Feasibility of a virtual anechoic chamber: the ultimate E3 test facility

EMI and EMC testing of very large integrated systems such as aircraft and helicopters can be accomplished in large anechoic chambers. There are now several very large anechoic chambers in existence. However, all anechoic chambers have inherent limitations. These limitations include size, safety, and numerous other technical issues. For items larger than an anechoic chamber or for a test requiring the exercise of aircraft engines or rotating helicopter blades, outdoor testing in a virtual anechoic chamber is a viable solution for meeting EMI and EMC test objectives. This paper presents a site feasibility analysis for an open air virtual anechoic chamber for EMI and EMC test capability. To illustrate the analysis, the example selected is the site at the Preflight Integration of Munitions and Electronics Systems (PRIMES) Facility located at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.