Design and Control of a Marine Satellite Antenna

A three axes marine satellite antenna has been developed. As a design step, a CAD model for the antenna has been created according to the design requirements. Kinematic analyses are carried out to insure design specification and to check collision detection of the CAD model. Marine satellite antennas experience base motions, and a relevant control system should control the three antenna axis to point to the satellites accurately. A sensor fusion algorithm and a PIDA (Proportional, Integral, Derivative, Acceleration) control algorithm are designed and implemented to control the yaw, level, and cross-level angle of a small size satellite marine antenna. Antenna stabilization control experiments are performed using a test simulator which gives the antenna base motions. Experimental results show small pointing errors, which is less than 0.2 degree for the level, cross-level, and yaw axis.