High-power radiated susceptibility testing of rescue hoist systems in reverberation chambers

Rotorcraft operating in an electromagnetic environment (EME) can experience interference as a result of unintentional radio frequency (RF) energy coupling into the rescue hoist system. Sources of RF emitters include, but are not limited to, commercial radio transmitters and military radars. Energy from these emitters can be coupled into the electronics through equipment power lines, signal/control lines, airframe apertures and attached stores. This undesired coupling of electromagnetic energy can cause system performance degradation. This paper illustrates an example of a high-power (>1000 V/m) radiated susceptibility test on a rescue hoist system used on military aircraft, performed in a reverberation chamber. The reverberation chamber was chosen for this test because it offers several advantages over traditional radiated test facilities, such as the ability to generate high field strengths more efficiently and typically to test in a shorter time period, making it more economical. The reverberation chamber generally also provides a more robust test, with less uncertainty than anechoic or other facility types. The focus of this paper is to describe, as a useful model, methods of successful, effective radiated susceptibility testing of electronic systems, as opposed to presenting specific test results.