Antenna systems based on antenna arrays: the current trends of use and lines of development

Antenna arrays are systems that consist of a large number of antenna elements to shape, steer, and direct the beam without any physical motion of the antenna. Their basic concept is to use a group of separate antennas, each element of which can change the phase or amplitude of the radiated signal. This makes it possible to direct radiation and control the angle of the main lobe of the antenna system's radiation pattern. The use of antenna arrays is widespread in many areas, such as military radars, satellite communications, security systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), and mobile communications. The goal of this work is to analyze the possibilities of using antenna systems based on antenna arrays and estimate the current trends and lines of their development. The article considers various types and methods of antenna array control, compares their efficiency and suitability for use in various areas, including unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems. Attention is paid to the types of antenna arrays, such as linear and planar phased arrays, and to scanning methods - from digital methods to analog approaches. The article also compares phase and amplitude control methods, which include mechanical, digital, and adaptive control of antenna arrays. These methods offer high-accuracy scanning without any physical motion of the antenna. The effect of these methods on the power consumption, signal speed, and control accuracy is taken into account. The novelty and contribution of this article lie in an in-depth comparison of different types of antenna arrays and methods to control them with emphasis on their application in a dynamic environment typical of UAVs. New solutions are proposed for optimizing antenna array designs, which may be used in future unmanned aerial vehicle systems to improve the communication quality, increase the positioning accuracy, and reduce the response time in rapidly changing circumstances.