In the detailed design of an antenna array, mechanical tolerances of the element positions are determined based up array performance estimates that are a function of the element position relative to its ideal design location along with other error factors. This work is always performed for specific designs of production arrays. At the antenna array factor level, array performance is affected by placement accuracy of the individual elements. The relationship of 3 dimensional element position errors to array factor performance is studied for some linear arrays with Dolph-Chebyshev, modified Taylor, Power of Cosine on a Pedestal, and Tayor tapers. Random, significant position errors are introduced into the array element locations through a Monte Carlo analysis that evaluates the variation in array performance, with specific attention given to sidelobe level, beam pointing angle, and directivity.
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