Three-Dimensional Coordinate-Based Detection of PCO Using the Rotating Antenna Method

Considering the non-perpendicularity of the antenna rotation axis, a three-dimensional coordinate-based method for detecting the antenna phase center is proposed. This method involves fitting a spatial plane to the three-dimensional coordinate points, projecting them onto the plane, and then rotating the plane to achieve a horizontal orientation. The rotation points are then fitted with a least squares circle to evaluate the deviation of the antenna rotation center and the phase center. Experimental validation demonstrated that when only the horizontal coordinates are considered, the fitted phase center deviation was 1.3 mm. In contrast, using the method described in this article, the fitted phase center deviation was determined to be 3.0 mm.