U.S. Army Research Laboratory Microelectromechanical System Electronically Scanned Antenna Testing at the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center

摘要

Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) phase shifters have been assembled in a connectorized packages for insertion in a 1x8 linear patch antenna array. The patch array provides a demonstration platform for a MEMS enabled electronically scanned antenna (ESA). The MEMS ESA along with control electronics was tested in receive mode within anechoic chambers at both ARL and Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC). Using a waveguide horn antenna for the emission source, the ESA was steered with an electronically rotating stage. In each of the test sessions, the ESA successfully demonstrated beam steering to each of the five possible beam positions using 2-bit MEMS phase shifters.