ESA delivers cost-effective multibeam antennas

ESA has patented a new, more affordable type of multibeam antenna.

The antenna provides high-throughput performance for future telecom or Earth-observing missions.

Parallel plate waveguides were devised and tested through a pair of projects supported by ESA’s Basic Technology Research Programme, with Thales Alenia Space in France.

The use of multiple radio beams allows individual antennas to receive or transmit multiple signals simultaneously, whether for telecommunications or radar-style scanning.

“Normally, multiple beam forming is achieved using phased array antennas,” said ESA Antenna Engineer Nelson Fonseca.

“However, these require extremely complex and costly electronic back ends to make them work.”

Ku-band testing demonstrates that these waveguides can deliver robust radiofrequency performance compliant with a range of applications for a comparatively low cost.

Relatively simple in structure and tolerant of engineering imperfections, the waveguides can be designed to deliver the required performance.

The design process has been simplified further through the creation of automated design software, produced for ESA’s Antenna section by a PhD student, Francois Doucet of Rennes 1 University, France.

Doucet’s work has been supported through ESA’s Networking/Partnering Initiative, which supports work carried out by universities and research institutes on advanced technologies with potential space applications, with the aim of fostering increased interaction between ESA, European universities, research institutes and industry.

“The resulting beams possess linear polarisation, but can be transformed into circular polarisation by incorporating a polariser into the waveguide or combining it with a polarising reflector,” said Fonseca.

Having completed the research phases for this antenna concept, the next step for Thales Alenia Space is to see how best to fit the technology within given applications, with self-funded studies addressing telecommunications, radar and megaconstellation uses.

Image credit: ©FreeImages.com/Sefton Billington

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