Development of a conformal slot antenna for UAVs

• Main Author: Ng, Zhao Rong
• Other Authors: Shen Zhongxiang
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering::Antennas, wave guides, microwaves, radar, radio
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/167462
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This final report illustrates the process of the low-profile slot antenna for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that operates at an operating frequency of 2.4Ghz. As most devices are becoming smaller in physical size, there is strong demand for antennas to be small, conformal, and low-profile. There are various antenna design theories and methods to ensure that antennas can still retain good performance while considering the size constraints. Most commercial UAVs commonly operate on frequencies of 2.4Ghz and 5.8Ghz. The proposed antenna model is a Microstrip Fed Slotted Antenna with a planar reflector, utilising Hansen Woodyard End-fire Array method to improve gain and directivity. The array however has not been successfully designed, but the antenna model has been successfully simulated, having a gain of 8.17dB, and a directional radiation pattern. The antenna model produced good S11 parameters at the operating frequency, with a bandwidth of 104.7Mhz. The VSWR is also optimal, measured 1.22 at the operating frequency. The features of the antenna model make it a suitable choice for flight applications, as it can be mounted on the underpinnings of an UAV while maintaining conformality. Due to time constraint, the antenna design was not fabricated.