Multiply Parasitic-Coupled, Three-Dimensional Antenna Array with Wide Elevation Angle for Seamless UAV Communications

Abstract

A multiply parasitic-coupled, three-dimensional antenna array with wide elevation angle for seamless unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communications is proposed. The proposed array consists of an upper substrate with a two-element dipole array, multiple parasitic elements, two supports including a microstrip feeding, and a lower substrate with a feeding network and its ground plane as a metallic reflector for wide radiation pattern and reduced back radiation. The proposed array operates with a 18% impedance bandwidth ranging from 4.51 GHz to 5.43 GHz by covering an UAV communications frequency band. Measured peak gain, total efficiency, and half-power beamwidth (HPBW) of the proposed array are approximately 5.5 dBi, 95%, and 140 degrees, respectively.