Zero-Knowledge Beamforming for Mobile Satellite Phased Array Antenna

In this paper, we introduce a novel beamforming algorithm for single receiver phased array antenna systems and study its performance in terms of the convergence speed and the steady state error, through simulations and experimental tests. Neither a priori knowledge of the target's direction, nor the phase-voltage characteristic of the phase shifters are required in this algorithm. Instead, the total received power, which is the only array output, is sampled to perform the beamforming and adjust the phase shifters. Insensitivity to the variation of the phase shifter characteristics, and simultaneous calibration is an important feature of this algorithm. This algorithm has been successfully applied to a 16-element Ku-band phased array.