Design and Performance Evaluation of Unconventional Structured Microstrip Antennas for Satellite Navigation

Abstract

Navigation has evolved from ancient methods relying on natural features to modern satellite navigation driven by precision and technology. Satellite navigation, like the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), offers global positioning, navigation, and timing services across different frequency bands (L1, L2, and L5), enhancing accuracy and integrity. Various GNSS systems and augmentation technologies such as SBAS (Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems) are available worldwide, with each system having its unique capabilities and purposes. GAGAN (India s homegrown SBAS) is a strategic asset for India, reducing its dependence on foreign navigation systems and enhancing its prestige and technological capabilities. Developing lowprofile, compact, and efficient microstrip patch antennas for GNSS, particularly for GAGAN, is a critical area for further research due to the current antennas size limitations. Additionally, the limited literature on dual-band GNSS antennas that operate efficiently with a single input necessitates the exploration of novel designs, such as stacked patch antennas, coupled resonator antennas, microstrip antennas with slots, or stubs, to enhance the practical applications of GNSS antennas. The objective of this research is to design and develop compact microstrip patch antennas for GNSS applications with circular polarization (CP) by incorporating combinatorial configurations such as perturbations, truncations, and slots to achieve high performance without compromising the antenna specifications. The study includes the design and analysis of several unconventional dual-band CP patch antennas, including annular and square ring patch antennas with perturbations, as well as a multilayered dual-band pentagon ring patch antenna with truncation. The research also focuses on achieving CP with omnidirectional radiation characteristics using a single feed, as well as enhancing the antenna s gain performance without increasing its size by incorporating combinatorial structures such as slots ...