Quality analysis of GPS signals received on an Agusta chopper: Influence of the antenna location

A static and kinematic test campaign to evaluate the best location of a GPS antenna on an Agusta chopper of the Belgian Army is described. Two Ashtech Z-XII receivers were operated simultaneously for the kinematic test which examined the performance of a nose antenna as compared to a tail antenna, while the static test examined the influence of the rotor blades on the received GPS signal. The nose antenna was demonstrated to be less efficient under high dynamic situations and tracked in general less satellites than the tail antenna. Though the phase data from the tail antenna were more noisy than those from the nose antenna, the top of the tail is a more suitable location for GPS antenna.