The Aperture Array Verification System 1: System overview and early commissioning results

The design and development process for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope’s Low Frequency Aperture component was progressed during SKA pre-construction phase by an international consortium, with goal of meeting requirements a critical review. As part full-sized prototype ‘station’ deployed – Verification System 1 (AAVS1). We provide system overview describe commissioning results AAVS1, which is low frequency telescope 256 dual-polarisation log-periodic dipole antennas working as phased array. A detailed description provided, including in-depth relevant sub-systems, ranging from hardware, firmware, software, calibration, control sub-systems. Early cover initial bootstrapping, array stability testing, beam-forming, on-sky sensitivity validation. Lessons learned are presented, along future developments.