SWISSto12 has made a outstanding journey in satellite tv for pc manufacturing. The corporate now produces its personal HummingSat, in addition to 3D-printed filters, waveguides, and different RF elements. Not too long ago, it was chosen by knowledge and video agency SES to fabricate antennas for SES’s Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) constellation, the 13-satellite O3b mPOWER community. This constellation connects varied communication networks, delivers broadband, and gives a safe communications infrastructure. One key function is its capacity to direct beams towards particular geographic areas and transmit totally different knowledge on the identical frequency in separate areas utilizing high-gain antennas (spot beams).
We already know that 3D printing is the optimum methodology for manufacturing RF antennas for area functions. Horn and different antennas will be optimized for higher sign transmission, lowering mass whereas enhancing conformity and minimizing the variety of elements. What’s actually thrilling about this contract is that it includes “giant aperture electronically steered antennas for its buyer consumer terminals.”
Floor stations and cellular terminals have historically been produced utilizing typical manufacturing methods, together with composites. Some terminals are compact sufficient to slot in your hand, whereas others—extra generally—are the massive models mounted on high of TV vehicles. The picture beneath exhibits a PICO 120A SES O3b mPOWER terminal.
On this configuration, the antenna receiver has a 1.2-meter diameter, and usually, you’d buy two models. The important thing elements are designed to accumulate a sign rapidly, no matter location. This setup works effectively for those who’re driving a truck to a web site and remaining stationary to transmit.
However what for those who’re consistently on the transfer? In eventualities like jet journey, a phased array turns into a greater choice (as proven beneath). A phased array capabilities equally to the DMD chips utilized in DLP expertise, the place quite a few particular person parts can regulate independently. By working collectively, these parts optimize section and amplitude to boost sign reception by way of beamforming.
A phased array for an plane.
With additive, you possibly can create an antenna that eliminates the necessity for quite a few motors and mechanical components to maneuver its elements. On this case, the antenna will probably be developed for telecom prospects centered on cellular backhauling—connecting particular person cell towers to the broader community or linking a whole community to the web.
That is notably invaluable in high-bandwidth, distant areas. On this iteration, the antenna will help Ka-, Ku-, and X-band high-bandwidth options. One early instance is its use in connecting 290,000 folks throughout eight remoted cities within the Amazon to a 4 Gbps 5G web community.
Whereas it’s tempting to see this purely as a method to convey Sesame Road to distant communities, these options additionally serve vital roles in navy operations, asset monitoring, maritime communications, and distant mining and vitality websites.
An instance of a SWISSto12 LEO passive beam forming antenna.
