@article{LI2025, 
author = {Mei LI and Zhiliang SHANG and Lin PU and Ming-Chun TANG and Lei ZHU},
title = {Low-profile, low sidelobe array antenna with ultrawide beam coverage for UAV communication},
year = {2025},
journal = {Chinese Journal of Aeronautics},
volume = {38},
number = {1},
pages = {103159},
keywords = {Array antenna, Broad beam, Fan beam, Low sidelobe level, Chebyshev synthesis, UAV communication},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1016/j.cja.2024.07.031},
doi = {10.1016/j.cja.2024.07.031},
abstract = {This paper presents a design method to implement an antenna array characterized by ultra-wide beam coverage, low profile, and low Sidelobe Level (SLL) for the application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) air-to-ground communication. The array consists of ten broadside-radiating, ultrawide-beamwidth elements that are cascaded by a central-symmetry series-fed network with tapered currents following Dolph-Chebyshev distribution to provide low SLL. First, an innovative design of end-fire Huygens source antenna that is compatible with metal ground is presented. A low-profile, half-mode Microstrip Patch Antenna (MPA) is utilized to serve as the magnetic dipole and a monopole is utilized to serves as the electric dipole, constructing the compact, end-fire, grounded Huygens source antenna. Then, two opposite-oriented end-fire Huygens source antennas are seamlessly integrated into a single antenna element in the form of monopole-loaded MPA to accomplish the ultrawide, broadside-radiating beam. Particular consideration has been applied into the design of series-fed network as well as antenna element to compensate the adverse coupling effects between elements on the radiation performance. Experiment indicates an ultrawide Half-Power Beamwidth (HPBW) of 161° and a low SLL of −25 dB with a high gain of 12 dBi under a single-layer configuration. The concurrent ultrawide beamwidth and low SLL make it particularly attractive for applications of UAV air-to-ground communication.}
}