An optimal linear and elliptical antenna array design using black widow optimisation for 5G communication

Abstract

SummaryThis research illustrates a precise linear and elliptical antenna array design for synthesising the optimal far‐field radiation pattern in the fifth‐generation (5G) communication spectrum using a meta‐heuristic optimisation technique known as black widow optimisation (BWO). 5G communication is an emerging technology with revolutionary changes in the wireless communication system with ultra‐high data rate, enhanced capacity, low latency and good quality of service. An accurate antenna array design for an ideal far‐field radiation pattern synthesis with a suppressed side lobe level (SLL) value and half power beam width (HPBW) is the most crucial aspect of 5G communications. A suppressed SLL is necessary to reduce interference in the entire side lobe region, whereas a low HPBW is required for long‐distance communication. Here, the BWO is employed to find the optimal feeding current to each array element to lower the SLL and the HPBW value. The BWO algorithm sustains impeccable equity between the exploration and exploitation stages to impact different potential regions of the search space and generate new solutions to attain the global optima by evading the trap of local optima. The design examples of the linear antenna array (LAA) and elliptical antenna array (EAA) are illustrated in this article by applying the optimal feeding currents to each array element. Compared to the uniform antenna array and methodologies described in the recently published literature, the results obtained utilising the BWO algorithm for designing the LAAs and EAAs demonstrate a substantial development in the reduction of SLL and HPBW.