Accurate and Fast Numerical Estimation of Pattern Uncertainty for Mechanical Alignment Errors in High-Accuracy Spherical Near-Field Antenna Measurements

Every experimental measurement is affected by random and/or systematic error sources, causing the measurand to have an associated uncertainty quantified in terms of a confidence interval and confidence level. For high-accuracy spherical near-field antenna measurements, there are approximately 20 err...

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Main Authors: Kyriakos Kaslis, Samel Arslanagic, Olav Breinbjerg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Sensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/13/4227
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author Kyriakos Kaslis
Samel Arslanagic
Olav Breinbjerg
author_facet Kyriakos Kaslis
Samel Arslanagic
Olav Breinbjerg
author_sort Kyriakos Kaslis
collection DOAJ
description Every experimental measurement is affected by random and/or systematic error sources, causing the measurand to have an associated uncertainty quantified in terms of a confidence interval and confidence level. For high-accuracy spherical near-field antenna measurements, there are approximately 20 error sources whose individual contributions to the measurand uncertainty must be estimated for each antenna under test; thus, this uncertainty estimation is a required task in each measurement project. The error sources associated with the mechanical alignment of the antenna under test are of particular importance, not only because the consequential pattern uncertainty differs significantly for different antennas under test, but also because the common practice of experimental uncertainty estimation is very time-consuming with separate uncertainty measurements, thus requiring the antenna under test as well as the measurement facility. We propose a numerical pattern uncertainty estimation for mechanical alignment errors based on a nominal full-sphere measurement without the need for separate uncertainty measurements. Thus, it does not occupy either the antenna under test or the measurement facilities. In addition, numerical uncertainty estimation enables the isolation of individual error sources and their contributions to pattern uncertainties.
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spelling doaj-art-df482d556a2e4fe9ac5b75c12e445a802025-07-11T14:43:46ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-07-012513422710.3390/s25134227Accurate and Fast Numerical Estimation of Pattern Uncertainty for Mechanical Alignment Errors in High-Accuracy Spherical Near-Field Antenna MeasurementsKyriakos Kaslis0Samel Arslanagic1Olav Breinbjerg2Department of Space Research and Technology, DTU Space, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, DenmarkDepartment of Space Research and Technology, DTU Space, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, DenmarkElMaReCo, DK-1055 Copenhagen, DenmarkEvery experimental measurement is affected by random and/or systematic error sources, causing the measurand to have an associated uncertainty quantified in terms of a confidence interval and confidence level. For high-accuracy spherical near-field antenna measurements, there are approximately 20 error sources whose individual contributions to the measurand uncertainty must be estimated for each antenna under test; thus, this uncertainty estimation is a required task in each measurement project. The error sources associated with the mechanical alignment of the antenna under test are of particular importance, not only because the consequential pattern uncertainty differs significantly for different antennas under test, but also because the common practice of experimental uncertainty estimation is very time-consuming with separate uncertainty measurements, thus requiring the antenna under test as well as the measurement facility. We propose a numerical pattern uncertainty estimation for mechanical alignment errors based on a nominal full-sphere measurement without the need for separate uncertainty measurements. Thus, it does not occupy either the antenna under test or the measurement facilities. In addition, numerical uncertainty estimation enables the isolation of individual error sources and their contributions to pattern uncertainties.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/13/4227antenna measurementsmeasurement errorsmeasurement uncertaintyuncertainty estimation
spellingShingle Kyriakos Kaslis
Samel Arslanagic
Olav Breinbjerg
Accurate and Fast Numerical Estimation of Pattern Uncertainty for Mechanical Alignment Errors in High-Accuracy Spherical Near-Field Antenna Measurements
Sensors
antenna measurements
measurement errors
measurement uncertainty
uncertainty estimation
title Accurate and Fast Numerical Estimation of Pattern Uncertainty for Mechanical Alignment Errors in High-Accuracy Spherical Near-Field Antenna Measurements
title_full Accurate and Fast Numerical Estimation of Pattern Uncertainty for Mechanical Alignment Errors in High-Accuracy Spherical Near-Field Antenna Measurements
title_fullStr Accurate and Fast Numerical Estimation of Pattern Uncertainty for Mechanical Alignment Errors in High-Accuracy Spherical Near-Field Antenna Measurements
title_full_unstemmed Accurate and Fast Numerical Estimation of Pattern Uncertainty for Mechanical Alignment Errors in High-Accuracy Spherical Near-Field Antenna Measurements
title_short Accurate and Fast Numerical Estimation of Pattern Uncertainty for Mechanical Alignment Errors in High-Accuracy Spherical Near-Field Antenna Measurements
title_sort accurate and fast numerical estimation of pattern uncertainty for mechanical alignment errors in high accuracy spherical near field antenna measurements
topic antenna measurements
measurement errors
measurement uncertainty
uncertainty estimation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/13/4227
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AT samelarslanagic accurateandfastnumericalestimationofpatternuncertaintyformechanicalalignmenterrorsinhighaccuracysphericalnearfieldantennameasurements
AT olavbreinbjerg accurateandfastnumericalestimationofpatternuncertaintyformechanicalalignmenterrorsinhighaccuracysphericalnearfieldantennameasurements