Quadsat has worked with ALL.SPACE to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its electronically steerable antenna (ESA) for use on low-Earth orbit constellations.
Conducted in the UK using Quadsat’s UAV-based solution, the test is the first such comprehensive evaluation of an ESA and has proven the ability of the Quadsat system to conduct complex measurements of this type.
With a dramatic rise in the number of ESAs in the industry, there is still a lack of good performance data. Accelerating this technology further will require more, and accessible, testing to enable manufacturers to accelerate development. This is particularly important in the defence market where ALL.SPACE is most active.
Understanding antenna performance in that environment is critical for the safety of armed forces. At the same time, people in the field are having to get to grips with a brand-new technology. Having visibility of its performance to mitigate against errors will therefore be crucial.
Quadsat is developing its own view of a comprehensive test procedure for ESAs. This includes both the assessment of the antenna radiation performance, combined with the evaluation of the dynamic testing of the desired operational cases, including satellite passes, handover switching, and multibeam tracking. The drone and the RF payload are positioned very accurately in time and space to ensure qualitative and representative measurements. This provides a unique approach to evaluating ESAs as it will give a full understanding of the antenna capability in the same test campaign and with the same measurement equipment.
“At ALL.SPACE, we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of satellite communications, and this evaluation with Quadsat is a critical milestone,” said ALL.SPACE CTO John-Paul Szczepanik. “By leveraging its cutting-edge UAV testing solutions, we’ve gained unprecedented insights into the performance of our multi-beam ESA technology in real-world environments. We’re not just testing—we’re shaping the future of satellite communications and how best to demonstrate world-leading performance and certify this for use in critical environments.”
“Future networks have very different requirements compared to conventional satcoms,” said Quadsat Co-founder. “Getting it right is particularly important in the defence market. This makes it challenging for manufacturers to develop and test for this environment. With these measurements, ALL.SPACE now has a comprehensive view of antenna performance and can continue to enhance its solutions to be future-proof for a new era of satcoms.”
Following the evaluation, ALL.SPACE has access to detailed data on the performance of its antenna which can be used for further development.
