V1.0

Version 1.0 – May 2025

ARES V1.0 marks the first full-featured, stable release of the Automated Radio Evaluation Suite. This update transitions ARES from a functional prototype to a robust, extensible tool designed for serious RF testing workflows. Major features have been finalized, performance optimized, and documentation significantly expanded.

Major Changes

📡 Antenna Measurement Upgrades

• Automatic Gain Transfer Method Characterization
  Automatically compute the reference gain when measuring identical antennas without previously measuring the reference gain. No need to load a reference file anymore.

• 3D Radiation Pattern Measurements
  Supports full $\theta$ / $\phi$ 3D sweeps and visualization in spherical coordinates.

• Smart Rotation Handling
  Optimized angle sweep logic: ARES now translates inputs from -180° to 180° into a continuous 0° to 360° path. Preventing backtracking and duplicated measurements, reducing rotation time by up to 25% in scans.

🔊 PA Measurement Upgrades

• DC Supply Visualization
  Added DC current/power plots during RF sweep for bias characterization and troubleshooting.

• Improved Compression Point Logic
  More accurate P1dB/P3dB calculation by selecting the compression point after the peak gain.

⚙️ Core Application Features

• Instrument Database
  New persistent .csv system for managing instrument VISA addresses across sessions.

• Log Files

  • ARES_Error_Log.txt: Captures detailed errors, stack traces, and timestamps.
  • ARES_Measurement_Log.txt: Logs measurement type, duration, and performance metrics.

• Plot Exporting
  Right-click any plot to export as: PNG, JPG, PDF (vector for 2D) or TikZ (LaTeX-friendly; Cartesian plots only).

• Grid Toggle
  An optional user-controlled grid overlay option was added to all supported plots for easier visual analysis.

📖 Documentation

• Full Online Documentation:
  https://aresapp.readthedocs.io

Version Commits: https://github.com/AlexDCode/AutomatedRadioEvaluationSuite/commits/v1.0
Full Changelog: v0.9.2...v1.0

V0.9.2 Beta

Version 0.9.2 – April 2025

This update improves stability, UI compatibility, and performance across core measurement workflows. Key updates include VNA performance improvements, smoother user interactions, and enhanced plotting features for antenna measurements.

🎯 Minor Changes

• UI Compatibility Update: Replaced deprecated BorderType 'etchedin' with 'line' to ensure full compatibility with MATLAB R2024a and R2024b. Resolved uifigure layout issues caused by older properties.
• Minor Bug Fixes and UI Cleanups: Continued cleanup from v0.9.1 to enhance user experience, maintain modularity, and simplify the app structure.

🚀 Performance & Functional Improvements

• Optimized VNA Measurement Flow

  • Refactored measureSParameters to remove unnecessary repeated operations inside loops.
  • VNA configuration now occurs once during initial connection and before an antenna test start, improving speed and reliability.

• Smoothing Feature for VNA Data

  • Introduced an optional smoothing parameter with adjustable level (0%–25%, steps of 0.5).
  • Smoothing applied to VNA trace data to reduce visual noise during plotting.

• 2D Radiation Pattern Enhancements

  • Reference gain files and radiation patterns are now automatically plotted after measurement.
  • Added interactive dropdowns for theta, phi, and frequency to replot data dynamically without rerunning tests.

• Measurement Control Improvements

  • Users can now cancel antenna or PA tests mid-measurement.
  • If data has been recorded before cancellation, users are prompted to save or discard partial results.

• Reference File Management

  • Added a new Clear Reference Gain File button, allowing users to unload an uploaded file without restarting the app.

• PA Supply Sequencing Logic

  • Implemented safe power sequencing:
    • Startup: All gate biases are enabled before applying drain voltage.
    • Shutdown: Drain voltages are disabled before gate biases.
  • Ensures proper biasing order to protect power amplifier devices.

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Full Changelog: https://github.com/bolanosv/AutomatedRadioEvaluationSuite/commits/Pre-release

V0.9.1 Beta

Version 0.9.1 - April 2025

🎯 Minor Changes

• Improved Antenna Measurement Workflow with real-time progress messages during measurements for better user feedback and visibility into progress.
• Enhanced UI Organization by relocating the linear slider connection to the Antenna Instruments Panel within the Antenna Tab, streamlining setup and improving accessibility.
• Instrument Disconnect Support added to allow users to safely release device connections from within the UI.
• Minor Bug Fixes and UI Cleanups carried over from version 0.9 to improve overall stability and user experience.

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Full Changelog: https://github.com/bolanosv/AutomatedRadioEvaluationSuite/commits/Pre-release

V0.9 Beta

Version 0.9 – Pre-release

This version introduces the core functionalities needed to start automating your RF measurements with the Automated Radio Evaluation Suite (ARES). Install ARES as a MATLAB app and run it from the toolbar.

This release is aimed at developers and engineers interested in contributing to or testing the suite’s early features. We’re actively looking for feedback, contributions, and bug reports. Try it out and let us know what you think! Detailed tutorials will be coming soon in the official release of the upcoming version, which is being polished and tested.

⭐️ Highlights

• Automated testing of RF power amplifiers and antennas.
• Built as GUI for instrument connection, establishing test parameters, capturing data, and plotting.
• Integrates instruments for real-time data acquisition using VISA libraries and SCPI commands.
• Logging and data export in standardized table formats (*.xslx, *.csv) which can be post-processed outside the app.

🎯 Major Changes

• New measurement algorithm based on generating a lookup table for the combination of test parameters and iterating over each row.
• Improved GUI by organizing elements and dimensions for an arbitrary window size, automatic plotting, and progress windows.
• Modularized code with individual functions outside the main app binary file.
• New results formatting where the data is represented by a single table with each row indicating all the dynamic test parameters and corresponding measurements.
• Single plot from sweeps by selecting a single frequency in PA results file.
• Enabled Phi axis sweeps for 3D radiation pattern measurements. Measured S-Parameters are saved to the results table.
• PA De-embedding of passives at the input and output with fixed attenuation and S-parameters. Driver measurements can be used for large-signal de-embedding.

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Full Changelog: https://github.com/bolanosv/AutomatedRadioEvaluationSuite/commits/Pre-release