Electronically reconfigurable transmitarrays antennas for SATCOM ground stations at Ka-band – ARTIKA

ARTIKA is an industrial research project (as defined by ANR) aiming at making major innovations in modelling, optimization and demonstration of ultra-flat electronically reconfigurable transmitarray (TA) antennas for SATCOM ground terminals and the Internet of Space (IoS) at Ka band. Considering the ambition and the objectives of the ARTIKA project, it is clear that it fits perfectly in the thematic frame no. 3: "Acoustic and radio waves".
A TA is typically composed of one or more focal sources illuminating a first antenna array operating in receive mode and connected, using phase-shift elements, to a second antenna array operating in transmission mode. P-i-n diodes, RF-MEMS switches, varactor diodes, ferroelectric varactors, liquid crystal, etc. can be integrated in the unit-cell in order to electronically control the unit-cell transmission phase, and thus reconfigure the antenna beam(s).
TAs are high-gain antenna systems realized using multilayer printed circuit technology, which leads to a cost-effective, robust, reliable and ultra-competitive solution for high-volume applications. Thanks to their spatial feeding technique, TAs (as reflectarrays as well) are extremely attractive compared to traditional phased arrays that suffer from large insertion loss in their lossy and bulky beam-forming network. TAs exhibit also a unique advantage compared to reflector antennas and reflectarrays: they can be integrated onto various platforms (buildings, vehicles, aircrafts, UAV, high speed trains, public transportation systems, etc.) since they do not suffer from any feed blockage effect (in contrast to reflectarrays), thus leading to smart skins systems.
The pioneering studies carried out by the CEA and the IETR since 2006 have enabled the demonstration of the potentialities of TAs in X-band, (8-12 GHz), Ka-band (26.5-40 GHz) and V-band (50-75 GHz), and E-band (60-90 GHz). Our expertise is currently at the forefront internationally in this field (with very clear leadership in Europe). In particular, several passive prototypes in linear and circular polarization (fixed beam and beam switching) and several reconfigurable TAs (X and Ka bands) of relatively large size (400 elements) have been demonstrated. These pionner developments are at the best level of the current state of the world level.
The main objective of ARTIKA is to develop and demonstrate an ultra-flat electrically reconfigurable TA operating in dual-band (Ka-band), dual-circular polarization and excited by a near-field focal system.The developed antenna will demonstrate – for the first time at the international level – low profile electronically steerable antennas for SATCOM at Ka band.
The ARTIKA project has five sub-projects (SP): project coordination, dissemination and valorization (SP 1); advanced tools for analysis and optimization of ultra-compact RTs (SP 2); passive and reconfigurable unit-cells with dual-band and dual-polarization (SP 3); near-field focal sources (WP 4); ARTIKA demonstrations (SP 5). The total effort is 84 persons.month over a total duration of 36 months.
The consortium gathers three partners (one research institute, one academic institution and one company): CEA LETI, IETR, Thales. both with a very strong and unique expertise on TAs. Indeed CEA LETI and IETR have been collaborating very closely on this topic since 2006 and are the authors of several patents and several journals and conferences papers on TAs.