EE - Autonomous 28 GHz Phased Array Satellite Tracking Link
As CubeSat missions demand significantly higher throughput for data-heavy payloads—such as real-time high-resolution imagery and continuous video streaming—traditional omnidirectional or fixed directional antennas encounter severe bandwidth and link-budget constraints. Next-generation CubeSats require electronically steered antenna systems operating at millimeter-wave frequencies (Ka-band) to dynamically establish and maintain high-gain communications links without relying exclusively on mechanical Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS).
This undergraduate research project serves as the foundational technology demonstrator for a future Ka-band CubeSat/High-Altitude Balloon payload. Building directly upon IrishSat’s previous work with high-order QAM software-defined radio (SDR) video links, this initiative transitions the system from static omnidirectional antennas to a 28 GHz SPI-controlled phased array system capable of autonomous Direction Finding (DF) and adaptive beam tracking.
Project Phasing & Tasks:
- Phase 1 (Benchtop Direction Finding): Develop SPI driver scripts for the 28 GHz beamformer IC. Implement an automated beam-scanning algorithm to measure RSSI/power metrics and lock the array’s main lobe toward a fixed Tx horn antenna.
- Phase 2 (Dynamic Tracking & Video Transmission): Develop a closed-loop adaptive tracking algorithm (e.g., monopulse or gradient perturbation) on a motion stage. Integrate the SDR video pipeline to evaluate SNR, EVM, BER, and throughput dropouts during live beam steering.
- Phase 3 (Drone Field Flight Test): Integrate power distribution and vibration isolation to fly a 28 GHz Tx on IrishSat’s Heavy-Lift Drone, executing flight tests over a ground station phased array to simulate a CubeSat pass.
The Chisum lab has been developing the fundamental theory of design of world-class antennas for advanced applications in terrestrial wireless, satcom, and defense applications for the past 11 years. At present, our innovate GRIN lens antennas achieve the performance of the conventional solution (a phased array) but consume 1-10% the power of a conventional solution. This unheard-of power savings is only possible because of recent advanced in numerical design and optimization and 3D-printing, which allow us to finely craft lenses to operate as exquisite passive beamformers. Using these low-power (and wideband) antennas, future wireless networks and applications will benefit from substantial power savings, and since electricity bills account for ~50% of the operating cost (OPEX) of a mobile wireless network, this technology has the potential transform an industry. At present, this technology is being pursued by our lab as well as a startup company based on research out of our lab.
The present focus of the lab is to extend the state-of-the-art by:
- Advancing 3D-printing for high-performance and novel antennas and circuits using professional-grade 3D-printers (FDM, mSLA, DLP)
- Developing new system architectures and demonstration prototypes for applications in 5G communications, Satellite tracking and communications, and electronic warfare
- Develop supporting hardware including antenna arrays and RF and millimeter-wave circuits (typically 1 to 100 GHz)
The lab includes between 7 and 9 graduate students and a number of undergraduate researchers at any time. We have active collaborations with industry, defense primes, and government labs. Students working in this lab will gain experience in theory, modeling, prototyping, and measurement of high-frequency (RF, microwave, millimeter-wave) components and systems.
Example of a lens-base system publication: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=11074353