An automotive concept for vehicular communications is proposed that utilizes the potential of the roof area for antennas. Antennas are distributed in cavities and on shelves in the center and on the front and rear roof ends. The arrangement of antennas on the roof allows better radiation to the front and back of automobiles than shark-fins and single cavities. Combining several modules provides space for further antennas, sensors, and integrated front-ends, as well as better spatial separation for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) arrays beyond 5G, and cooperative connected and automated driving. A prototype was developed and built into a car chassis. The measured data were analyzed and evaluated in the view of coverage for vulnerable road users and on correlation for the MIMO.
A carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate, with the top layer consisting of shredded fibers, is proposed and manufactured. The shredded fibers are aligned randomly on the surface to achieve a more isotropic conductivity, as is desired in antenna applications. Moreover, fiber shreds can be recycled from carbon fiber composites. Conductivity, permittivity, and permeability are obtained with the Nicolson-Ross-Weir method from material samples measured inside rectangular waveguides in the frequency range of 4 to 6 GHz. The decrease in material anisotropy results in negligible influence on antennas. This is shown by measuring the proposed CFRP as ground plane material for both a narrowband wire monopole antenna for 5.9 GHz and an ultrawideband conical monopole antenna for 1-10 GHz. For comparison, all measurements are repeated with a twill-weave CFRP.
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