Design and Development of Printed Antennas for Satellite-Based AIS Applications

Abstract

Purpose of the Satellite Based-Automatic Identification System (SB-AIS) is to provide an extended range of communication over the traditional AIS. This has been Identification System (SB-AIS) is to provide an extended range of communication over the traditional AIS. This has been accomplished by employing low earth orbiting (LEO) Satellite. In this paper, three different configurations of printed antennas have been proposed for marine VHF band (156- 174 MHz). Initially, printed meander line configuration of monopole and dipole antennas have been designed and developed for AIS satellites and onboard ships, respectively. The overall size of meander line monopole (MLMA) and meander line dipole Antenna (MLDA) are $44.5\times 17\times 0.159cm^{3}$ and $66\times 4.4\times 0.159 cm^{3}$, respectively. Additionally, this work is extended to design a cross loop antenna (CLA) for onboard ships, with polarization diversity. This CLA occupies volume (including the ground plane) of $52.65\times 52.65\times 0.159cm^{3}$. The radiation patterns of all the proposed antennas are omnidirectional with E-plane half- power beamwidth (HPBW) of more than SO deg. These proposed antenna configurations have been realized on low-cost FR-4 glass epoxy substrate. Simulated and measured characteristics of these are in good agreement.