Hey guys,

I am currently doing a final year project in which i am attempting to design a phased-array data link between unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). I am currently doing a feasibility study on different antenna configurations and I am looking for some software that will allow me to do some simulations.

Specifically, i need simulation showing dB antenna radiation pattern for both linear and circular array configurations. Also, I am not very confident with this material and I also need to be able to calculate a projected range of transmission. I know the transciever power and sensitivity of both transmitter and reciever, so if anyone could point me in the right direction with regards to these two questions I would be very greatful

thanks

Michael Belperio

I assume your designing planar arrays? If so, I'd recommend trying out Zeland Software's method-of-moments EM simulator IE3D. The software will display current distributions, radiation patterns and give you the antenna properties. They allow one to get an evaluation copy of the software which is nice.

As far as your second question you simply need to reference the Friis Transmission equation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friis_Transmission_Equation. You said you already know the Pt, the nessecary Pr, and the wavelength, therefore once you've designed your arrays and determined their effective gains you will know the maximum range of the system.

hi,

you do not need a simulation package do perform such calculations and display radiation pattern information. any antenna theory book, such as balanis or stuzman, thiele will explain array theory.

you can then assume a particular element pattern type, such as cosine and develop your radiation patterns using the element pattern info and the array factor (which you will learn about in said books).

using matlab you can then write m-files which could allow you to adjust both the phase and amplitude distribution for your array. then of course you could plot all of this info.

what this wont help you with is impedance coupling issues and so forth. however you have not indicated that as part of your design process. so considering this is a final year project, this approach will give you a far better understand of phased & amplitude array theory.

i suggest this approach before diving into a simulation package.