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Astrium Antenna Positioner

Designed as part of the development of a new UAV, the pan / tilt head accepts serial data from the airbourne navigational command system, and maintains a synthetic aperture radar antenna in a precise position relative to the ground, to allow mapping of areas of interest with ground scanning radar.

The head is serially controlled to 14 bit accuracy using unique position encoders to keep the antenna in position. Operated from 28v aircraft supplies and reporting positional information back via the serial link, this is one of the smallest aircraft qualified heads ever designed, at only 180mm diameter.