STUDY & DEVELOPMENT

OF CONFORMAL
ANTENNAS FOR ULTRA
WIDE BAND
Mr. EBENEZER ABISHEK.B
Research Scholar
Department of ECE
VELS UNIVERSITY
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF
Dr. Arun Raaza
Director,
Centre For Advanced Research and Development,
Vels University, Chennai.

Background
Conformal antenna is an antenna which conforms to the surface
whose shape is mainly determined by considerations other than
electromagnetic.
E.g. Aerodynamic considerations.
Another possible purpose for using these antennas is making them
less disturbing and less visible to the human eye since they are
integrated on the structure.
Conformal antennas can be almost any geometry, although the
main structures investigated so far are cylindrical, spherical and
conical.
Today High-tech luxury sedans carry 18 or more antennas and the
number of antennas aboard cars is expected to increase further
with the spread of wireless broadband services.
Conforming the antenna to the surface saves space and is often
essential for structural reasons.

Background-Cont
Aerodynamic drag is the force on an object that
resists its motion through air.
Drag increases with density of the medium and
speed.
Drag increases with area (cross sectional area
projected in the direction of motion).
Drag is influenced by shape, texture, viscosity,
boundary layer separation, etc.
Aerodynamic drag affects the performance of
the antenna.
Since conformal antennas are structurally
integrated there is no drag.

Abstract
The problem of hiding multiple antennas and the
degradation of antenna performance due to
aerodynamic drag will be completely eliminated by
using conformal antennas.
The choice of structure in terms of materials , size,
shape, orientation, single layer and multi layer which
may contribute to the better radiation characteristics
of the conformal radiating system for automobiles ,
operating at frequencies in Ultra Wide Band will be
studied and the most effective design will be
fabricated.
An automobile application will be implemented with
the designed conformal antenna to show its
performance enhancement over existing whip , shark

Problem Statement
The first part of the research problem is to
study and develop conformal antennas with
radiation characteristics suited for the various
UWB applications and find places to install the
antennas in automobiles with minimum
visibility.
The second part of the research problem is to
create a prototype for automatic speed control
and collision avoidance using the developed
antenna.

Objectives
To design, simulate and study the radiation
characteristics of conformal antennas for automobile
applications in UWB band.
To fabricate the most effective design in hardware
and test using vector network analyzer.
To compare and validate the simulated results with
synthesized results.
To develop a prototype for automobiles using the
fabricated conformal antenna.

Work Methodology

Design and
test the
conformal
antenna in a
simulated
environment

Fabricating
the antenna
as hardware

Testing the
antenna using
vector
network
analyzer

Validate the
simulation
results with
synthesized
results

Develop
prototypes for
various
automobile
applications
using the
fabricated
antenna

System Overview

Block Diagram of the Prototype

Literature Survey
S.N
o

Year

Summary

11.

2015

Design of an X-Band Conformal Antenna

using Microstrip Patches:
This paper presents designing of a conformal
antenna using a number of microstrip patches
in X band frequency range i.e. 7GHz to 11.2
GHz.

2013

A Wideband Conformal End-Fire Antenna

Array Mounted on a Large Conducting
Cylinder:
The radiation characteristics of a wideband
conformal end-fire antenna array mounted on a
large conducting cylinder are investigated in
this communication.

2013

A Hybrid IWO/PSO Algorithm for Pattern

Synthesis of Conformal Phased Arrays:
This communication introduces a hybrid
invasive weed optimization and particle swarm
optimization (IWO/PSO) algorithm dedicated to
pattern synthesis of conformal arrays.

Performance
Metrics
The
conformal
antenna
designed
results
in
higher
beamwidth.
By
employing
balanced
Vivaldi
antenna element, the
antenna array has
ultra-wide bandwidth,
low cross-polarization
levels, and wide 3 dB
beam-width.
The
proposed
algorithm
achieved
the best search
results by regulating
the
interaction
between
the
dispersion method of
the IWO algorithm
and
the
evolution
velocity of the PSO

Literature Survey
S.No

Year

Summary

Performance
Metrics

11.

2012

A Novel Broad Beamwidth Conformal

Antenna on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle:
This letter proposes a novel broad beamwidth
low profile conformal antenna on an unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV).The antenna adopts the
structure of an L-shaped monopole loaded by a
shorted pin and realizes characteristics of low
profile and vertical polarization.

The proposed antenna

has advantages wide
beamwidth and has a
broad
application
prospect in the field of
conformal antenna on
a UAV.

2012

Optimisation method on conformal array

element positions for low side lobe
pattern synthesis:
An optimisation method for antenna element
positions in conformal arrays is proposed in this
study.
The element layout is optimised by the particle
swarm optimisation (PSO) method.
For each layout, the array excitations are
obtained by the robust convex optimisation
method.

2011

Synthesis of Conformal Phased Arrays

With Embedded Element Pattern
Decomposition:
A
novel
embedded
element
pattern
decomposition

This proposed method

is
demonstrated
through
an
optimisation
on
a
cylindrical-parabolic
conformal array

The results show the

advantages of the
new
method
in

Literature Survey
S.No

Year

Summary

Performance
Metrics

2011

Analysis
Of
Distributed
Conformal
Antennas On A Moving Platform:
This paper presents the far field radiation
pattern analysis of conformal suspended
microstrip patch antennas mounted on a
moving platform.
Optimized location for mounting the antennas
on car for desired Omni directional pattern was
investigated by changing the number of
antennas, its orientation and its position both
in lower and higher band of frequencies.

From
the
analysis
results it is proposed
that 8 antennas which
are mounted at 15
apart lengthwise, 6
apart width wise and
8 from the ground
produces a desired
Omni
directional
pattern of gain 5dB
with 3dB null depth
throughout
the
coverage range.

2011

Antenna element design for a conformal

antenna array demonstrator
This paper presents conformal antenna array
with active vibration compensation using piezo
actuators.
The designed antenna if integrated into the
surface of the front nose of a fighter aircraft to
eliminate the traditional mechanically rotating
phased array antenna.

11.

2009

This leads to more

available space for
additional electronic
equipment.

A New Low Profile Antenna with Provides good low

Improved Performance for Satellite elevation
angle

Literature Survey-Cont.
S.N
o

Year

Summary

10

2003

A
broadband
ship
based
electronically
steered
Lband
SATCOM antenna.
A broadband ship based electronically They
got
steered L-band SATCOM antenna. An around 22dB
antenna
for
L-band
satellite
communication system (INMARSAT). It
was mainly used for data and voice
communication between ship offshore
and mainland therefore they made
mechanically steerable antenna

11.

Performance
Metrics

gain

Output

Software and Hardware

Requirements
FEKO(Suite 7.0)
HFSS (Suite15.0)
MATLAB(R2015a)
Vector Network Analyzer
Fabricated Antenna
Arduino Controller and
GPS module

Next Six months plan

Course Work.
Design and Study the radiation
characteristics of the conformal antenna in
a FEKO Suite.
Publication in Annexure II Scopus Indexed
Journal.

Gantt Chart &

Milestones

References
1)

Chopra, P., & Bhandari, M. (2015). Design of an X-Band Conformal Antenna Using Microstrip
Patches, 8387.
2) Wang, P., Wen, G., Zhang, H., & Sun, Y. (2013). A Wideband Conformal End-Fire Antenna Array
Mounted on a Large Conducting Cylinder, 61(9), 48574861.
3) Bai, Y., Xiao, S., Liu, C., & Wang, B. (2013). A Hybrid IWO / PSO Algorithm for Pattern Synthesis of
Conformal Phased Arrays, 61(4), 23282332.
4) Zhao, K. Y. Z., & Nie, J. O. Z. (2012). Optimisation method on conformal array element positions for
low sidelobe pattern synthesis, 6(July 2011), 646652. http://doi.org/10.1049/iet-map.2011.0330
5) Liu, Z., Zhang, Y., Qian, Z., Han, Z. P., & Ni, W. (2012). A Novel Broad Beamwidth Conformal
Antenna on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, 11, 196199.
6) Yang, K., Zhao, Z., Nie, Z., Ouyang, J., & Liu, Q. H. (2011). Synthesis of Conformal Phased Arrays
With Embedded Element Pattern Decomposition, 59(8), 28822888.
7) Division, A. (2011). ANALYSIS OF DISTRIBUTED CONFORMAL, (1), 58.
8) Loecker, C., Knott, P., Sekora, R., & Algermissen, S. (2012). Antenna design for a conformal
antenna array demonstrator. Proceedings of 6th European Conference on Antennas and
Propagation, EuCAP 2012, 151153. http://doi.org/10.1109/EuCAP.2012.6206004.
9) Jiang, Y., Foti, S. J., Sambell, A., & Smith, D. (2009). A new low profile antenna with improved
performance for satellite on-the-move communications. Proceedings - 2009 3rd IEEE International
Symposium on Microwave, Antenna, Propagation and EMC Technologies for Wireless
Communications, MAPE 2009, 5962. http://doi.org/10.1109/MAPE.2009.5355557
10) Ferendeci, A. M. (2009). Conformal wide bandwidth antennas and arrays. Proceedings - 2009 3rd
IEEE International Symposium on Microwave, Antenna, Propagation and EMC Technologies for
Wireless Communications, MAPE 2009, 912. http://doi.org/10.1109/MAPE.2009.5355917
11) Knott, P. (2007). Design and experimental results of a spherical antenna array for a conformal
array demonstrator. INICA 2007 International Conference on Antennas - Proceedings, 120123.
http://doi.org/10.1109/INICA.2007.4353945
12) Pivit, F., Lbffler, D., & Wiesbeck, W. (2003). A broadband , ship based , electronically steered L-band
SATCOM antenna. Ieee, 456459.

THANK YOU