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Conformal Antenna: Advantages and Disadvantages

antenna conformal rf wireless phased array

This page covers the advantages and disadvantages of conformal antennas, outlining their benefits and drawbacks.

What is a Conformal Antenna?

Introduction: A conformal antenna is designed to conform to a specific shape. It’s a type of phased array antenna.

Its mechanical design makes it suitable for mounting on curved surfaces. This makes it useful in a wide range of applications, including:

  • Aerospace designs
  • Wearable antennas
  • Mobile devices
  • Spacesuits

conformal array antenna

Here are some key features:

  • Gain: Controllable and dependent on the shape.
  • Angular coverage: Very wide, offering hemispherical coverage.
  • RCS (Radar Cross Section): Lower compared to planar antenna types.
  • Installation: Structurally integrated, saves space, and reduces drag.
  • Radome: No conventional radome needed, eliminating bore sight error.

Advantages of Conformal Antennas

The following are the benefits of using a conformal antenna:

  • Increased Field of View (FOV) compared to traditional antennas, offering coverage beyond the typical +/- 60 degrees.

Disadvantages of Conformal Antennas

Here are the drawbacks of using a conformal antenna:

  • Complex design.
  • The substrate surface changes over time during operation.
  • When the antenna surface is planar, it behaves normally. However, in non-planar orientations, the radiation pattern can become distorted.