The aim and topic of this semesters’ thesis is the conception of a system (“tracker”) that automatically aims directive antennas, which are required for long-distance data links between a ground station and an aircraft or missile.
The development has been proposed during the Scientific Work Group for Rocketry and Spaceflight’s (WARR) work on the Student’s Experimental-Rocketry Program (STERN) initiated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Furthermore, the Institute of Aircraft Design (LLS) of the Technical University of Munich has expressed interest in integrating such a system into the Demonstrator for UAV Armament (DUB) complex. The system shall therefore be able to track both a rocket with an apogee of 15 km and a UAV flying beyond visual range.
For the conception and the subsequent CAD design of the system, the demands from the STERN- and DUB-project, as well as generic boundary conditions, are evaluated and lead to a detailed requirements specification. One of its main aspect are the required actuator dynamics, which are examined by implementing a MATLAB-model that accounts for different forces, including – for example – wind aerodynamics. After that, the system is designed in a step-by-step fashion, thereby reducing the level of abstraction.
This ultimately leads to a hardware design, which allows the procurement of subsystem components and materials for manufacturing. Furthermore, the calculation of the tracking solution is derived and verified using a Simulink-model. The results can be used for software implementation, which is not within the scope of this thesis.
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The aim and topic of this semesters’ thesis is the conception of a system (“tracker”) that automatically aims directive antennas, which are required for long-distance data links between a ground station and an aircraft or missile.
The development has been proposed during the Scientific Work Group for Rocketry and Spaceflight’s (WARR) work on the Student’s Experimental-Rocketry Program (STERN) initiated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Furthermore, the Institute of Aircraft Design (LLS) of...
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