Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) rely heavily on a suite of perception sensors such as cameras and LIDAR for accurate and robust on-road decision making. However, these sensors have a limitation of line-of-sight (LOS), which can significantly restrict their effectiveness. To overcome this limitation, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) networks are being developed to wirelessly receive non-line-of-sight (nLOS) data from surrounding sources such as roadside units (RSUs). By leveraging nLOS data, V2X networks can significantly enhance the situational awareness of CAVs, improving traffic efficiency and road safety. In this paper, we present selected use-cases of V2X networks such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle platooning and cooperative perception using a beamsteering antenna that offers a wide bandwidth and fast beamsteering.

In this paper, a novel miniaturized symmetrical hexagonal shaped substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) cavitybacked antenna with 3D dielectric lens loading is presented. The compact antenna achieves high gain, high isolation and wideband with a miniaturized layout. The proposed antenna has a 10-dB bandwidth of 27.9 to 29 GHz and was achieved using a pair of parallel slots on top of the SIW cavity. The proposed miniaturized design offers a simulated gain of 6.5 dBi which was then enhanced to 18.5 dBi at 28.4 GHz with the integration of a 3D-printed dielectric homogeneous lens. The cavity backed lens antenna is used to realize a 4×4 multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna structure. The 4×4 MIMO SIW lens antenna has isolation below-30 dB (between the four antenna elements) throughout the frequency band of operation. The measured results are in good agreement with Ansys HFSS simulations. The stable antenna performance makes it suitable for applications in satellite, radar imaging, and point to multi-point wireless communications.

This is a review article discussing the latest developments in beam-steering antennas at millimeter-wave frequencies for Beyond-5G and 6G networks. This article classifies all the beam-steering techniques described in the literature in four categories, namely, phased arrays, quasi-optical systems, leaky-wave antennas, and metasurfaces. An overview of the four classifications is presented with a detailed comparison outlining the state-of-the-art and limitations of different technologies.

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) are an array of meta-atoms individually controlled using active components such as p-in diodes to manipulate the reflected or transmitted electromagnetic waves. Such active components are vulnerable to high voltage spikes and environmental factors, and hence the overall RIS performance can be degraded as these individual active components break or become damaged. RISs are an important development in beyond-5G networks, and this paper quantifies the performance degradation of such systems. Here, we use a reflection-type 15 × 15 RIS at 15 GHz and describes the degradation in its performance in terms of realized gain, beam direction and side lobe levels with emulated p-in diodes being damaged. Using simulations and measurements, we conducted two experiments: (i) where the damage occurred randomly, and (ii) where there was concentrated local damage. A drop of approximately 4 dB in gain and a change of 7.7 dB in sidelobe levels (SLL) has been reported when up to 25% of the p-in diodes were randomly not functioning. The beam pointing angle is found to have minimal impact with random distribution of damage showing a shift of ±2°. The effect was more significant when there was concentrated local damage where up to 10° of shift in the beam angles was observed.

This paper presents the design of a holographic metasurface-based beamforming antenna. The metasurface, built on the holographic principle, showcases its transformative ability by converting an omnidirectional monopole into a highly directional antenna. Here, we present a holographic metasurface antenna designed on top of a novel 3D-printed substrate to maintain light weight and achieve conformality. It is meticulously tailored for optimal performance at 15 GHz with precise beam at 60° while converting the omnidirectional pattern of the monopole to directional antenna offering gain of 13 dBi using a holographic metasurface. The results of the holographic metasurface antenna are verified with cylindrical bending confirming its flexibility.

Inductive loop detectors (ILD) systems have been employed on motorways to effectively monitor road traffic, providing insights for data-driven strategies for smart cities. However, traditional ILDs encounter several challenges, such as complex integration with other technologies, high installation costs, and demanding maintenance processes. To address these issues and create future-proof flexible traffic monitoring systems with high accuracy of current solutions, significant advancements in standard ILDs are crucial. This paper presents a new leaky-wave antenna on-road sensor, showcasing its efficient, and reliable monitoring and data collection which includes vehicle count, average speed, and lane changes. It utilises frequency-dependent beam scanning capabilities to explore multiple directions on the road without any physical movement. By intercepting electromagnetic waves emitted by vehicles from different angles, the proposed system efficiently processes this information to gain valuable insights into traffic behaviour and patterns. Initial experimentation in a simulated environment has validated the proposed solution, highlighting its robustness and accuracy, outperforming existing alternatives. The antenna-based sensor exhibits an efficiency surpassing 99% in simulations even in challenging simulations with random noise figures and effectively captures 98% of lane changes. Additionally, the system provides real-time insights into road conditions with minimal operational and capital expenses compared to previous approaches. This innovation will make a valuable contribution to the progress of smart cities and the successful deployment of CAVs. By leveraging the potential of electromagnetics, this research aims to enhance efficient traffic data collection, ultimately fostering safer and more efficient transportation systems.

Aiming for seamless satellite communications on the move (SOTM) between vehicles and new low-earth orbit satellite constellations, this paper presents a low-power beam-steering antenna system with a novel beam handover algorithm. The proposed antenna uses a 3D-printed Luneburg lens designed with a planar focal surface. The lens is illuminated with a hexagonal array of circularly polarized elliptical patch antennas operating at 11.7 to 12.7 GHz and fed with a novel cascaded beamformer network to achieve a gain of 21.5 (± 0.5) dBi with a total efficiency > 75% and side lobe levels below 15 dB. A highly efficient and novel handover algorithm has been developed to achieve a fast beam-steer of ±55⁰ in both azimuth and elevation planes. The proposed handover procedure has been demonstrated within an anechoic chamber. This paper has applications in ensuring a smooth beam-steer while maintaining uninterrupted connectivity between fast-moving satellites and vehicles on the road using the proposed antenna.