3D antenna array optimization using firefly algorithm

Abstract

The design of antenna arrays in a cubic geometry is presented in this project. The decision variables considered for this synthesis problem is the amplitude excitations. The synthesis process is carried out by the technique of a new type of nature-inspired global optimization methodology in the design of an optimized cubic antenna array which ensures minimum side lobes and high directivity, this new optimization method is based on the reaction of a firefly to the light of other fireflies and it is known as Firefly Algorithm (FA) a population based iterative heuristic global optimization algorithm technique, developed by Xin-She Yang, for multi-dimensional and multi-modal problems, with the potential to implement constraints on the search domain. Simulation results, detailed by using an antenna array with isotropic elements and with cubic antenna optimized by Firefly algorithm, show that side lobe level is reduced significantly in non-uniform case. Besides, the directivity is not worse than that of the uniform one.