Description and Results: Antenna Measurement Facility Comparisons [Measurements Corner]

In recent years, formalized facility comparison activities have become important for the documentation and validation of laboratory proficiency and competence and mandatory for achieving accreditation such as that of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025 or similar organizations [1]. Different intercomparison campaigns have been conducted on antenna measurements in the framework of various European activities. Such activities were initiated in 2004 with the Sixth Framework Program of the European Union (EU) Antenna Center of Excellence (ACE) [2]. The work continued under the management of the European Association on Antennas and Propagation (EurAAP), supported by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) in the programs Antenna Systems and Sensors for Information Society Technologies (ASSIST) IC0603 and Versatile, Integrated, and Signal-Aware Technologies for Antennas (VISTA) IC1102, including still ongoing campaigns [3]-[5]. Results of these activities have led to improvements in antenna measurement procedures and protocols in facilities and standards [6], [7]. Due to the direct benefits available to the participants, the activities have been very successful, and partial outcomes have been published in IEEEreferenced articles [8]-[18].