Semantic-driven grid-enabled computer-aided engineering of aperture-antenna arrays

In this paper, we propose a novel architecture for computer-aided engineering (CAE) of rectangular aperture arrays that takes advantage of semantic grid computing technologies. This allows the implementation of the CAE environment in a service-oriented framework, where CAE applications are built up at run time, by exploiting remote services through the grid. The identification and localization of remote services and their orchestration is simplified by semantic facilities, centered around a CAE ontology. This provides a structured, conceptual representation of hardware and software resources, including CAE services, which is understandable both by humans and software agents. The implemented prototype demonstrates how semantic grids satisfy the strong need for cooperation tools in the CAE of microwave circuits and antennas, and represents an effective pathway towards the automatic generation of design tools, attained by integrating electromagnetic software available through the Web.