3D Antenna Array Design using Firefly Optimization Algorithm

Abstract

The design of antenna arrays in a 3D geometry is presented in this Chapter. The decision variables considered for this synthesis problem are the array element amplitude excitations. The objective is to design an array which ensures minimum sidelobe level and a high directivity. The synthesis process is carried out using a nature-inspired global optimization technique. The optimization method based on the reaction of a firefly to the light of other fireflies is known as Firefly Algorithm (FA). It is a population-based iterative heuristic global optimization algorithm technique, developed by Xin-She Yang, for multi-dimensional and multi-modal problems. Simulation results for an antenna array with isotropic elements show that side lobe level is significantly reduced in non-uniform case. Besides, the directivity is not worse than that of the uniform one.