Payload Antenna Planner
Model shaped and multi-feed reflector antennas with Physical Optics to make realistic system-level predictions or use the Analytic Phased Array model for direct radiating arrays.
Get more out of SATSOFT with the PAP add-on
The optional Payload Antenna Planner (PAP) add-on provides physical optics (PO) analysis of array-fed offset reflectors and shaped reflectors as well as analytic direct radiating phased arrays, taking the design and analysis one step closer to real payload performance. Any of the above models can be used to synthesise and optimise antenna beams.
Why PAP
Set up, optimise, and define reflectors with ease.
Multi-feed and shaped reflector
Including analytic phased array models
Full Physical Optics modelling
Model single- and multi-feed reflector antennas
Easy configuration
Configure reflector systems based on beam size or reflector diameter
Centre-fed and offset reflectors
Support different kinds of reflectors
Analytical model
Analyse direct radiating phased array with rectangular or triangular lattices
Support for different horn models
Linearly and circularly polarised feed horn models
Fast and accurate optimisation
Optimise shaped reflector and multi-feed reflector systems for contoured beams and multi-beam layouts
Key product highlights
- Accurate evaluation of antenna directivity for better link budgets
- Allows for easy and accurate investigation of the impact of reflector size and offset for system-level trade-off studies
- Optimisation of shaped reflectors with the same algorithms used in POS
- Easy export of antenna geometry and station files to GRASP and POS projects
Core capabilities
Everything you need – in one environment.
Shaped reflector antennas
Easily set up and optimise shaped reflectors for contoured beams. After you select only a few key parameters, such as reflector diameter and offset, SATSOFT can optimise the shape of the reflector to create a contoured beam for a given coverage polygon. A Gaussian beam model is used for the feed to simulate a corrugated horn while the surface shape is governed by an internal spline expansion derived from the overall parameters of the actual case. The optimisation uses the same proven algorithm as POS.
Easy setup of multi-feed reflector antennas
By specifying a few parameters, such as the reflector diameter or desired beamwidth, SATSOFT will set up a reflector system based on simple design rules to generate a blockage-free array-fed reflector system. Far-fields from linearly or circularly polarised reflector antennas fed by fundamental-mode or dual-mode feeds are computed using a fast and accurate Physical Optics implementation. The built-in optimiser can find both the optimum layout and the optimum excitations of the feed array for creating a contoured beam for a given coverage polygon.
Planning of HTS payloads
Multi-beam layouts for use on High Throughput Satellites (HTS) can be set up with the Multi-Feed Reflector and the Analytic Phased Array models and beam directivities can be estimated accurately. Both single-feed-per-beam and multiple-feeds-per-beam can be analysed. Trade-offs of, for example, reflector or array size for optimum coverage can be conducted.
Pre-processing for antenna design: Export to POS and GRASP
The Payload Antenna Planner add-on allows you to export shaped and multi-feed reflector antennas created in SATSOFT to POS and GRASP projects. When exporting to POS the project contains a fully configured optimisation project with the station files used in SATSOFT, thereby allowing you to use SATSOFT as a pre-processor for your POS optimisations. Both shaped single- and dual-reflector systems can be configured for export to POS and GRASP.
Downloads
Technical documentation and resources for PAP. Open files download directly; the rest are available to customers with a portal account.
Some FAQs
Is it possible to use more than one type of element in an array?
Yes, both the full-wave and analytical arrays support mixing any number of different array elements.
Is it possible to use more than one type of element in an array?
Yes, both the full-wave and analytical arrays support mixing any number of different array elements.
Is it possible to use more than one type of element in an array?
Yes, both the full-wave and analytical arrays support mixing any number of different array elements.
Is it possible to use more than one type of element in an array?
Yes, both the full-wave and analytical arrays support mixing any number of different array elements.
Is it possible to use more than one type of element in an array?
Yes, both the full-wave and analytical arrays support mixing any number of different array elements.
Is it possible to use more than one type of element in an array?
Yes, both the full-wave and analytical arrays support mixing any number of different array elements.
Is it possible to use more than one type of element in an array?
Yes, both the full-wave and analytical arrays support mixing any number of different array elements.
Contact us
Your project may be complex, but we keep things simple. If you have any questions about our software or services, or you need expert consultancy, we are here to help.
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