Modeling and performance optimization of automated antenna alignment for telecommunication transceivers

Abstract

Antenna alignment is very cumbersome in telecommunication industry and it especially affects the MW links due to environmental anomalies or physical degradation over a period of time. While in recent years a more conventional approach of redundancy has been employed but to ensure the LOS link stability, novel automation techniques are needed. The basic principle is to capture the desired Received Signal Level (RSL) by means of an outdoor unit installed on tower top and analyzing the RSL in indoor unit by means of a GUI interface. We have proposed a new smart antenna system where automation is initiated when the transceivers receive low signal strength and report the finding to processing comparator unit. Series architecture is used that include loop antenna, RCX Robonics, LabVIEW interface coupled with a tunable external controller. Denavit–Hartenberg parameters are used in analytical modeling and numerous control techniques have been investigated to overcome imminent overshoot problems for the transport link. With this novel approach, a solution has been put forward for the communication industry where any antenna could achieve optimal directivity for desired RSL with low overshoot and fast steady state response.

Keywords

• Robotics
• Communication
• RCX Robonics
• Microwave