The Antenna Systems Core Technology Center (CTC) focuses on the design and development
of innovative, high—efficiency antenna solutions to receive and transmit RF signals
over a broad range of frequencies to meet the challenging communications needs of
today's military, government and commercial customers. The Antenna Systems Core Technology Center
has expertise in a wide variety of antenna technologies, including:
- Large, medium, and small reflector antennas
- Phased arrays
- Large space-based deployable mesh reflectors
- Conformable antennas
- Smart antennas
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Multi-octave broadband antennas
Applications for these antennas include integrated systems for missions such as
terrestrial satellite communications (SATCOM), airborne communications, space-based
radar, and signal collection.
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Passive Intermod Testing on a Space Deployable Mesh Reflector
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The Antenna Systems CTC brings together world-class researchers, technologists,
developmental tools and facilities to address fundamental disciplines common to
all antenna systems such as: system link analysis, electromagnetic and RF measurement/analysis,
packaging, structures and controls system design. The Antenna Systems CTC continues
to build on its legacy of developing critical, state-of-the-art technologies that
permit revolutionary and evolutionary increases in performance.
The Harris 1606 Compact Range is capable to 95 GHz
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The company's government segment has approximately 60 antenna and 100 RF engineers
on staff to support over 100 different antenna-related programs, new business opportunities,
special projects and Internal Research and Development efforts. This talented group,
including 13 individuals with PhD's and over 50 with master's degrees, supports
the CTC with Harris' proven antenna technology spanning over half a century. The
innovative and creative work of Harris' technical staff has resulted in more than
85 antenna-related patents being awarded, and an additional 60 antenna-related patents
in process.
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Advanced antenna system development requires state-of-the-art techniques, tools
and facilities. The electromagnetic computational methods used by the Core Technology Center include:
- Method of Moments (MoM)
- Finite Element Model (FEM)
- Geometric Theory of Diffraction (GTD)
- Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD)
- Body of Revolution (BOR)
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2-1/2 and 3-D field simulation and hybrid techniques
The design tools employed are among the most advanced in the industry, including:
- Full TICRA Suite (GRASP8®, POS®, POD®, COBRA®, SCOPE®)
- C-PLAN
- MATLAB®
- ANSOFT™
- OMNISYS
- Agilent ADS™
- Eagleware®
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A wide variety of internally developed tools for specialized applications
Harris' modern and extensive antenna test facilities allow a full array of testing
from HF through millimeter wave systems. Our antenna test capabilities and facilities
include:
- High-speed automated Phased Array testing in full thermal and high-reliability environments
- Automated Near-Field pattern testing
- Automated Far-Field pattern testing
- Fully deployed reflector (up to 15M) Passive Intermod (PIM) testing
- Three 6-foot-diameter compact ranges, capable to 60 GHz
- Three large anechoic chambers
- Multiple outdoor ranges, capable from 2 to 30 GHz
- Small indoor tapered chamber
- 100-foot PIM Chamber
- 12-foot Planar Near Field Scanner
- 20-foot Spherical Near Field Scanner
- Multiple RF test setups
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Environmental testing, vibration testing, thermal cycling, etc.
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Innovative deployment techniques are used on the Space Based Radar antenna
Harris has a 45 year legacy in Military Satellite Communications
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High-performance, innovative, custom antenna solutions for
assuredcommunications™
systems are the legacy of the Antenna Systems Core Technology Center. The CTC will
continue to develop its capabilities, as well as advance and strengthen industry
ties and cross-divisional technology transfer within Harris Corporation, with a
continuing goal of developing breakthrough architectures and strategies for employing
emerging antenna technologies.
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