Antenna Designs for CubeSats: A Review

Abulgasem, Suhila; Tubbal, Faisel; Raad, Raad; Theoharis, Panagiotis Ioannis; Lu, Sining; Iranmanesh, Saeid

doi:10.1109/access.2021.3066632

Cited by 83 publications

(48 citation statements)

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“…Microstrip patch antennas have been extensively and widely applied in a plethora of wireless communications systems due to their comparative advantages [6]. Among all, these include low-cost prototyping, low design profiling, versatility, compatibility with integrated circuit technology, and easiness in fabrication [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Swarm Intelligence Algorithms and Their Applications in Antenna Design: The GWO, WOA, and SSA Optimizers

et al. 2021

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Swarm Intelligence (SI) Algorithms imitate the collective behavior of various swarms or groups in nature. In this work, three representative examples of SI algorithms have been selected and thoroughly described, namely the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), and the Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA). Firstly, the selected SI algorithms are reviewed in the literature, specifically for optimization problems in antenna design. Secondly, a comparative study is performed against widely known test functions. Thirdly, such SI algorithms are applied to the synthesis of linear antenna arrays for optimizing the peak sidelobe level (pSLL). Numerical tests show that the WOA outperforms the GWO and the SSA algorithms, as well as the well-known Particle Swarm Optimizer (PSO), in terms of average ranking. Finally, the WOA is exploited for solving a more computational complex problem concerned with the synthesis of an dual-band aperture-coupled E-shaped antenna operating in the 5G frequency bands.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Swarm Intelligence Algorithms and Their Applications in Antenna Design: The GWO, WOA, and SSA Optimizers

et al. 2021

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“…CubeSats are typically built by several blocks of dimensions 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm and a maximum weight of 1.33 kg, called 1U (unit volume for CubeSats). Due to the small size of the CubeSat, there is a limited volume in the spacecraft to accommodate the antenna systems required for remote sensing applications and data transmission links [3][4]. The establishment of a high-data rate communication link between the Cubesat and the Earth (or another satellite) usually requires a high-gain antenna, which must be lightweight and present low stowage volume [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Efficiency Polarizer Reflectarray Antennas for Data Transmission Links from a CubeSat

Martinez‐de‐Rioja¹,

Martinez‐de‐Rioja²,

López-Sáez³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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This paper presents two designs of high-efficiency polarizer reflectarray antennas able to generate a collimated beam in dual-circular polarization using a linearly polarized feed, with application to high-gain antennas for data transmission links from a Cubesat. First, an 18 cm x 18 cm polarizer reflectarray operating in the 17.2 - 22.7 GHz band has been designed, fabricated and tested. The measurements of the prototype show an aperture efficiency of 52.7% for right-handed circular polarization (RHCP) and 57.3% for left-handed circular polarization (LHCP), both values higher than those previously reported in related works. Then, a dual-band polarizer reflectarray is presented for the first time, which operates in dual-CP in the frequency bands of 20 and 30 GHz. The proposed antenna technology enables a reduction of the complexity and cost of the feed chain to operate in dual-CP, as a linear-to-circular polarizer is no longer required. This property, combined with the lightweight, flat profile and low fabrication cost of printed reflectarrays, makes the proposed antennas good candidates for Cubesat applications.

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“…last years, the interest in CubeSat has expanded: Low Earth Orbit (LEO), higher orbits for Earth Science Missions (ESM), or deep space communications are applications increasingly studied [6], [7]. In this framework, new and effective communication systems are needed.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this framework, new and effective communication systems are needed. As a result, the trend in CubeSat antenna is to move from the S-band (2.45 GHz) to the X-band (8-8.4 GHz) and Ka-band (27.5-34 GHz for down-and uplink) [6], [8]. Ka-band antennas are at an earlystage technology, but some devices are under development, such as the 1 kg horn-based systems Landmapper, with 300 Mbps downlink transmitter (Astro Digital) [9].…”

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confidence: 99%

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Optimized Design and Multiphysics Analysis of a Ka-Band Stacked Antenna for CubeSat Applications

Simone

Lodi

Curreli

et al. 2021

IEEE J. Multiscale Multiphys. Comput. Tech.

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Nowadays, the use of CubeSats for telecommuni-1 cations and interplanetary missions is ever-increasing, thanks 2 to their appealing low-cost character, as well as the space 3 environment, which poses challenging multiphysics constraints 4 on the antenna design. In this framework, the use of Ka-band 5 for communication is explored. We present the design of a 6 stacked patch antenna working across the down-and uplink 7 Ka-bands. Materials and geometry of the radiator have been 8 selected by accounting for the trade-off between electromagnetic, 9 thermal and mechanical requirements. The design of the antenna 10 is performed with a particle swarm optimization algorithm 11 developed to control the bandwidth and matching. A bandwidth of 5.53@33.185 GHz has been obtained, with a gain around 8 13 dB. Furthermore, a multiphysics thermal analysis is performed 14 to verify the operational stability of the optimized array, mounted 15 on a 1U satellite, in a case-study mission. The temperature 16 patterns in the array are evaluated during the orbital period, 17 and the influence of the operative temperature on the antenna 18 responses and gain was considered. We found that the thermal 19 loads can affect the antenna matching. However, thanks to the optimized design, the proposed stacked antenna can operate from 21 -100 • C to 100 • C, with an almost constant gain. Finally, following 22 a damage-tolerant approach, the level of mechanical deformation, 23 which could be induced on the communication system, was 24 studied. The stress analysis reveals that the stacked geometry 25 can be used in a space mission. From the investigation of the 26 strain and displacement field, we found a negligible impact on 27 the antenna performances. 28 Index Terms-CubeSat, multiphysics, Particle Swarm Opti-29 mization, stacked antenna, thermal stresses, Ka-band 30 I. INTRODUCTION 31 CubeSats are low-cost, cube-shaped (10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm) 32 nano-satellites (1-10 kg) used for remote sensing, telecommu-33 nications, deep-space communication and interplanetary mis-34 sions [1]-[6]. Despite being firstly conceived for educational 35 purposes, the cost-effective features of CubeSats lead to the 36 wide adoption of these spacecraft systems [1], [2], [4]. In the

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Antenna Designs for CubeSats: A Review

Cited by 83 publications

References 85 publications

Emerging Swarm Intelligence Algorithms and Their Applications in Antenna Design: The GWO, WOA, and SSA Optimizers

Emerging Swarm Intelligence Algorithms and Their Applications in Antenna Design: The GWO, WOA, and SSA Optimizers

High-Efficiency Polarizer Reflectarray Antennas for Data Transmission Links from a CubeSat

Optimized Design and Multiphysics Analysis of a Ka-Band Stacked Antenna for CubeSat Applications

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