Design and Implementation of a GPS-Based UAV Tracking Antenna System Using LabVIEW

Abstract

In disaster monitoring missions, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) must cover large areas to assess the impact of a disaster. Critical to the success of such missions is the continuous transmission of Air Data and Attitude Heading Reference System (ADAHRS) data, along with stable RSSI and video feed transmission to the Ground Control Station (GCS). However, the vast coverage area poses a challenge, as omnidirectional antennas are limited by the UAV’s operational range. To overcome this limitation, a high-gain directional antenna is required, which needs to be constantly aimed at the UAV to maintain a stable connection. This study presents an antenna tracker, designed and implemented using an ATmega328P microcontroller, two servo motors, and a GPS receiver, providing two degrees of freedom. The tracker allows 180-degree rotation on the azimuth axis (yaw) and 90-degree rotation on the elevation axis (pitch). The system interface was developed using LabVIEW. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed antenna tracker significantly extends the UAV’s operational range while maintaining a stable connection with minimal RSSI fluctuations compared to systems without an antenna tracker. The continuous availability of ADAHRS data, stable RSSI, and video feed ensures the success of critical mission operations.

Keywords

• UAV-Antenna tracker
• LabVIEW
• Ground control station
• Mission planner
• UAV

Design and Implementation of a GPS-Based UAV Tracking Antenna System Using LabVIEW

Abstract

Afet izleme görevlerinde, insansız hava araçları (İHA'lar) bir afetin etkisini değerlendirmek için geniş alanları kapsamalıdır. Bu tür görevlerin başarısı için kritik olan, Hava Verileri ve Tutum Yön Referans Sistemi (ADAHRS) verilerinin sürekli olarak iletilmesinin yanı sıra Yer Kontrol İstasyonuna (GCS) istikrarlı RSSI ve video besleme iletimi sağlanmasıdır. Bununla birlikte, çok yönlü antenler İHA'nın operasyonel menzili ile sınırlı olduğundan, geniş kapsama alanı bir zorluk teşkil etmektedir. Bu sınırlamanın üstesinden gelmek için, istikrarlı bir bağlantıyı sürdürmek için sürekli olarak İHA'ya yönlendirilmesi gereken yüksek kazançlı bir yönlü anten gereklidir. Bu çalışmada, ATmega328P mikrodenetleyici, iki servo motor ve bir GPS alıcısı kullanılarak tasarlanan ve uygulanan, iki serbestlik derecesi sağlayan bir anten izleyici sunulmaktadır. İzleyici, azimut ekseninde (yaw) 180 derecelik dönüşe ve yükseklik ekseninde (pitch) 90 derecelik dönüşe izin verir. Sistem arayüzü LabVIEW kullanılarak geliştirilmiştir. Deneysel sonuçlar, önerilen anten izleyicinin İHA'nın operasyonel menzilini önemli ölçüde genişlettiğini ve anten izleyicisi olmayan sistemlere kıyasla minimum RSSI dalgalanmaları ile istikrarlı bir bağlantı sağladığını göstermektedir. ADAHRS verilerinin sürekli kullanılabilirliği, kararlı RSSI ve video beslemesi, kritik görev operasyonlarının başarısını garanti eder.

Keywords

• LabVIEW
• UAV
• İHA-Anten izleyici
• Yer kontrol istasyonu
• Görev planlayıcı
• İHA

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