This architecture is conceptual. No antenna, tracker, RF path, frequency plan, link budget, or field range has been validated or approved.
Proposed dual-coverage architecture
The concept uses a primary directional antenna for extended-range telemetry research and a secondary omnidirectional antenna for launch, landing, close-range coverage, and recovery from tracking uncertainty. A diversity receiver or deliberately selectable RF path would keep path choice explicit rather than blending unknown states.
- Mast-mounted directional and omnidirectional antennas with consistent polarization.
- Low-loss coaxial cable sized to the selected frequency and cable run.
- Weather-resistant enclosure with service access, drainage, and thermal consideration.
- GNSS-assisted aircraft position input for future azimuth and elevation tracking.
- Manual override, mechanical limits, a park position, and an emergency stop.
- Clear line of sight as an operational requirement, not an assumed guarantee.
Tracking is a future development target
ARES-01 can already receive aircraft position in simulation. A future tracker would combine aircraft coordinates with a surveyed ground-station position and known mount orientation to calculate target azimuth and elevation. Encoder feedback would make pointing error observable. The first physical tests should use a walking GNSS target and no RF dependency before carrying an antenna or supporting flight operations.
Cable wrapping, backlash, wind loading, mast stability, magnetic interference, and GNSS age all affect pointing. Continuous rotation may require a slip ring and RF rotary joint; an early prototype can instead use bounded rotation and a controlled unwind maneuver.
Link-budget and spectrum gates
Antenna gain alone does not establish useful range. Transmit power, receiver sensitivity, cable loss, polarization mismatch, Fresnel clearance, terrain, interference, installation loss, data rate, packet overhead, and regulatory limits all belong in the link budget. The system should be tested first at low power and short distance, then expanded under an approved field plan.
Final frequencies, gain, power, and antenna geometry will depend on local spectrum regulations and field testing.
Challenge the assumptions.
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