Low-Cost Small-Antenna

Measurement Tool
Based on ATMega8535
The 13th International Conference on Electronics,
Microcontroller
Information and Communication (ICEIC) 2013
M. Ammar Wibisono, Achmad Munir
Telecommunication Engineering
School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics
Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia

Outline
Background
Problem Definition
Proposed Solution
System Design
System Implementation

and Testing

Result and Conclusion

Demonstration Video
Question & Answer Session

Background
Fabricated

antenna needs to be
measured to confirm that its
parameters are matched with its
simulation / theoretical result

Experiment

in measuring antenna
parameters such as radiation
pattern, gain, directivity, input
impedance, return loss, VSWR, etc.
can help students to understand the

Antenna radiation pattern

measurement

Spherical positioning system for

the antenna radiation pattern
measurement

A microstrip patch
antenna at our lab and
its measured radiation
pattern

Outline
Background
Problem Definition
Proposed Solution
System Design
System Implementation

and Testing

Result and Conclusion

Demonstration Video
Question & Answer Session

Problem Definition

The antenna measurement tools from some

vendors are relatively expensive
The antenna measurement tool usually needs
additional instruments (PC) and the software
which made the system more complex

Outline
Background
Problem Definition
Proposed Solution
System Design
System Implementation

and Testing

Result and Conclusion

Demonstration Video
Question & Answer Session

Proposed Solution

We build a simple, easy-to-use and low

cost measurement tool for small antenna
with ATMega8535 as the MCU, LCD and
keypad as the user-interface, stepper
motor as the actuator for the azimuth
angle, and servo motor as the actuator for
the elevation angle

Outline
Background
Problem Definition
Proposed Solution
System Design
System Implementation

and Testing

Result and Conclusion

Demonstration Video
Question & Answer Session

System Design
(Hardware)

Stepper and Servo

motor control
-Stepper motor is rotated by
alternating DC signal from 4 pins
-L298 Dual H-Bridge IC is needed to
drive the stepper motor
-8 reverse-biased diodes are needed
to suppress the back emf generated
by the stepper motor coil

- Servo motor position is controlled by

using 5V PWM signal from OC1B pin
with period of 20 ms
-The angle position of the servo motor
is directly proportional to the pulse
width of the PWM signal (t)

System Design
(Software)

Sytem Design
(Mechanical)

Outline
Background
Problem Definition
Proposed Solution
System Design
System Implementation

Testing
Result and Conclusion
Demonstration Video
Question & Answer Session

and

System Implementation and

Testing

Programming the MCU

and testing the
interface module & the
servo motor

Testing the accuracy

of the mechanical
system

Load test by placing

a small microstrip
antenna

Outline
Background
Problem Definition
Proposed Solution
System Design
System Implementation

and Testing

Result and Conclusion

Demonstration Video
Question & Answer Session

Experimental Result
-The tool we made can
work with resolution angle
of 10
-The maximum deviation
of azimuth angle is 10
-The maximum load that
gives 2.50 deviation in
elevation angle is about
100 grams

Budgeting

Power Supply US$5

MCU Module US$10
Keypad US$5
LCD Display US$4
Servo Motor US$14
Stepper Motor US$25
Mechanical system US$45
Cables, connectors and box US$12
Total US$120
(without tripod)

Conclusion &
Recommendation
The

antenna measurement tool we

made has relatively low cost, but has
some limitations at the maximum
load and the accuracy

To

improve the maximum load and

the accuracy, we can use a servo or
stepper motor with higher maximum
torque

Outline
Background
Problem Definition
Proposed Solution
System Design
System Implementation

and Testing

Result and Conclusion

Demonstration Video
Question & Answer Session

Demonstration Video

Question & Answer

Session