A novel tracking control realization of phased array antenna for mobile satellite communications

This paper describes a realization of a tracking phased array antenna system for the shipboard station in X-band satellite communication. This antenna system is necessary to accurately track a target satellite due to the narrow beamwidth. This developed antenna has Tx and Rx antenna beams as well as tracking beam. These beams are independently steered electronically in elevation and mechanically in azimuth. However, a Korean target satellite will be launched into geostationary orbit after a few years. We verified the real-time tracking performance by means of transmission and reception of television broadcasting signal between the developed antenna system and satellite transponder simulator under operation of ship motion simulator. In addition, the measured results of antenna system are presented and discussed.