P. Bolli et al., "Antenna pattern characterization of the
low-frequency receptor of LOFAR by means of an UAV-mounted artificial
test source," Proceedings SPIE 9906: Ground-based and Airborne
Telescopes VI, Edinburgh (UK), 26 June 2016.
abstract:
Low frequency aperture array technology requires advanced ad-hoc tools
for performing antenna and array pattern characterization and
instrumental calibration. A micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
mounting a radio-frequency transmitting system developed in Italy has
demonstrated to satisfy the challenging characteristics of these
tasks. Therefore, a measurement campaign by means of this UAV system
has been planned to one Dutch station of the Low Frequency Array
(LOFAR) with the main goal to improve the LOFAR antenna and array
models. In preparation for this campaign, some initial tests applying
the UAV system to one low-frequency antenna of LOFAR were performed in
Italy. This contribution describes this measurement session and shows
that the measured antenna gain patterns at different frequencies
between 40 and 70 MHz agree very well with the electromagnetic
models.
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