Design of UAVs-Based 3D Antenna Arrays for a Maximum Performance in Terms of Directivity and SLL

Jesus Garza,Marco A Panduro,Alberto Reyna,Gerardo Romero,Carlos Del Rio

doi:10.1155/2016/2621862

Abstract

This paper presents a design of UAVs-based 3D antenna arrays for a maximum performance in terms of directivity and side lobe level (SLL). This paper illustrates how to model the UAVs formation flight using 3D nonuniform antenna arrays. This design of 3D antenna arrays considers the optimization of the positions of the antenna elements to model the UAVs formation flight. In this case, a disk patch antenna is chosen to be used as element in each UAV. The disk patch antenna is formulated by the well-known cavity model. The synthesis process is carried out by the method of Differential Evolution for Multiobjective Optimization (DEMO). Furthermore, a comparison of the performance of 3D nonuniform antenna arrays is provided with respect to the most conventional arrays (circular, planar, linear, and the cubic) for UAVs formation flight.

Highlights

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) embrace applications of Precision Formation Flying (PFF) [1,2,3] in civil and military usages
Since the UAVs formation flight could maintain any geometric shape in space, the beam steering of the 3D antenna array is not considered in this design problem; that is, the natural response of the array is considered to be optimized in the cut of φ = 0∘
Differential Evolution for Multiobjective Optimization (DEMO)/parent outperforms the array factor characteristics generated by the NSGA-II by providing a better solution in terms of the side lobe level (SLL) and directivity

Summary

Introduction

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) embrace applications of Precision Formation Flying (PFF) [1,2,3] in civil and military usages. Military users such as tactical units on patrol missions can apply micro UAVs for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance tasks. Many applications consider an omnidirectional antenna for UAVs communications. In this case, guaranteed quality communication is required to support formation control and a nonstop process of tracking and maintaining a chosen geometric shape [2]. Equipping UAVs with antenna arrays is impractical. This is because antenna arrays need a lot of space and energy consumption

Methods

Results

Conclusion