Method and apparatus for automatically aiming an antenna to a distant location

摘要

An antenna aiming method and apparatus for automatically pointing an antenna to a selected distant location. The antenna aiming apparatus includes a database for storing data for distant locations, an electronic compass for determining a reference azimuth for the local antenna, and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for determining a local location. A processor computes a pointing direction having an azimuth and an elevation from the local location to the distant location and then computes a horizontal rotation angle between the pointing direction and the reference azimuth and a vertical rotation angle from horizontal to the elevation. An antenna rotator servo-mechanism under processor control rotates the local antenna by the horizontal and vertical rotation angles for pointing the local antenna to the distant location. Optionally, the apparatus further includes electronic roll and pitch inclinometers for providing information to the processor for correcting the horizontal and vertical rotation angles for pitch and roll of the platform.