In addition to the retrodirective antenna, we have developed a computer control system. The computer system can flexibly determine the phases of the transmitting microwave by controlling digital phases shifters. To control the phases shifters, we have developed a control system which uses a neural network. The neural network is used to find out malfunctioning antenna elements from a huge number of array elements. A prototype of the microwave transmitter sub-array(shown in Fig. 3) has been developed with the capability of retrodirective phase control. Seven dipole antennas are mounted on a flat hexagonal plate with a diameter of about 20 cm. and a height of about 30 cm. A phase conjugate circuit receives two-tone pilot signals and determines the initial phases of the transmitting microwave. The signal is then distributed to seven digital phase shifters, each of which is connected to its dipole antenna through an E-class power amplifier. The phases of the microwave beam transmitted from the antennas can be individually modified by the phase shifters with the end result of being able to focus and aim the microwave. This sub-array system can generate a 2.45 GHz microwave with an output of 90 Watts. Concept of the METS Rocket Experiment Objectives The METS rocket experiment has two objectives. One is an in-situ demonstration of microwave energy transmission to verify the technological capabilities of the newly developed phased-array system in space. A test of transmitting microwaves using the computer control system will be conducted aiming towards a target daughter rocket. An attempt will also be made to concentrate energy at one point in space. This tests the steerability of the beam using the computer controlled phase
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