Project Idea
This project presents an intelligent mechanical steering system designed to enhance the coverage of the fixed 5-meter radio telescope at Princess Nourah University by adding a lightweight 2-DOF secondary parabolic mesh reflector mounted on a spherical parallel mechanical arm. The system allows the secondary reflector to achieve 360° azimuth rotation and adjustable elevation, expanding the telescope’s field of view and enabling celestial-object tracking without repositioning the main dish or modifying its primary structure.
01
The Beginning
The idea started from the limited field of view and tracking flexibility of the fixed radio telescope, despite its importance in observing radio waves, including the 1420 MHz hydrogen line. Therefore, the team proposed adding a lightweight secondary reflector above the main telescope to redirect incoming signals from a wider region of the sky toward a dedicated secondary feed horn, allowing celestial objects to be tracked from different angles without moving the main dish.
02
The Idea
The project provides a 2-DOF movable mechanical system that allows the secondary reflector to perform full horizontal rotation and precise vertical adjustment using servo and stepper motors, redirecting radio signals toward a dedicated feed horn while keeping the main dish fixed. The system expands sky coverage, enables celestial-object tracking from different angles, and improves signal reception by redirecting additional energy into the system, reducing the need to reposition the primary telescope.
03
The Experience
The concept developed from identifying the limited coverage and flexibility of the fixed telescope into a lightweight 2-DOF secondary reflector mounted on a parallel mechanical arm. The system was then modeled using mechanical design and control principles, with a servo motor controlling azimuth rotation and a stepper motor controlling elevation, while a spherical joint enables two-axis movement. Simulations were conducted to study sky coverage before and after adding the reflector and to evaluate the system during celestial-object tracking. The results showed increased sky coverage while maintaining signal strength and system alignment.
A visual tour documenting the manufacturing stages, laboratory testing, and live tracking experiments in the field.
Explore the projects and experiments that shape the Electrospace experience.
