ACU – M1L

The Antenna Control Unit – M1L (ACU-M1L) provides operators with comprehensive control over antenna/pedestal positioning, feed systems, and supporting equipment. Housed in a 19” rack-mountable, expandable chassis, the ACU-M1L features a 15” color touchscreen display for intuitive operation.

Designed for secure and reliable operation in connected environments, the ACU-M1L runs on Red Hat© Enterprise Linux and adheres to the Defense Information Systems Agency’s Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIG). This robust Linux-based platform ensures enhanced cybersecurity and flexibility, built specifically for modern 64-bit environments.

The updated graphical user interface (GUI) delivers improved data visibility and user interaction, preserving familiar features such as Sky View and real-time angle representations. The software is versatile, operating seamlessly across multiple chassis configurations, including rack-mounted server-style chassis (ACU-M1), embedded ACU-M3, or embedded ACU-M4 designed for classified operations without writable storage.

The ACU-M1L supports remote or local control operations through a common GUI and includes an XML-based Interface Control Document for easy integration into network operations.

Suitable for both satellite and range applications, the ACU-M1L can propagate satellite trajectories from various element formats or track predefined trajectories. Operators can schedule multi-satellite tracking from the front panel or remotely, with automatic satellite element downloads or manual entry using NORAD Two Line Elements (TLE).

For range applications, the ACU-M1L supports autotracking or slave tracking modes using Ethernet, synchronous/asynchronous serial, or standard serial connections. It accepts tracking inputs such as azimuth and elevation pairs, Earth-centered coordinates, or azimuth, elevation, and range data from radar sources.