Design and Analysis of Multiband Microstrip Patch Antenna for UAV wireless Power Transfer and Communication

This paper successfully demonstrated the design, optimization, and hardware realization of a compact, low-profile, tri-band microstrip patch antenna engineered for modern Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms. By utilizing a slot-loaded patch architecture on an FR4 dielectric substrate, the design overcomes the single-resonance limitations of conventional patches to enable concurrent operation across 2.4 GHz, 3.5 GHz, and 5.8 GHz within a single, lightweight radiating element. Full-wave electromagnetic simulations conducted in CST Microwave Studio established a solid baseline with strong impedance matching (S11 < -10 dB). Subsequent fabrication and hardware testing using a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) validated the physical feasibility of the design, yielding prominent measured resonances at 2.31 GHz, 3.65 GHz, and 6.09 GHz. Minor deviations between the numerical models and the experimental prototype are reasonably attributed to practical fabrication tolerances, SMA connector soldering effects, and slight variations in the substrate's dielectric constant. Ultimately, this single-element, multi-band configuration minimizes the aerodynamic drag and structural footprint on the aircraft fuselage that would otherwise be caused by mounting multiple single-band antennas. By effectively accommodating both localized RF wireless power transfer (WPT) and high-throughput communication data links simultaneously, the proposed antenna front-end serves as a highly integrated, self-sustaining solution for next-generation drone infrastructures and long-endurance aerial operations. Future work will focus on characterizing the absolute far-field radiation patterns in an anechoic chamber, integrating the prototype into a complete rectenna network to evaluate RF-to-DC conversion efficiencies, and exploring advanced aerodynamic optimization techniques to further enhance platform stability without degrading electromagnetic performance.  

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