top of page
EXPERTISE AND RESEARCH PROJECTS

High performance antenna radiating elements

High performance radiating elements with high cross-polarization isolation and small co-polar mismatch are required for wide and invariant scanned array patterns in dual-polarized weather radars. Our research group is focused on the development of radiating elements that satisfy such requirments.  Our current research projects involve:

  • S-band dual-polarized radiating element for fully digital active phased array radar (HORUS)

  • C-band dual-polarized radiating element for Polarimetric Atmospheric Image Radar system (PAIR)

  • X-band dual-polarized antenna for Universal Polarization of a Low-Profile Active array antenna (X-UPLPA)

  • Ka-band dual-polarized antenna and active array for satellite and communications systems.

  • Multiband and reconfigurable shared apertures for active PAR systems.

mm-Wave Research in Antennas, Radomes, Materials and Radars

PAARD team have developed  a state-of the art 9-axis robotic RF scanner for mmWave applications and demonstrate a calibration of an autonomous mmWave radar front end. The system is capable to perform material test, radome test, antenna pattern test in NF planar and FF mode.

Full_Radome_setup.png
Screen Shot 2020-02-01 at 10.51.24 AM.pn

T/R modules for active phased array antennas

Screen Shot 2021-02-06 at 10.22.51 AM.pn

Transmit and Receive (T/R) modules are the key component for any active phased array antenna. X- and C-band  dual-polarized T/R modules for weather application were implemented. Below, pictures of brick and tile architectures for an Alternate Transmit and Alternate Receive (ATAR) and also for an Alternate Transmit and Simultaneous Receive (ATSR) for CASA ERC and APAR-NCAR.

X-band 1D-scan active array (CASA ERC, 2010)

Dual-polarized active phased array antennas

One of the key research topics in our group is the development of active phased array antennas. We are interested in the study, design, and implementation of active phased array antennas for civil and military applications. Our main goal is the development of highly reliable and low-cost active phased array antenna.

C-band antenna array (APAR-NCAR, 2012-2014)

S-band antenna array (ARRC-OU, 2016)

UAV antenna characterization and radar calibration

In situ radar antenna characterization using a high performance UAV is under development.

We are interested in:

  • Radar refelectivity and differential refelectivity calibration

  • In situ antenna patterns characterization 

  • In situ radome inspection

  • In situ ground reflection 

X-band UAV (ARRC, 2016)

UAV Team (ARRC, 2016)

S-C-X-band  UAV (ARRC, 2016)

  • Anlaytical drop size distribution for modeling a wet radar radome 

  • 3D radome characterization of spherical and semispherical and cylindrical radome using a 6-axis robotic arm.

  • Single port RF characterColeen Baines 

6-axis robotic used to articulate an RF probe to characterize a wet radome (March 2016)

X-band radome setup for wet radome characterization (March 2016)

Measured data from dry and wet radome.  (Feb. 2016) 

PX1000 radar system,

(Courtessy of Boon L. Cheon)

Measured results of wet X-band radome characterization (March 2016)

Radome Experiment setup (March 2016), Alessio M. Fabricating the APA antenna

Radome characterization and wet radar calibration

RF scanner for material and active phased array antenna calibration

  • A low-cost, five-axis Near-Field robotic scanner developed for EOL/NCAR in 2014 enable active phased array antenna characterization and calibration. More information please contact Jorge Salazar  (PAARD ARRc) or Peisang Tsai (EOL/NCAR). 

  •  

  • A six-axis novel Near-Field robotic scanner for millimeter-wave active phased array antenna calibration that includes surface, thermal and RF characterization was developed by the PAARD team. 

  •  

bottom of page