LETI: Anechoic Chamber at LETI Opens for Collective Use
The anechoic chamber has been operating at St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI” for more than a year; it was created and equipped at the expense of Project 5-100. The camera deploys hardware and software for antenna measurements based on a near-field scanner, operating in the range from 1.7 GHz to 40 GHz.
The chamber hosts classes for students of the Faculty of Radio Engineering on “Antennas and Radio Wave Propagation.” Students perform antenna measurements here when preparing their bachelor’s and master’s theses.
The anechoic chamber also serves as a site for the R&D of departments and research teams of LETI in experimental research of antennas, radar objects, and electromagnetic compatibility in the frequency range from 0.5 to 40 GHz. The camera is most actively used by teams from the Prognoz Research Institute, the Research Institute of Radio Engineering and Telecommunications, and the Department of Theoretical Fundamentals of Radio Engineering. Currently, antenna equipment is being developed there, including studies of the noise characteristics of antennas.
“The anechoic chamber is one of the main tools used in the implementation of the Priority 2030 strategic project “New Technologies for Connected Sites and Territories” for measuring experimental samples of antenna equipment for communication systems and research on radio wave propagation.”
Oleg Markelov, Head of Strategic Project “New Technologies for Connected Sites and Territories” at LETI
By early 2022, new probes for the complex for antenna measurements based on the near-field scanner and the TEM camera were added to the chamber equipment. Employees of the Research Institute of Radio Engineering and Telecommunications and students of the Department of Theoretical Fundamentals of Radio Engineering took part in the design, development, and manufacturing of the new instruments.
The new equipment expands the possibilities of experimental research: the probes increase the frequency range of the near-field analysis complex, and the TEM camera allows experimental research and measurement of antenna characteristics in low-frequency ranges (less than 500 MHz).
“Without such equipment, it would have been impossible to conduct researcg noise characteristics at the chamber. The new equipment makes it possible to increase the speed of research and improve the accuracy of the experimental results obtained.”
Grigory Kostikov, Director of the Center for Collective Use “Anechoic Chamber”
At present, the anechoic chamber of LETI has received the status of a Center for Collective Use. The technical and legal basis has been created, which allows providing services to external customers. The university has started working with potential customers to conclude contracts.