Structural deformation compensation system for large phased-array antennas

A system for compensating for surface deformation in a planar, phased-array antenna in real time, said system comprising:

• a plurality of pairs of first and second strain gauges disposed on said phased-array antenna at a corresponding plurality of desired locations where significant strains are expected to occur as a result of forces experienced by said phased-array antenna;
• each said first one of each of said pairs of strain gauges operating to sense an X-component of each of said strains occurring at its associated position on said antenna and generating a first output signal representing an X-axis component of its said sensed strain at its associated said desired location;
• each said second one of each of said pairs of strain gauges operating to sense a Y-component of each of said strains occurring at its associated position on said antenna and generating a second output signal representing a Y-axis component of its said sensed strain at its associated said desired location;
• a data acquisition system for receiving said first and second output signals and generating corresponding displacement signals representing the deformation of said antenna;
• and
• a beam steering controller for receiving said displacement signals and generating commands applied to said antenna and adapted to compensate for said displacements at said desired locations on said antenna.

A method for detecting out-of-plane surface deformation of a phased-array antenna, said method comprising the steps of:

• using a strain sensing device disposed on said phased-array antenna to sense a strain at a predetermined location on said phased-array antenna and to generate a signal indicative of said sensed strain;
• using a displacement predicting system to receive said signal from said strain sensing device and to estimate therefrom an approximate deformed shape of said antenna;
• using a beam steering controller to modify signals transmitted from or received by said antenna to compensate for said deformed shape of said phased-array antenna;
• and
• using information concerning an attitude of said phased-array antenna to modify signals transmitted from or received by said phased-array antenna.

A system for detecting surface deformation in a planar, phased-array antenna, said system comprising:

• at least one strain gauge for detecting strain occurring at a predetermined location on said antenna in one of an X direction or a Y direction;
• a strain demodulator for receiving output signals from said strain gauges and generating electrical signals in accordance therewith;
• a data acquisition system for receiving said electrical signals generated by said strain gauge and generating therefrom corresponding displacement signals representative of displacement of a predetermined portion of said antenna;
• and
• a beam steering controller for receiving said displacement signals and generating commands applied to said antenna to compensate for said displacement of said predetermined portion of said antenna.