Freehand System for Antenna Diagnosis Based on Amplitude-Only Data

This article presents a portable system for freehand antenna diagnosis and characterization based on amplitude-only data. The samples are acquired by moving handheld probe, which is tracked motion capture system, in front of the under test (AUT) aperture. measurements processed using phaseless sources reconstruction method to compute an equivalent current distribution AUT Finally, radiation pattern can be obtained evaluating corresponding integrals. Unlike previous work, use data avoids need phase reference, paving way antennas operational conditions. fact, together with capabilities, makes very convenient already deployed onboard antennas. Moreover, these acquisitions also simplify required hardware. has been validated through wide frequency range from $Ka$ -band up 300 GHz. Despite that one cannot expect same degree accuracy achieved laboratory conditions (including anechoic environment highly accurate positioners), shows excellent capabilities detect malfunctions, such as wrong amplitude/phase distributions, well fair estimation far field.