Microstrip antennas for a drone-mounted bistatic radar system

Introduction. This article examines the operational characteristics of a bistatic radar system installed on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and substantiates the selection of an optimal antenna- feeder system for it. The importance of considering the influence of the UAV body, made of conductive material, on the antenna directivity and polarization of emitted signals is emphasized. A lack of sufficient information and recommendations regarding the selection of an antenna-feeder system for a bistatic radar system installed on UAVs is noted, which determines the relevance of this study.

Goal. The objective of this work is to develop requirements for the selection, calculation, and modeling of an antenna-feeder system that meets operating conditions within a bistatic radar system. Materials and methods. The stages of development and testing of the selected solution are presented, including determining the technical requirements for the antenna-feeder system, assessing the applicability of existing antenna designs, calculating and manufacturing prototypes, and conducting experimental studies. The specialized Antenna Designer software package in MATLAB was used to model and optimize the characteristics of microstrip antennas.

Results and discussion. The results of the studies revealed that microstrip antennas provide unidirectional radiation, stable electrical parameters across the operating frequency range, and easy manufacturing. The design advantages of microstrip antennas identified during the studies are described.

Conclusion. A conclusion is reached regarding the feasibility of using microstrip antennas for the tasks being solved, and a direction for further research related to the development of two-element antenna arrays to improve the efficiency of bistatic radar systems is proposed.

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