Dual-Band Monopole MIMO Antenna Array for UAV Communication Systems

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2024-09, Vol.24 (18), p.5913
• Main Authors: Raza, Muhammad Usman, Ren, Hongwei, Yan, Sen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antennas; Antennas (Electronics); Arrays; Bandwidths; Communication; communication system; Composite materials; Data transmission; Design; Drone aircraft; Drones; dual-band; Efficiency; Ground stations; impedance bandwidths; MIMO communications; MIMO monopole antenna; Radiation; sequential; UAV; Unmanned aerial vehicles
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s24185913

This study proposes a compact, low-profile, four-port dual-band monopole multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna array for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication systems. Each monopole antenna of the array features a modified T-shaped radiator configuration and is printed on a Rogers RT5880 substrate with compact dimensions of 134.96 mm × 134.96 mm × 0.8 mm. A four-element square MIMO configuration with sequential 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270° rotations was integrated smoothly into the UAV body. A prototype of the MIMO array was fabricated and experimentally evaluated, with measured results showing a close correlation to simulated results. The proposed dual-band monopole antenna demonstrated one of the widest impedance bandwidths of 46.15% at 2.4 GHz (2.04 to 3.25 GHz) IEEE 802.11b and 31.85% at 5.8 GHz (5.37 to 7.38 GHz) IEEE 802.11a on a thin 0.0064 λ substrate while achieving high transmission efficiency. The isolation of the proposed four-port MIMO design was measured at 23 dB at 2.4 GHz and 19 dB at 5.8 GHz. The MIMO array's total efficiency of each monopole antenna was measured at 96% at 2.4 GHz and 89% at 5.8 GHz. The design has measured diversity parameters such as an ECC below 0.01 and a DG of approximately 10. Based on these results, the proposed design suits the UAV communication system.