ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT, LOW COST, TELEMETRY TRACKING SYSTEM

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 13-15, 1981 / Bahia Hotel, San Diego, CaliforniaBecause of limited budgets, many telemetry applications can not be performed on a real time basis. Consequently, there is a need for a very low cost tracking system. In addition to being inexpensive, the system should be lightweight to minimize building or tower modifications required for installation, and to lower shipping and handling costs. In order to reduce weight and cost, EMP, Inc. has designed an aerodynamically smooth single axis tracking system with a multimode antenna, constructed almost entirely of graphite and utilizing a minimum number of parts. Using this material, the system will be as strong as a conventional system, but will be one half the weight and will be almost temperature insensitive. Furthermore, with the construction technique selected, considerable savings are realized in fabrication costs. Additionally, the step -track technique via a microprocessor controller was selected to eliminate the expensive autotracking feed and all the associated electronic circuitry required for high performance angle tracking. Since a single axis tracking system with a multi-mode antenna can cover a wide variety of missions, an elevation tracking axis is not required. In-close and near overhead passes are covered by the low gain antenna. Switching between the antennas is accomplished automatically based on received signal strength.International Foundation for TelemeteringProceedings from the International Telemetering Conference are made available by the International Foundation for Telemetering and the University of Arizona Libraries. Visit http://www.telemetry.org/index.php/contact-us if you have questions about items in this collection