Direction Finding for Unmanned Aerial Systems Using Rhombic Antennas and Amplitude Comparison Monopulse

The purpose of this thesis is to design an antenna for a UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) comprised of an aircraft and a two channel transceiver/spectrum recording device for a DF (Direction Finding) application with an error of 6.12 degrees or less. The UAS had to work in a bandwidth from 0.6-6 GHz and under the size constraints imposed by the bottom face of the transceiver/spectrum recording device (19.4x32.4 cm). Due to the large operating spectrum of the DF UAS and size constraints imposed by the aircraft, a multi-antenna rhombic antenna solution is used.The DF portion of the thesis is done using amplitude comparison monopulse with a 45 degree squint angle. Therefore, the rhombic antenna elements were designed to have a radiation pattern which allowed for this squint angle.Once the requirements were accounted for and simulated, the rhombic antenna elements were built and tested with Carleton University's anechoic chamber.