Debuts Horizon™ Dual Channel Phased Array Antenna and Ground Station Solution
Lanham, MD, October 11, 2018 – TSi, the world leader in Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) solutions, introduces its new Horizon™ system, the world’s first S- and L- band compatible phased array system featuring antennas developed by Ball Aerospace with all-seeing, horizon-to-horizon coverage to reliably capture search and rescue signals relayed from orbiting satellites immediately after line-of-sight is established.
The technology team behind this latest innovation includes TSi’s SARSAT division, the world leader in the design, development and installation of search and rescue ground-based infrastructure, and Ball Aerospace. Ball brings sophisticated phased array antenna technology to the challenge of enhancing global search and rescue programs.
As part of this global debut, the TSi Horizon system is now available to enhance regional search and rescue services worldwide with premiere technology advantages to complement existing and emerging ground-based systems. TSi has been supporting the world’s leading search and rescue programs for nearly thirty years, reaching a major milestone with the world’s first operational Medium-altitude Earth Orbit Search and Rescue (MEOSAR) system in 2011 and remaining the number one market leader in successfully installing and launching MEOSAR systems ever since.
“TSi has been honored to support global search and rescue priorities for nearly thirty years, including the installation of the world’s first MEOSAR system. Today, we’re excited to take this next technology leap by introducing the world’s first multi-band, multi-dimensional phased array system,” said former Orolia VP, SARSAT Programs, Paul Zweers.
TSi’s Horizon Medium Earth Orbit Local User Terminal (MEOLUT) can deliver enhanced search and rescue coverage and second-generation signal processing capabilities, all in a compact form factor with no moving parts. The key technology innovation, based on a modified off-the-shelf phased array antenna developed by Ball Aerospace, is a custom-designed TSi solution that draws upon decades of advanced engineering expertise to provide best-value and unparalleled performance.
“With more than five decades of phased array heritage, Ball Aerospace is a market leader in developing low-profile, affordable phased array antenna systems for a variety of frequencies and platforms for the defense, commercial and civil markets,” said Rob Freedman, vice president and general manager, Tactical Solutions, Ball Aerospace. “Ball is leveraging commercial off-the-shelf technologies and automated manufacturing processes to deliver cost-effective S- and L- dual-band phased arrays for the MEOSAR ground stations, enabling enhanced mission critical communications for search and rescue teams.”
By pointing to satellites near the horizon, the TSi Horizon MEOLUT can detect and locate emergency beacons much farther away. This enhanced detection ability, combined with the TSi Selective Schedule Algorithm, enables the system to monitor more diverse regions, including the translation of oblong and irregular data points that are invisible to traditional systems.