Antenna Design in PolyStrata for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

ABSTRACT: The Nuvotronics approach is to create a modular array architecture made of batch fabricated micromachined electronically-scanned subarray planar aperture modules. A number of such subarray modules are then combined to form a flat or conformal array antenna aperture providing necessary antenna system to operate in the WGS uplink (20.2-21.2 GHz) and uplink (30-31 GHz) bands with corresponding circular polarization (CP) states. It is assumed to operate both uplink and downlink through the same shared aperture running in dual-band mode, while splitting both channels in the array backplane. The design modularity will make possible to install the array on a UAV while fitting different installation conditions along with other possible options for the Predator class and other types of AF and other DoD UAV platforms. The batch fabricated micromachined electronically-scanned subarray planar aperture modules, which will be used to form necessary high-gain flat or conformal apertures, will be fabricated using the PolyStrata fabrication process developed by Nuvotronics. The array backplane will provide all signal, control and power connections to the subarray modules. BENEFIT: WGS uplink (20.2-21.2 GHz) and uplink (30-31 GHz) for UAVs will be provided through a single dual-band aperture. Minimized size and weight will be achieved with benefits to payload to maximize UAV mission capabilities. Initially will be designed for the Predator class UAV and other types of AF and other DoD UAV platforms will be considered also.