Over-the-Horizon communications systems for Uavs based on intelligent antennas

摘要

Nowadays, the communication links limit theudautonomy of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). In this paper, a multichannel long-range communication link for UAVs with high quality of service, moderate bandwidth and affordable cost is proposed. This link is deployed by using a second UAV as a communications relay and it provides bidirectional coverage for telemetry and telecommand and a high-capacity downlink for video. Our highly compact system can be installed on mediumsizedudUAVs for air-air links in order to offer greater flightudautonomy. This system is based on an active circular array of linearly polarized circular patch antennas which are selectively activated depending on the desired direction of the beam.