Low-cost, high efficiency, wideband circular polarized planar array antenna for LEO SATCOM application (LHPALEO)

Purpose and goal:

The purpose of the project was to develop highly efficient antennas and control systems that enable more compact, cheaper and more energy-efficient broadband user terminals for low earth orbit satellites. Two passive antennas based on gap waveguide technology were developed with good performance. Three different mechanical control systems were developed, well suited for different user scenarios.

The project´s original intention was to also develop electronically steered antennas, but this proved too difficult to be covered in the limited project scope and schedule. Expected results and effects:

Goal 1: Increase the efficiency of satcom antennas relative to the state-of-the-art by using gap waveguide technology. This has the positive side effect that the antenna can be manufactured very cost-effectively. The project succeeded in this objective.

Goal 2: Develop a compact and cost-effective motorized control. No less than three different ones were developed, since it was identified that the requirements of different use cases could best be met with different design principles. The project, however, did not succeed in developing an electronically steered antenna.

Approach and implementation:

The initial project plan proved too ambitious, as the technical difficulty of work packages 2 and 3 was underestimated. A key goal of the project was to advance the research field on gap waveguide technology, as this is a technology with great potential. Meeting the requirements with another technology choice (e.g. PCB) would have been considerably easier.

A lesson for future projects is that at least 6-9 months should be anticipated before a new PhD student is on site and can work efficiently. The collaboration between academia and industry has worked well and been very beneficial.