Optimization of an Adaptive Antenna Array Excitations Employing Genetic Algorithm

In an adaptive antenna array system, the most favourable solution to the problem of obtaining a certain null or maximum at a specific location may take a long processing time, such that the spatial situation could have been changed before the optimization process ends. In this work, an algorithm employing the schelkunoff nulling theory to achieve specific null or maximum at some desired directions is presented. The optimization of the array excitations is performed using genetic algorithm (GA) method to achieve null and maxima at the desired directions, the proposed technique holds for any adaptive array geometry. It is evidenced that the proposed technique based on reducing the number of array coefficients to be optimized reduces the processing time of the optimization process by about 92% without influencing other parameters such as the side-lobes level or the beam width.