Frustum Shaped Conformal Antenna for Spinning Aerial Platform

Diptiman Biswas; Asif Rizwan

doi:10.14429/dsj.68.12217

Diptiman Biswas DRDO-Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru – 560 075
Asif Rizwan DRDO-Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru – 560 075

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.68.12217

Keywords: Frustum antenna, Conformal antenna, Roll plane omni pattern

Abstract

A novel approach to design and develop frustum shaped conformal antenna for transmission of telemetry data from a missile like spinning aerial platform is described. The requirement necessitates for an omni directional radiation pattern in the roll plane. However, the criteria is not feasible to achieve by using a monopole or a dipole as the omni coverage due to these antennas are restricted only in yaw or azimuth plane of the aerial platform. A conformal antenna appropriately wrapped on to the surface provides potential solution and accordingly has been configured for meeting the requirements of a practical application. The antenna artwork has been designed to conform to the exterior geometry of the intended portion of conical surface and printed on a microwave substrate which is essentially thin and flexible. A corporate feed distribution scheme has been designed and tailored to match with the impedance of the microstrip radiator at multiple locations and also printed along with it making the frustum antenna very compact and of aerodynamic supportive form. The antenna produces required omni coverage in the plane normal to the roll axis. A step-wise method for the design and development of the frustum conformal antenna through simulation and experiment approach has been discussed.

Author Biographies

Diptiman Biswas, DRDO-Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru – 560 075

Mr Diptiman Biswas is BE (Electronics Engineering) from NIT, Jamshedpur & MTech (Microwave Engineering) from IIT, BHU, Varanasi. Presently working as a Scientist at DRDO-Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru. He is responsible for providing solutions with respect to RF, Antenna and electromagnetic problems for unmanned aerial systems. He received KU Limaye Award in 2013 and DRDO National Science Day Award in 2017.

In the current study, he originated the concept and novelty in design, finalised system specifications and formulated procedure for optimisation of design and realisation of hardware through quality process.

Asif Rizwan, DRDO-Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru – 560 075

Mr Asif Rizwan received his BE (Electronics and Communication Engineering) from National Institute of Technology, Srinagar in 2010 and presently working as a Scientist at DRDO-Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru. His area of work includes: Design and development of antennas for airborne platforms, Radome design and EM analysis of onboard systems.

In the current study, he simulated the design using FEKO EM simulation software, optimises design, evaluated hardware performance and compared results.

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