Progress in Compact Multifunction Automotive Antennas

This paper reviews advances in vehicle mounted antennas developed into a long term R&D program in collaboration between the ASK Industries Group and the Microwave and Antenna Laboratory (LAM) of the University of Florence. Today an ever-increasing number of radio services have become available, therefore multifunction, multiband antenna systems are required. Examples are made of recently developed wideband, multi-band and multi-function automotive passive and active antenna systems for roof and internal mounting, designed to satisfy various attendant features such as compactness, radiation efficiency, robustness, aesthetic and aerodynamic profile and a low mass-production cost, that after all represents the most stringent requirement.