Given the UK Government’s recent announcement of three per cent of GDP going into defence procurement by the next parliament, the future is looking brighter for electronics manufacturers. Moreover, those involved in the development of military equipment including drones, satellite navigation and intelligence technology could be entering a period of significant growth. However, a lack of affordable, grassroots testing facilities could be our Achilles’ Heel.
Electronic testing is the bedrock of any fledgling system, whether it is a new component or a complete product – and this is particularly important for companies involved in the fast-moving areas of RF, microwave, PNT, comms and defence electronics right now. Testing is vital, not just for ultimate safety accreditation, but crucially for early-stage component validation and performance measurement. Without this early approval and performance data, vital funds – either from private investors or government schemes such as Innovate UK – are unlikely to be secured.
While novel designs are anticipated results are inspiring, ongoing funding for new products is only unlocked convincing test data is procured. It’s the key to unlock innovation.
From our own experience as a UK-based specialist in complex antenna design and manufacture, we have faced challenges at this crucial stage of new product development. Certainly, in the UK, it’s a case of ‘feast or famine’ as credible electronics test facilities are either way too sophisticated (and expensive) for SME manufacturers, or just not up to the job.
Last year, we were involved in the development of a novel PNT (positioning, navigation and timing) antenna for use in LEO satellites. As part of the development process, we approached a top tier test lab, which was charging £1,700 a day for its services. This quantum of cost may be acceptable to global OEMs, but how many smaller enterprises can afford that level of fees for a single day of testing? There must be a better way.
Does the UK need to take a more commercially minded approach to testing, considering technology from emerging markets that can do the job, without breaking the bank? At present the vast majority of testing facilities are inhabited by expensive equipment typically from Germany, Austria and Northern Europe.
It feels like the electronics test sector is still living in the 1980s, just before more affordable, high-quality products such as cars, home electronics and white goods from Asia began to secure a foothold in the market. Is now the right time for the UK electronics sector to invest in more affordable test facilities to harness our true potential?
Given the high cost of credible external test facilities, we ultimately decided to invest in our own suite of antenna test chambers capable of rigorously validating wireless systems with precision and flexibility.
Novocomm’s Multi-System RF Test Chamber supports both over-the-air (OTA) and conducted testing up to 90 GHz, making it ideal for evaluating antenna and wireless technology performance across various standards, including Lora, LTE, 5G NR, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GNSS, UWB, mmWave, and Ku/Ka-band Satcom-on-the-Move.
Designed specifically for wireless device manufacturers and developers, this infrastructure provides the critical capability to thoroughly test smartphones, routers, laptops, and IoT devices under real-world conditions.
UK innovation is all about early validation. But if innovative, fast growing companies’ ideas fall at the first hurdle, due to cost, we need to think of new ways to fulfil this need.
