Odense, Denmark, 23rd October 2024 – Quadsat has worked with ALL.SPACE to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its electronically steerable antenna (ESA) for use on LEO constellations. Conducted in the UK using Quadsat’s UAV-based solution, the test is the first such comprehensive evaluation of an ESA and has proven the ability of the Quadsat system to conduct complex measurements of this type.
Quadsat is developing its own view of a comprehensive test procedure for ESAs. This includes both the assessment of the antenna radiation performance, combined with the evaluation of the dynamic testing of the desired operational cases, including satellite passes, handover switching, and multibeam tracking. The drone and the RF payload are positioned very accurately in time and space to ensure qualitative and representative measurements. This provides a unique approach to evaluating ESAs as it will give a full understanding of the antenna capability in the same test campaign and with the same measurement equipment.
With a dramatic rise in the number of ESAs in the industry, there is still a lack of good performance data. Accelerating this technology further will require more, and accessible, testing to enable manufacturers to accelerate development. This is particularly important in the defence market where ALL.SPACE is most active. Understanding antenna performance in that environment is critical for the safety of armed forces. At the same time, people in the field are having to get to grips with a brand-new technology. Having visibility of its performance to mitigate against errors will therefore be crucial.
John-Paul Szczepanik, Chief Technology Officer, All.Space added: “At ALL.SPACE, we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of satellite communications, and this evaluation with Quadsat is a critical milestone. By leveraging its cutting-edge UAV testing solutions, we’ve gained unprecedented insights into the performance of our multi-beam ESA technology in real-world environments. We’re not just testing—we’re shaping the future of satellite communications and how best to demonstrate world-leading performance and certify this for use in critical environments.”
Andrian Buchi, co-founder, Quadsat, added: “Future networks have very different requirements compared to conventional satcoms. Getting it right is particularly important in the defence market. This makes it challenging for manufacturers to develop and test for this environment. With these measurements, ALL.SPACE now has a comprehensive view of antenna performance and can continue to enhance its solutions to be future proof for a new era of satcoms.”
Following the evaluation, ALL.SPACE has access to detailed data on the performance of its antenna which can be used for further development.
Quadsat is developing its own view of a comprehensive test procedure for ESAs. This includes both the assessment of the antenna radiation performance, combined with the evaluation of the dynamic testing of the desired operational cases, including satellite passes, handover switching, and multibeam tracking. The drone and the RF payload are positioned very accurately in time and space to ensure qualitative and representative measurements. This provides a unique approach to evaluating ESAs as it will give a full understanding of the antenna capability in the same test campaign and with the same measurement equipment.
With a dramatic rise in the number of ESAs in the industry, there is still a lack of good performance data. Accelerating this technology further will require more, and accessible, testing to enable manufacturers to accelerate development. This is particularly important in the defence market where ALL.SPACE is most active. Understanding antenna performance in that environment is critical for the safety of armed forces. At the same time, people in the field are having to get to grips with a brand-new technology. Having visibility of its performance to mitigate against errors will therefore be crucial.
John-Paul Szczepanik, Chief Technology Officer, All.Space added: “At ALL.SPACE, we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of satellite communications, and this evaluation with Quadsat is a critical milestone. By leveraging its cutting-edge UAV testing solutions, we’ve gained unprecedented insights into the performance of our multi-beam ESA technology in real-world environments. We’re not just testing—we’re shaping the future of satellite communications and how best to demonstrate world-leading performance and certify this for use in critical environments.”
Andrian Buchi, co-founder, Quadsat, added: “Future networks have very different requirements compared to conventional satcoms. Getting it right is particularly important in the defence market. This makes it challenging for manufacturers to develop and test for this environment. With these measurements, ALL.SPACE now has a comprehensive view of antenna performance and can continue to enhance its solutions to be future proof for a new era of satcoms.”
Following the evaluation, ALL.SPACE has access to detailed data on the performance of its antenna which can be used for further development.
About Quadsat
Trusted by industry leaders, Quadsat makes highly accurate antenna testing accessible, which enables optimized network and hardware performance. Quadsat's solution comprises Quadsat’s unique RF payload, integrated into a UAS, and Quadsat’s software suite offering a wide range of RF measurement capabilities for the SATCOM and defense industries The technology is fully automated, flexible and location independent capable of scaling and transforming how antennas and RF equipment are tested. The Quadsat team consists of experts in robotics and radio frequency resulting in a solution that meets the specifications for testing satellite antennas. Quadsat is backed by Space Tech focused Seraphim Space, IQ Capital, and Danish state Vaekstfonden. More information about Quadsat is available at www.quadsat.com
Trusted by industry leaders, Quadsat makes highly accurate antenna testing accessible, which enables optimized network and hardware performance. Quadsat's solution comprises Quadsat’s unique RF payload, integrated into a UAS, and Quadsat’s software suite offering a wide range of RF measurement capabilities for the SATCOM and defense industries The technology is fully automated, flexible and location independent capable of scaling and transforming how antennas and RF equipment are tested. The Quadsat team consists of experts in robotics and radio frequency resulting in a solution that meets the specifications for testing satellite antennas. Quadsat is backed by Space Tech focused Seraphim Space, IQ Capital, and Danish state Vaekstfonden. More information about Quadsat is available at www.quadsat.com