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Issued patent

Portable Laser-Guided Robotic Metrology (PLGRM)

An issued NASA patent from the Technology Transfer catalog.

View at technology.nasa.gov
Media from NASA Technology Transfer

About this technology

Overview

Antennas are used in many industries and products where quality and reliability are crucial. Testing aircraft antennas is challenging since optimal tests are made after antenna installation. Aircraft are often taken to anechoic antenna test facilities which create long lead times, transportation hassle, and very high costs. This makes such testing cost-prohibitive for early R&D work. Portable alternatives exist but often have compromised testing fidelity. Innovators at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) have developed the PLGRM system which allows an installed antenna to be characterized in an aircraft hangar. All PLGRM components can be packed onto pallets, shipped, and easily operated. The flexibility and portability of this system while maintaining precision and accuracy are what make PLGRM unique. While developed for aerospace, PLGRM can be used to characterize antenna systems across a range of applications. Extending applications beyond just antenna analysis may also be possible.