Alexandra E. Curtin

About

Alexandra E. Curtin is a measurement scientist and antenna systems researcher whose work has significantly advanced millimeter-wave antenna metrology, particularly through the innovative application of robotic technologies to electromagnetic measurement challenges. Based at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Curtin has been a central contributor to the development of the Configurable Robotic Millimeter-wave Antenna (CROMMA) facility, a groundbreaking system that employs coordinated industrial robotic arms to perform precise near-field antenna measurements at frequencies above 100 GHz. Her most-cited work, "Millimeter-Wave Near-Field Measurements Using Coordinated Robotics" (2015, 72 citations), established a cost-effective framework that has influenced how researchers and engineers approach antenna characterization at millimeter-wave frequencies. Curtin's research spans spherical, cylindrical, and planar near-field scanning, over-the-air testing, and robotic arm joint characterization for metrological accuracy. Her 2017 assessment of 3D-printed CubeSat feed horns demonstrated the practical intersection of emerging fabrication technologies and rigorous antenna performance validation. Through her portfolio of publications, Curtin has helped define modern standards for antenna testing infrastructure, making her contributions essential reading for researchers working in wireless communications, remote sensing, and advanced antenna design.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Millimeter-Wave Near-Field Measurements Using Coordinated Robotics

   72 citations · 2015
2. 2
   An All-Metal, 3-D-Printed CubeSat Feed Horn: An assessment of performance conducted at 118.7503 GHz using a robotic antenna range

   19 citations · 2017
3. 3
   Three antenna ranges based on articulated robotic arms at the national institute of standards and technology: Usability for over-the-air and standard near-field measurements

   12 citations · 2017
4. 4
   Antenna Measurement Implementations and Dynamic Positional Validation Using a Six Axis Robot

   6 citations · 2015
5. 5
   Serial Robotic Arm Joint Characterization Measurements for Antenna Metrology

   5 citations · 2017
6. 6
   Multi-purpose configurable range for antenna testing up To 220 GHz

   4 citations · 2016
7. 7
   The Multi-Robot Large Antenna Positioning System for Over-The-Air Testing at the National Institute of Standards and Technology1

   4 citations · 2018

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links