Validation of a Smart Antenna Prototype: Model and Experiments

In this paper, the architecture of a smart antenna prototype is described and its functionality assessed. The system prototype is composed by an 8-elements linear array of dipoles with a finite reflecting plane and the adaptive behavior is obtained modifying a set of array weights with electronically-driven vector modulators. In order to real-time react to complex interference scenarios, the system is controlled by a software control module based on a Particle Swarm Optimizer. To demonstrate the feasibility and the effectiveness of the proposed implementation, a set of representative results concerned with realistic interference scenarios is reported and discussed.