Design of a FLAP antenna for in-flight satellite communication

Abstract

Modern satellite demands wide band communication channels for static and dynamic mobile terminals. For mobile terminal like airplane to satellite communications, conformal electronically scanned phased array FLAPS will be preferred over parabolic reflector antenna for efficient satellite tracking and to minimize life cycle cost, size, weight, aerodynamic drag and limited wind resistance. Flat parabolic surface (FLAPS) has a good geometrically flat surface and behaves electromagnetically as tough as it were a parabolic reflector. Although flat, it converts a quasi-spherical wave from the feed into a focused beam, similar to that of a parabolic dish. The FLAPS consists of an array of dipole scatterers. FLAP antenna has significant power transfer efficiency and can be able to beam a large amount of energy. In this work a FLAP antenna has been designed to operate in X-band and the various parameters are studied showing the antenna ability for in-flight communication system.