A complete open-loop, dual-axes Ku-band electromechanical system has been developed, implemented, and tested for the antenna positioning. The system is developed by using a magnetic positioning sensor AS5600, a PIC18F4553 controller, a microstepping driver STK672-080, and a hybrid stepper motor. A microstepping driver and magnetic positioning sensors are used to improve the system’s performance. The system software is developed using MPLAB X v3.2 IDE. In the antenna mechanical assembly, the elevation over azimuth system is developed using worm gears with deep groove ball bearings. The satellite look angles are calculated using a GUI developed in C# for different satellites. The developed GUI and system are tested for angular displacement measurement and antenna positioning for Ku-band DTH service providers on geostationary satellites. The statistical measures mean, Standard Deviation, Relative Accuracy, Mean Absolute Error, and Root Mean Square Error are determined for the recorded angles for system performance. The developed electromechanical system shows a lower error profile.
Cite this paper
Mulla, A. A. and Vasambekar, P. N. (2025). Development of Electromechanical System for Antenna Positioning. Open Access Library Journal, 12, e13916. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1113916.
Bolandhemmat, H., Fakharzadeh, M., Mousavi, P., Jamali, S.H., Rafi, G.Z. and Safavi-Naeini, S. (2009) Active Stabilization of Vehicle-Mounted Phased-Array Antennas. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 58, 2638-2650. https://doi.org/10.1109/tvt.2008.2012159
Cesar, R.M., et al. (2012) Development of an Automated System for Maneuvering Parabolic Dish Antennas Used in Satellite Communication. ABCM Symposium Series in Mechatron-ics—Section-II, Control System, 5, 69-78.
Papaioannou, D. and Langley, R.J. (1983) A Microcomputer Based Control System for Antenna Measurements. Journal of Physics E: Scientific Instruments, 16, 394-396. https://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3735/16/5/008
Bekasiewicz, A., Koziel, S. and Czyz, M. (2023) Time-Gating Method with Automatic Calibration for Accurate Measurements of Electrically Small Antenna Radiation Patterns in Non-Anechoic Environments. Measurement, 208, Article ID: 112477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2023.112477
Kim, M., Kim, J. and Yang, O. (2013) Precise Attitude Control System Design for the Tracking of Parabolic Satellite Antenna. In-ternational Journal of Smart Home, 7, 275-290. https://doi.org/10.14257/ijsh.2013.7.5.27
Tseng, H.C. and Teo, D.W. (1995) Ship-Mounted Satellite Tracking Antenna with Fuzzy Logic Control. Proceedings of International Conference on Control Applications, Albany, 28-29 September 1995, 549-553. https://doi.org/10.1109/cca.1995.555785
Watanabe, T., Ogawa, M., Nishikawa, K., Harada, T., Teramoto, E. and Morita, M. (1996) Mobile Antenna System for Direct Broadcasting Satellite. IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Inter-national Symposium. 1996 Digest, Baltimore, 21-26 July 1996, 70-73. https://doi.org/10.1109/aps.1996.549544
Ming, A., Yamaoka, T., Kida, T., Kanamori, C. and Satoh, M. (2005) Ac-curacy Improvement of Ship Mounted Tracking Antenna for Satellite Communications. IEEE International Conference Mechatronics and Automation, 2005, Niagara Falls, 29 July-1 August 2005, 1369-1374. https://doi.org/10.1109/icma.2005.1626753
Kim, J., Park, S. and Jin, T. (2006) Simplified Fuzzy-Pid Controller of Data Link Antenna System for Moving Vehicles. In: Yang, Q. and Webb, G., Eds., PRICAI 2006: Trends in Artificial Intelli-gence. PRICAI 2006, Springer, 1083-1088. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-36668-3_138
Edgar, A., et al. (2007) Control System for the Antenna Positioning. Proceeding of the 7th WSEAS International Conference on Applied Informatics and Communication, Athens, 24-26 August 2007, 390-392.
Chang, P. and Lin, J. (2008) Mobile Satellite Antenna Tracking System Design with Intelligent Controller. WSEAS transactions on System and Control, 3, 435-446.
Wen, C., Lu, J. and Su, W. (2021) Bi-Objective Control Design for Vehicle-Mounted Mobile Antenna Servo Systems. IET Control Theory & Applications, 16, 256-272. https://doi.org/10.1049/cth2.12203
Soltani, M.N., Iza-di-Zamanabadi, R. and Wisniewski, R. (2011) Reliable Control of Ship-Mounted Satellite Tracking Antenna. IEEE Transac-tions on Control Systems Technology, 19, 221-228. https://doi.org/10.1109/tcst.2010.2040281
Basari, Saito, K., Takahashi, M. and Ito, K. (2010) Field Measurement on Simple Vehicle-Mounted Antenna System Using a Geostationary Satellite. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 59, 4248-4255. https://doi.org/10.1109/tvt.2010.2066997
Cho, C., Lee, S.H., Kwon, T.Y. and Lee, C. (2003) Antenna Control System Using Step Tracking Algorithm with H∞ Controller. International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems, 1, 83-91.
Yalcin, Y. and Kurtulan, S. (2009) A Rooftop Antenna Tracking System: Design, Simulation, and Implementa-tion. IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, 51, 214-224. https://doi.org/10.1109/map.2009.5162072
Hao, L. and Yao, M. (2011) SPSA-Based Step Tracking Algorithm for Mobile DBS Reception. Simulation Modelling Practice and The-ory, 19, 837-846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.simpat.2010.11.009
Hoque, M.A. and Hassan, A.K. (2015) Modeling and Performance Optimization of Automated Antenna Alignment for Telecommunication Transceivers. Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal, 18, 351-360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jestch.2015.01.002
Gawronski, W. (2002) Control and Pointing Challenges of the NASA Deep Space Network Antennas. 8th IEEE International Conference on Methods and Models in Automation and Robotics, Szczecin, 2-5 September 2002.
Bellini, A., Concari, C., Franceschini, G. and Toscani, A. (2007) Mixed-Mode PWM for High-Performance Stepping Motors. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Elec-tronics, 54, 3167-3177. https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2007.905929
Yuen, L.C. and Ehkan, P. (2018) Design and Im-plementation of FPGA Based Bipolar Stepper Motor Controller for Linear Slide Application. Journal of Telecommunication, Electronic and Computer Engineering (JTEC), 10, 85-88.
Song, Y.L. and Bai, C.X. (2012) Research and Analysis of Image Processing Technologies Based on Dotnet Framework. Physics Procedia, 25, 2131-2137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phpro.2012.03.360
Essaadaoui, R., El Hadi, M., Ouariach, A., Moussaouy, A.E., Hachmi, A. and Mommadi, O. (2021) Construction of an Innovative, Modern and Affordable Teaching Tool in Practical Classroom Ac-tivities Using AS5600 Encoder. Physics Education, 56, Article ID: 063006. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6552/ac27f5
Zeng, D., Wang, Z., Wang, M., Eichstaedt, O. and Yuan, H. (2017) Au-tomatic Bio-Sampling System Based on Micro-Injection Pump and Pneuamtic Micro Valves. 2017 Chinese Automation Con-gress (CAC), Jinan, 20-22 October 2017, 4140-4146. https://doi.org/10.1109/cac.2017.8243506
Sanz, J.M., Reyes, V., Sanz, A. and Guerreira, J. (2019) A New PLC Stack for Distributed and Synchronous Configurations. 2019 1st Global Power, Energy and Communication Conference (GPECOM), Nevsehir, 12-15 June 2019, 50-55. https://doi.org/10.1109/gpecom.2019.8778456
Bendjedia, M., Ait-Amirat, Y., Walther, B. and Berthon, A. (2012) Position Control of a Sensorless Stepper Motor. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 27, 578-587. https://doi.org/10.1109/tpel.2011.2161774
Carrica, D., Funes, M.A. and Gonzalez, S.A. (2003) Novel Stepper Motor Controller Based on FPGA Hardware Implementation. IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 8, 120-124. https://doi.org/10.1109/tmech.2003.809160
Holleboom, K. (1987) Self-Learning Step Track System to Point an Antenna at a Geostationary Satellite Using a PC. IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, 33, 481-487. https://doi.org/10.1109/tce.1987.290224
Min, K., et al. (2000) A Basic Study on the Azimuth Tracking Algorithm for Mobile DBS Reception Antenna System. Proceedings of ISAP 2000, Fukuoka, 21-25 August 2000.
Cheng, Y.Z., Chen, Y. and Wang, H.X. (2011) Design of PID Controller Based on Information Collecting Robot in Agricultural Fields. 2011 International Conference on Computer Science and Service System (CSSS), Nanjing, 27-29 June 2011, 345-348. https://doi.org/10.1109/csss.2011.5974664
He, Y., Li, G.F., Zhao, Y.P., Sun, Y. and Jiang, G.Z. (2018) Numerical Simulation-Based Optimization of Contact Stress Distribution and Lubrication Conditions in the Straight Worm Drive. Strength of Materials, 50, 157-165. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11223-018-9955-z
Dobreva, A., Dobrev, V. and Mollova, G. (2022) Research of Gear Drives. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 1220, Article ID: 012025. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/1220/1/012025
Pavlenko, S. and Mascenik, J. (2021) Dynamic Load of Teeth of Cylindrical Worm Gear. In: Knapcíková, L., Perakovic, D., Behúnová, A. and Perisa, M., Eds., EAI/Springer Inno-vations in Communication and Computing, Springer, 351-361. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67241-6_28
Pavlenko, S., Mascenik, J. and Krenicky, T. (2022) Mathematical Modeling of Drive and Dynamic Load of Teeth of Cylindrical Worm Gear. In: Knapcíková, L., Perakovic, D., Behúnová, A. and Perisa, M., Eds., EAI/Springer Innovations in Communication and Computing, Springer, 61-83. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90462-3_5
Alhasan, E.A.G.M. (2018) A Design of Automatic Dish-Antenna Positioning System for Receiving Geo-Satellites Signals. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Gezira.
Bandong, S. and Joelianto, E. (2019) Counting of Aedes Aegypti Eggs Using Image Processing with Grid Search Parameter Optimization. 2019 International Conference on Sustainable Engineering and Creative Computing (ICSECC), Bandung, 20-22 August 2019, 293-298. https://doi.org/10.1109/icsecc.2019.8907232
Khair, U., Fahmi, H., Hakim, S.A. and Rahim, R. (2017) Forecasting Error Calculation with Mean Absolute Deviation and Mean Absolute Percentage Er-ror. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 930, Article ID: 012002. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/930/1/012002
Dimitriadou, S. and Nikolakopoulos, K.G. (2022) Development of the Statistical Errors Raster Toolbox with Six Automated Models for Raster Analysis in GIS Environments. Remote Sensing, 14, Article 5446. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14215446
