Design of non-uniform circular antenna arrays for side lobe reduction using the method of genetic algorithms

doi:10.1016/j.aeue.2006.03.006

AEU - International Journal of Electronics and Communications

Volume 60, Issue 10, 1 November 2006, Pages 713-717

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeue.2006.03.006 Get rights and content

Abstract

A design problem of non-uniform circular antenna arrays for maximal side lobe level reduction with the constraint of a fixed beam width is dealt with. This problem is modeled as a simple optimization problem. The method of genetic algorithms is used to determine an optimum a set of weights and antenna element separations that provide a radiation pattern with maximal side lobe level reduction with the constraint of a fixed beam width. The effectiveness of genetic algorithms for the design of non-uniform circular arrays is shown by means of experimental results. Experimental results reveal that design of non-uniform circular antenna arrays using the method of genetic algorithms provides a considerable side lobe level reduction with respect to the uniform case.

Introduction

The design of circular antenna arrays finds application in areas as mobile and wireless communications systems. Generally speaking, the problem of designing antenna arrays is characterized by different and conflicting requirements (beam width, side lobe level, directivity, noise sensitivity, robustness) to be satisfied. In this paper a design criterion is considered to evaluate the performance of antenna arrays: the criterion of minimum side lobe level at a fixed main beam width. In this case, the antenna array design problem consists of finding weights and antenna element separations that provide a radiation pattern with maximal side lobe level reduction. Due to the great variety of parameters involved, optimization techniques such as genetic algorithms (GA) [1] are very appropriate tools to search for the best antenna models. GA techniques are becoming widely used to solve electromagnetic problems due to their robustness, wide range of applications and readiness in their implementation. GA techniques [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8] have been fairly successful at designing linear antenna arrays. However, array configurations in which the elements are placed in a circular ring are of great interest. They have applications in radio direction finding, air and space navigation, radar, and other systems. In this paper, we apply GA techniques to the design of circular antenna arrays design of non-uniform circular antenna arrays to be a problem optimizing a single objective function, i.e., the minimization of the side lobe level at a fixed main beam width. The purpose and contribution of this paper is to present a model of problem that includes design of non-uniform circular antenna arrays for side lobe level reduction using the method of genetic algorithms. The remainder of the paper is organized as follows. Section 2 states the antenna array design problem we are dealing with. Then, a description of the used algorithm is presented in Section 3. Following this description the experimental setup and results are presented in Section 4. Finally, the summary and conclusions of this work along with some future line of research are presented in Section 5.

Section snippets

Problem statement

Consider a circular antenna array of $N$ antenna elements non-uniformly spaced on a circle of radius $a$ in the $x$ – $y$ plane. If the elements in the circular antenna array are taken to be isotropic sources, the radiation pattern of this array can be described by its array factor [9]. The array factor for the circular array in the $x$ – $y$ plane (Fig. 1) is given by [10] $AF (θ, I, dm) = \sum_{n = 1}^{N} I_{n} \exp (jka \cos (θ - φ_{n}) + α_{n}),$ where $ka = \sum_{i = 1}^{N} {dm}_{i},$ $φ_{n} = (2 π \sum_{i = 1}^{n} {dm}_{i})/ (\sum_{i = 1}^{N} {dm}_{i}),$ $α_{n} = - ka \cos (θ_{0} - φ_{n}) .$

$I = [I_{1}, I_{2}, \dots, I_{N}], I_{n}$ represents the excitation

The proposed algorithm

The main purpose of this study is to design a low side lobe radiation pattern for non-uniform circular antenna arrays with the constraint of a fixed beam width. For this purpose, we propose, to use a population-based stochastic procedure denominated genetic algorithm [11]. We chose this algorithm for its easiness of implementation. The procedure for used GA technique (Fig. 2) is described as follows.

The function generate initial population randomly and uniformly generates a set of individuals.

Experimental setup and results

The method described in the previous section was implemented to study the behavior of the radiation pattern for non-uniform circular antenna arrays. In this case, radiation patterns of the circular arrays with main lobe steered to $θ_{0} = 0$ degrees are considered. Several experiments were carried out with different number of antenna elements ( $N = 8, 10, 12$ ). In the experiments the algorithm parameters, after a trial and error procedure, were set as follows: maximum number of generations $rmax = 500$ ,

Conclusions

This paper illustrates how to model the design of non-uniform circular antenna arrays for maximal side lobe level reduction under the constraint of a fixed beam width. The well-known method of genetic algorithms is proposed as the solution for this problem design. The method of genetic algorithms efficiently computes the design of non-uniform circular antenna arrays to generate a radiation pattern with maximal side lobe level reduction with the constraint of a fixed beam width. Experimental

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the anonymous referees for their valuable comments. This work was supported by the PROMEP of the SEP in Mexico and the Mexican National Science and Technology Council, CONACyT.

Marco A. Panduro received the M.S. degree in Electronics of High Frequency and the Ph.D. degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from the CICESE Research Center in Ensenada, B.C., Mexico, in 2001 and 2004, respectively. He has been a Professor and Member of the Scientific Staff of the Electronics Communications Department at UAT Mexico since 2005. His current interests include antenna arrays, smart adaptive antennas, microwave devices and optimization via genetic algorithms.

References (11)

M.A. Panduro et al.
A multi-objective approach in the linear antenna array design
AEU Int J Electron Commun
(2005)
Y. Rahmat-Samii et al.
Electromagnetic optimization by genetic algorithms
(1999)
F.J. Ares-Pena et al.
Genetic algorithms in the design and optimization of antenna array patterns
IEEE Trans Antennas Propag
(1999)
M.G. Bray et al.
Optimization of thinned aperiodic linear phased arrays using genetic algorithms to reduce grating lobes during scanning
IEEE Trans Antennas Propag
(2002)
R. Haupt
Thinned arrays using genetic algorithms
IEEE Trans Antennas Propag
(1994)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (178)

Sideband power control in Time-Modulated antenna arrays for bidirectional harmonic beamforming and beam scanning
2023, AEU - International Journal of Electronics and Communications
Beamforming and beam scanning in a specific angular region for establishing a secure communication channel has become the dire need of modern wireless communication system. This paper aims to propose an unconventional yet cost effective solution for beamforming and scanning by controlling the inherent sideband patterns of time-modulated antenna arrays. First of all, beam scanning with different scan angles is targeted by proposing asymmetric sequential time schemes. To achieve that, the phase center of the array is unidirectionally shifted by controlling a cluster of array elements. The idea is to model suitable pulse-shifted time schemes so that a good scanning coverage can be achieved without affecting the shapes of the radiation beam patterns. In this way, simultaneous bidirectional sideband patterns can be controlled for beam scanning. Furthermore, beamforming with enhanced efficiency for single channel secure communication is also addressed in this work by reducing the sideband levels (SBLs) of the array. The same concept of shifting the phase center unidirectionally is used for reducing the SBL, but with a higher number of clusters of array elements. The mathematical validation behind the proposed idea is thoroughly discussed and the closed-form sideband power expression is derived after investigating all possible combinations of pulse-shifted time schemes. 16-element linear timed arrays have been chosen to investigate the proposed idea and the supportive outcomes are presented in detail with comparisons.
Development of a new method for pattern synthesizing of the concentric ring arrays with minimum number of rings
2022, AEU - International Journal of Electronics and Communications
Citation Excerpt :
But, a few methods are introduced about the concentric ring arrays. In [17,18], the evolutionary algorithms are employed to design of a non-uniform circular arrays with low side lobe levels. In [19], several algorithms are compared about the multi-object design of concentric ring arrays.
In this paper, a new method is proposed for pattern synthesizing of the concentric ring arrays with minimum number of rings. The method is established based on a hybrid combination of the conventional least square method and the Richardson technique. Using a sampling function, a system of linear equations is created. After that, using the QR factorization and Richardson techniques, the complex excitation coefficients of the array elements are obtained. Furthermore, it is shown that using a simple try and error process, the number of array rings can be reduced. To verify the accuracy and the advantages of the proposed technique, a few well-known patterns are investigated and the obtained results are compared.
Performance evaluation of Non-Uniform circular antenna array using integrated harmony search with Differential Evolution based Naked Mole Rat algorithm
2022, Expert Systems with Applications
In many wireless applications, circular antenna arrays are commonly used but managing the lower side lobe with high directivity is still challenging. Many typical methods could be used to synthesize the array in real time but lag behind to retain high directivity and the low sidelobe level. This study formulates an optimization problem to obtain the desired main lobe direction, suppress the subsidiary lobe, and maximizes the directivity. A modified optimization algorithm is proposed called Integrated Harmony Search with Differential Evolution based Naked Mole Rat Algorithm (IHDN) to rapidly and reliably refine control parameters. Simulations are performed, and results are compared to other traditional algorithms. The findings show that the proposed algorithm results in excellent side lobe minimization with good directivity. The size analysis indicates that good directivity values with low sidelobe levels can be obtained for a smaller number of antenna elements.
An efficient linear and elliptical antenna array design using sail fish optimization
2023, International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies
Chebyshev-based array for beam steering and null positioning using modified ant lion optimization
2022, International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies
On the optimal synthesis of sparsely thinned planar array antenna with constraints using meta-heuristic optimization
2024, International Journal of Communication Systems

View all citing articles on Scopus

Aldo L. Mendez obtained his B.S. in Engineering from the Universidad Veracruzana (1995), M.Sc. from CENIDET (1997) and his Ph.D. from the CICESE (2003) all them in Mexico. He has been member of the scientific staff of Electronics and Telecommunications department at UAT since 2004. His current research interests include MAC and scheduling modeling for mobile communications.

Rene Dominguez obtained his B.S. in Physics at Universidad Veracruzana (1995), his M.Sc. from INAOE (1998). In 2002 he obtained the Ph.D. at INAOE, all them in Mexico. He currently works in the Electronics Communications Department of UAT in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico and his research area is non-linear optics effects semiconductor materials, photorefractive materials, and communication systems.

Gerardo Romero received his B.S., M.Sc., and the Ph.D. degree in Automatic Control from the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, in 1990, 1993 and 1997, respectively. He has been Head of the Electronic Department of the UAM Reynosa Rodhe since 1999. His research interests are in robust stability of linear and nonlinear systems, control applications, and communication systems.

View full text

Design of non-uniform circular antenna arrays for side lobe reduction using the method of genetic algorithms

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Problem statement

The proposed algorithm

Experimental setup and results

Conclusions

Acknowledgements

AEU Int J Electron Commun

Electromagnetic optimization by genetic algorithms

Genetic algorithms in the design and optimization of antenna array patterns

IEEE Trans Antennas Propag

Optimization of thinned aperiodic linear phased arrays using genetic algorithms to reduce grating lobes during scanning

IEEE Trans Antennas Propag

Thinned arrays using genetic algorithms

IEEE Trans Antennas Propag