Three‐dimensional radiation pattern measurement strategy for ground station antennas

This article describes how to measure a three‐dimensional antenna radiation pattern and the most effective method to achieve this. We present a new automated three‐dimensional measurement scheme, inspired by the seed pattern of a sunflower seed head, where the seed placements are arranged in a way so that rotational symmetry is obtained to compromise the circular shape of a dish antenna radiation pattern in the three‐dimensional space. This new AU–TUM Antenna Radiation Measurement Strategy has produced superior results. It has been shown by this scheme that for instance the three‐dimensional transmission pattern of a dish antenna can be measured automatically and easily checked against present regulations. The generic AU–TUM Antenna Radiation Measurement Strategy was verified on a 4.8‐m Ka‐band dish antenna. It was concluded that a three‐dimensional radiation pattern can be measured two to thirteen times faster than the best performing current strategies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.