Design and Implementation of a GPS-Based UAV Tracking Antenna System Using LabVIEW

In disaster monitoring missions, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) must cover large areas to assess the impact of a disaster. Critical to the success of such missions is the continuous transmission of Air Data and Attitude Heading Reference System (ADAHRS) data, along with stable RSSI and video feed transmission to the Ground Control Station (GCS). However, the vast coverage area poses a challenge, as omnidirectional antennas are limited by the UAV’s operational range. To overcome this limitation, a high-gain directional antenna is required, which needs to be constantly aimed at the UAV to maintain a stable connection. This study presents an antenna tracker, designed and implemented using an ATmega328P microcontroller, two servo motors, and a GPS receiver, providing two degrees of freedom. The tracker allows 180-degree rotation on the azimuth axis (yaw) and 90-degree rotation on the elevation axis (pitch). The system interface was developed using LabVIEW. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed antenna tracker significantly extends the UAV’s operational range while maintaining a stable connection with minimal RSSI fluctuations compared to systems without an antenna tracker. The continuous availability of ADAHRS data, stable RSSI, and video feed ensures the success of critical mission operations.