Methods and systems for testing satellite signal receiver antenna

1. A method for testing satellite signal receiver antenna, comprising:

determining a satellite constellation state indicating status of a plurality of satellites in a satellite constellation;

calculating based on the determined satellite constellation state, initial positions of the plurality of satellite antennas that are used for emulating the satellite constellation;

moving the plurality of satellite antennas to the initial positions of the plurality of satellite antennas;

calibrating, by a computer, a phase delay of each of the plurality of satellite antennas;

broadcasting, by the plurality of satellite antennas, satellite signals to test a satellite signal receiver antenna performance;

using a rail to emulate an orbit of each of the plurality of satellites in the satellite constellation;

determining, by a computer, a movement plan for the plurality of satellite antennas based on the satellite constellation state by performing:

extracting expected positions of the plurality of satellites in the satellite constellation at a next time point from the satellite simulation system;

calculating expected positions of the plurality of satellite antennas on the rail to emulate the expected angular positions of the plurality of satellites in the satellite constellation at the next time point;

measuring current positions of the plurality of satellite antennas on the rail; and

determining the movement plan for moving each satellite antenna from the current position to the expected position on the rail, respectively, based on the current positions of the plurality of satellite antennas on the rail, and the expected positions of the plurality of satellite antennas on the rail at the next time point; and

moving the plurality of satellite antennas based on the movement plan to emulate a propagation of the satellite constellation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the satellite constellation is one of Global Positioning System (GPS), Global'naya Navigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS), Galileo positioning system, and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System; and

the satellite constellation state at least includes orbits information of the satellites in the satellite constellation.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein moving the plurality of satellite antennas including moving a trolley carrying one of the plurality of satellite antennas on the rail.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein moving the plurality of satellite antennas further includes:

sending a control command to the trolley carrying one of the plurality of satellite antennas on the rail through a wireless communication channel; and

in response to receiving the control command, moving the trolley carrying one of the plurality of satellite antennas on the rail at a constant speed.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating initial positions of the plurality of satellites in the satellite constellation to determine initial positions of the plurality of satellite antennas includes:

calculating initial angular positions of the plurality of satellites in the satellite constellation in a global coordinate reference frame based on the determined satellite constellation state; and

determining initial angular positions of the plurality of satellite antennas on the rail based on the initial angular positions of the plurality of satellites in the satellite constellation in the global coordinate reference frame.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein calibrating the phase delay of each of the plurality of satellite antennas includes:

measuring a phase delay for each of the plurality of satellite antennas;

calculating phase delay differences between the phase delay of one satellite antenna and other satellite antennas; and

using the phase delay differences to calibrate the phase delay of each of the plurality of satellite antennas, such that the phase differences of the plurality of satellite antennas are eliminated or minimized.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein broadcasting the satellite signals includes:

generating satellite signals for the plurality of satellite antennas by a satellite simulation system; and

transmitting the satellite signals to the plurality of satellite antennas through a plurality of radio frequency cables, wherein each radio frequency cable connects one of the plurality of satellite antennas to the satellite simulation system.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein moving the plurality of satellite antennas further includes:

releasing or retreating, by a cable management system, each radio frequency cable that connects one of the plurality of satellite antennas and the satellite simulation system.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring current positions of the plurality of satellite antennas on the rail includes:

capturing, by a plurality of cameras, images of the plurality of satellite antennas on the rail;

processing the images captured by the multiple cameras to identify the plurality of satellite antennas; and

obtaining current angular positions of the plurality of satellite antennas.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein obtaining the current angular positions of the plurality of satellite antennas includes:

measuring a current local angular position of one satellite antenna in an image in a local coordinate system with respect to a camera that captures the image; and

calculating the current angular position of the one satellite antenna in a global coordinate reference frame based on the current local angular position of the one satellite antenna in the local coordinate system, a radius of a rail that the one satellite antenna is located, and a location of the camera in the global coordinate.

11. A system for testing satellite signal receiver antenna, comprising:

a plurality of satellite antennas configured for emulating a plurality of satellites in a satellite constellation;

a plurality of rails configured for emulating orbits of the plurality of satellites in the satellite constellation;

a satellite positioning system configured for determining a propagation of the plurality of satellites in the satellite constellation;

a satellite simulation system configured for generating emulated satellite signals and outputting the satellite constellation information;

wherein the plurality of satellite antennas are able to broadcast the emulated satellite signals while moving along the plurality of rails respectively based on the propagation of the plurality of satellites in the satellite constellation;

a plurality of cameras configured for capturing images of the plurality of satellite antennas;

a plurality of trolleys that are able to move on the plurality of rails respectively; and

a computer configured for:

extracting satellite constellation state from an digital output of the satellite simulation system;

calibrating a phase delay of each of the plurality of satellite antennas;

processing the images of the plurality of satellite antennas to determine current positions of the plurality of satellite antennas;

determining a movement plan for the plurality of satellite antennas based on the current positions of the plurality of satellite antennas and the propagation of the plurality of satellites in the satellite constellation; and

sending control commands to the plurality of trolleys to move the plurality of trolleys, such that movements of the plurality of satellite antennas carried by the plurality of trolleys emulate the propagation of the plurality of satellites in the satellite constellation.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency cables for transmitting the emulated satellite signals from the simulation system to the plurality of satellite antennas;

wherein each of the plurality of radio frequency cables connects one of the plurality of satellite antennas and the satellite simulation system.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a cable management system configured for:

releasing or retreating the plurality of radio frequency cables when the plurality of satellite antennas are moving along the plurality of rails respectively; and

providing low phase and time delay change of the emulated satellite signals.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein:

the cable management system includes a fixed pulley, a movable pulley, and a tension part;

wherein a radio frequency cable is restrained by the fixed pulley, the movable pulley, and the tension part.

15. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a low noise amplifier between the plurality of radio frequency cables and the satellite simulation system;

wherein the low noise amplifier is configured for amplifying emulated satellite signals to a desired strength level by compensating power losses due to the radio frequency cables and distances between the plurality of satellite antennas and a satellite signal receiver antenna under test.

16. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:

wherein each of the plurality of trolleys carries one of the plurality of satellite antennas.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein:

the satellite constellation is one of Global Positioning System (GPS), Global'naya Navigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS), Galileo positioning system, and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System.