wireless communications network, a monitoring device for the SBMS, and a SBMS server are provided herein. In one example, the SBMS includes: (1) a monitoring device configured to collect antenna data of an antenna mounted on a communications structure of a wireless communications network and communicate the antenna data over a wireless network, and (2) a SBMS server configured to provide actionable intelligence based on the antenna data and system data of the wireless communications network from at least one other data source.

A vehicle includes a vehicle platform, an antenna, and an antenna positioner configured to position the antenna relative to the vehicle platform. An inertial navigation system (INS) is associated with the vehicle platform and configured to generate INS output data. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) is associated with the antenna positioner and configured to generate IMU output data having a timing latency difference relative to the INS output data. A controller may be configured to control the antenna positioner based upon the INS output data and the IMU output data adjusted for the timing latency therebetween.

A communications system including an antenna array and electronics assembly that may be mounted on and in a vehicle. The communication system may generally comprise an external subassembly that is mounted on an exterior surface of the vehicle, and an internal subassembly that is located within the vehicle, the external and internal subassemblies being communicatively coupled to one another. The external subassembly may comprise the antenna array as well as mounting equipment and steering actuators to move the antenna array in azimuth, elevation and polarization (for example, to track a satellite or other signal source). The internal subassembly may comprise most of the electronics associated with the communication system.

There is described apparatus for orienting at least one electromagnetic field sensor, a related receiver unit and method of use. The apparatus has an orientation detector having an output which is dependent upon an orientation of the electromagnetic field sensor, an actuator and a controller which is arranged in communication with the orientation detector and the actuator, the controller being configured to be operable to generate at least one instruction for operating the actuator for moving the electromagnetic field sensor into a predefined orientation, in dependence upon the output from the orientation detector.

Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for controlling a payload of a gimbal stabilisation system for an aircraft during testing an antenna under test (AUT). The gimbal stabilisation system including a payload control assembly coupled via a yaw motor to a gimbal assembly. The gimbal assembling including the payload comprising a first section with a transceiver for use in testing the AUT and a second section rotatably coupled to the gimbal assembly. The payload control assembly including a controller configured to operate the yaw motor and gimbal assembly by: receiving an in-flight position of the aircraft during testing of the AUT; receiving a position of the AUT in relation to the aircraft; and controlling the gimbal assembly by: calculating a pointing direction and alignment of the first section of the payload relative to the AUT based on the received position of the aircraft and the received position of the AUT; and maintaining pointing and alignment of the first section of the payload towards the AUT based on the calculated pointing direction and alignment of the first section of the payload.

The disclosure relates to an antenna system [1] comprising a mast [7], in turn comprising a base section [2b] and an extendable section [a], and an antenna [6]. The antenna [6] is arranged to be rotatable and the extendable section [2a] comprises a plurality of telescopic sections [8] whereby the extendable section [2a] may adopt a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration. The mast [7] is foldable in relation to a platform [5] in a vertical plane [PLxy] essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the extendable section [LD-es] and to the longitudinal direction of the base section [LD-bs] by means of a first pivot joint [9]. According to the disclosure the antenna system [1] may be arranged to the platform [5], wherein the platform [5] may be in form of a vehicle [5-v], whereby an antenna arrangement [101] is formed. The disclosure further relates to methods of avoiding oscillations for an antenna system [1] and/or an antenna arrangement [101], and to a method of undeploying an antenna arrangement [101].

The disclosure relates to an antenna system [1] comprising a mast [7], in turn comprising a base section [2b] and an extendable section [a], and an antenna [6]. The antenna [6] is arranged to be rotatable and the extendable section [2a] comprises a plurality of telescopic sections [8] whereby the extendable section [2a] may adopt a retracted configuration and a deployed configuration. The mast [7] is foldable in relation to a platform [5] in a vertical plane [PLxy] essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the extendable section [LD-es] and to the longitudinal direction of the base section [LD- bs] by means of a first pivot joint [9]. According to the disclosure the antenna system [1] may be arranged to the platform [5], wherein the platform [5] may be in form of a vehicle [5-v], whereby an antenna arrangement [101] is formed. The disclosure further relates to methods of avoiding oscillations for an antenna system [1] and/or an antenna arrangement [101],and to a method of undeploying an antenna arrangement