Antenna Array Failure Correction [Antenna Applications Corner]

Because the possibility of array element failure during operation cannot be ruled out [1], selfrecoverable antenna array systems have recently been receiving considerable attention in modern radar technology. Thus, an approach to maintaining the radiation properties of the array by resynthesizing the excitations of the functioning elements is preferable to replacing failed elements. This article describes the implementation of two optimization algorithms to find a suitable solution for optimal beam pattern. The algorithms, based on metaheuristics, are called particle swarm optimization (PSO) and bacteria foraging optimization (BFO). Of these two techniques, BFO is relatively new to the antenna community. We compare the performance of both algorithms in terms of their ability to suppress the sidelobe level (SLL) and null steering in failed antenna arrays to achieve a graceful degradation in the radiation pattern.