IWO-based Synthesis of Log-Periodic Dipole Array

The Invasive Weed Optimization (IWO) is an effective evolutionary and recently developed method. Due to its better performance in comparison to other well-known optimization methods, IWO has been chosen to solve many complex non-linear problems in telecommunications and electromagnetics. In the present study, the IWO is applied to optimize the geometry of a realistic log-periodic dipole array (LPDA) that operates in the frequency range 800-3300 MHz and therefore is suitable for signal reception from several RF services. The optimization is applied under specific requirements, concerning the standing wave ratio, the forward gain, the gain flatness and the side lobe level, over a wide frequency range. The optimization variables are the lengths and the radii of the dipoles, the distances between them, and the characteristic impedance of the transmission line that connects the dipoles. The optimized LPDA seems to be superior compared to the antenna derived from the practical design procedure

Synthesis and Implementation (In STM8S) of Phased Circular Antenna Arrays Using Taguchi Method

This paper is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the phase-only control strategy based on a customized Taguchi method when applied to Uniform Circular Arrays (UCA).  The objective of this paper consists to contribute the main lobe optimization of the smart antenna using Taguchi's method. We used the cited method in order to determine phase's weights for each element of the circular antenna array in order to steer the principal lobe from -65° to 65° covering all angular space. After that, we made an electronic platform using the microcontroller STM8S in order to implement an intelligent system. The architecture of this work had used a digital phase shifters, a demodulator AD8347, a modulator AD8349, an array antenna, cards STM8S-Discovery

Comparative and comprehensive study of linear antenna arrays’ synthesis

In this paper, a comparative and comprehensive study of synthesizing linear antenna array (LAA) designs, is presented. Different desired objectives are considered in this paper; reducing the maximum sidelobe radiation pattern (i.e., pencil-beam pattern), controlling the first null beamwidth (FNBW), and imposing nulls at specific angles in some designs, which are accomplished by optimizing different array parameters (feed current amplitudes, feed current phase, and array elements positions). Three different optimization algorithms are proposed in order to achieve the wanted goals; grasshopper optimization algorithms (GOA), antlion optimization (ALO), and a new hybrid optimization algorithm based on GOA and ALO. The obtained results show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed algorithms to achieve the wanted targets. In most experiments, the proposed algorithms outperform other well-known optimization methods, such as; Biogeography based optimization (BBO), particle swarm optimization (PSO), firefly algorithm (FA), cuckoo search (CS) algorithm, genetic algorithm (GA), Taguchi method, self-adaptive differential evolution (SADE), modified spider monkey optimization (MSMO), symbiotic organisms search (SOS), enhanced firefly algorithm (EFA), bat flower pollination (BFP) and tabu search (TS) algorithm

Polarization Decomposition Algorithm for Detection Efficiency Enhancement

In the paper, a new polarization decomposition of the optimal detection algorithm in the partially homogeneous environment is presented. Firstly, the detectors Matched Subspace Detector (MSD) and Adaptive Subspace Detector (ASD) are adopted to deal with detection problems in the partially homogeneous environment. Secondly, the fitness function with polarization parameters is equivalently decomposed to enhance time detection efficiency in the algorithm. It makes the multiplication number of the fitness function from square to a linear increase along with the increase in parameters. Simulation results indicate that the proposed decomposition is much more efficient than direct use of the fitness function

Radiation pattern synthesis in conformal antenna arrays using modified convex optimization technique

In this paper, a modified convex optimization technique is used for radiationpattern correction in a cylindrical-shaped conformal microstrip array antenna.The technique uses numerical simulations to optimize the amplitude andphase excitations, with the goal to decrease the Euclidean distance betweenthe desired field pattern and the obtained (simulated/measured) field patternwhile maintaining the main beam direction, null's location, and side lobelevels under control. Two prototypes of 1 4 and 2 4 conformal microstripantenna array deformed from linear/planar structure to the prescribed cylin-drical shape, with different radii of curvature, are studied to demonstrate theperformance of the proposed technique. The proposed convex optimizationmodel when applied to conformal antenna array possesses fast computingspeed and high convergence accuracy for radiation pattern synthesis, whichcan be a valuable tool for engineering applications.Dr. Mohammad Alibakhshikenari acknowledges supportfrom the CONEX-Plus programme funded by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under theMarie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 801538

The optimal synthesis of scanned linear antenna arrays

In this paper, symmetric scanned linear antenna arrays are synthesized, in order to minimize the side lobe level of the radiation pattern. The feeding current amplitudes are considered as the optimization parameters. Newly proposed optimization algorithms are presented to achieve our target; Antlion Optimization (ALO) and a new hybrid algorithm. Three different examples are illustrated in this paper; 20, 26 and 30 elements scanned linear antenna array. The obtained results prove the effectiveness and the ability of the proposed algorithms to outperform and compete other algorithms like Symbiotic Organisms Search (SOS) and Firefly Algorithm (FA)

RF-MEMS switches for reconfigurable antennas

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.Reconfigurable antennas are attractive for many military and commercial applications where it is required to have a single antenna that can be dynamically reconfigured to transmit or receive on multiple frequency bands and patterns. RF-MEMS is a promising technology that has the potential to revolutionize RF and microwave system implementation for next generation telecommunication applications. Despite the efforts of top industrial and academic labs, commercialization of RFMEMS switches has lagged expectations. These problems are connected with switch design (high actuation voltage, low restoring force, low power handling), packaging (contamination layers) and actuation control (high impact force, wear, fatique). This Thesis focuses on the design and control of a novel ohmic RF-MEMS switch specified for reconfigurable antennas applications. This new switch design focuses on the failure mechanisms restriction, the simplicity in fabrication, the power handling and consumption, as well as controllability. Finally, significant attention has been paid in the switch’s electromagnetic characteristics. Efficient switch control implies increased reliability. Towards this target three novel control modes are presented. 1) Optimization of a tailored pulse under Taguchi’s statistical method, which produces promising results but is also sensitive to fabrication tolerances. 2) Quantification of resistive damping control mode, which produces better results only during the pull-down phase of the switch while it is possible to be implemented successfully in very stiff devices. 3) The “Hybrid” control mode, which includes both aforementioned techniques, offering outstanding switching control, as well as immunity to fabrication tolerances, allowing an ensemble of switches rendering an antenna reconfigurable, to be used. Another issue that has been addressed throughout this work is the design and optimization of a reconfigurable, in pattern and frequency, three element Yagi-Uda antenna. The optimization of the antenna’s dimensions has been accomplished through the implementation of a novel technique based on Taguchi’s method, capable of systematically searching wider areas, named as “Grid-Taguchi” method

Antenna Array Pattern Synthesis via Coordinate Descent Method

This paper presents an array pattern synthesis algorithm for arbitrary arrays based on coordinate descent method (CDM). With this algorithm, the complex element weights are found to minimize a weighted L2 norm of the difference between desired and achieved pattern. Compared with traditional optimization techniques, CDM is easy to implement and efficient to reach the optimum solutions. Main advantage is the flexibility. CDM is suitable for linear and planar array with arbitrary array elements on arbitrary positions. With this method, we can configure arbitrary beam pattern, which gives it the ability to solve variety of beam forming problem, e.g. focused beam, shaped beam, nulls at arbitrary direction and with arbitrary beam width. CDM is applicable for phase-only and amplitude-only arrays as well, and furthermore, it is a suitable method to treat the problem of array with element failures