USE OF STEP MOTORS IN ANTENNA DRIVES FOR SOFTWARE SUPPORT OF THE EARTH STATION SPACE VEHICLE

Abstract

In connection with the rapid growth of programs for the creation and operation of small-sized student satellites, it becomes necessary to implement a radio link earth station - spacecraft using software algorithms technologies and physical implementation of control mechanisms for automated satellite tracking systems with an antenna earth station. Since such systems operate in different weather conditions, mainly at different wind speeds, it is necessary to provide the ability to withstand such loads. Today, worm gearboxes are used, which have a self-braking effect, but they are expensive to manufacture and have low efficiency. Therefore, to ensure the flexibility and versatility of the control system, it was decided to replace the worm gearbox with a conventional two-element gearbox and a stepper motor. This implementation makes it possible to reduce the number of nodes with static mechanical transmission ratios (gearbox with a given transmission ratio) and replace them with nodes with the ability to programmatically control both the rotation speed and the transmission ratio itself. The main advantage of such implementations of the control system is the presence of a constant torque on the motor shaft in the operating mode at any speed of rotation, which allows maintaining the smooth movement of the antenna system even at small angles of movement without oscillatory effect. This implementation method allows using this approach as part of antenna-based systems with a radiation pattern from 5 to 30 degrees.