A metasurface-based electronically steerable compact antenna system with reconfigurable artificial magnetic conductor...

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Antenna Theory
• Metamaterials

Background:

• Next-generation wireless networks require advanced antenna technologies for enhanced performance.
• Existing antenna systems may lack the flexibility and efficiency needed for future smart networks.
• Metasurface technology offers novel solutions for reconfigurable antenna designs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and design a compact, electronically steerable antenna system for sub-6GHz applications.
• To achieve beam-switching capabilities in the azimuth plane for 360° coverage.
• To develop a low-cost and easily integrable antenna solution for Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Main Methods:

• A monopole antenna is used as the primary radiator.
• Metasurface-based electronically reconfigurable reflector elements utilizing capacitively loaded loops (CLLs) are employed.
• The CLL elements are designed to function as artificial magnetic conductors (AMCs) for beam steering.

Main Results:

• The proposed antenna system achieves digitally controllable directional radiation patterns with 360° coverage in the azimuth plane.
• Beam-switching is demonstrated with a step-size of 30°.
• The design provides a high front-to-back lobe ratio (FBR) and directional gain.

Conclusions:

• The developed electronically steerable antenna system is suitable for future wireless networks beyond 5G.
• The use of metasurfaces, COTS components, and 3D-printing results in a compact, modular, and cost-effective design.
• This antenna system is well-suited for integration into various Internet of Things (IoT) applications requiring directional control.