Design and Analysis of a 4×4 U-Slot Microstrip Patch Antenna Array for 6 GHz Drone Detection Applications

This paper presents the design and analysis of a 4×4 U-slot microstrip patch antenna array operating at 6 GHz for drone detection applications. The antenna is designed and simulated using ANSYS HFSS (High Frequency Structure Simulator) to achieve high gain, improved directivity, and efficient impedance matching required for radar-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) detection systems. The antenna is implemented on an FR4 epoxy substrate with a dielectric constant of 4.4 and a thickness of 1.6 mm. A U-slot is incorporated into each radiating element to enhance bandwidth and modify surface current distribution. A corporate feed network is employed to ensure equal power distribution across all elements, and excitation is provided using a lumped port. The antenna achieves a gain of 11.25 dB, directivity of 15.68 dB, return loss of −17.81 dB, and VSWR of 1.29 at 6 GHz. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed antenna is well-suited for directional radar-based drone detection systems operating in the C-band frequency range.