Simple estimated beamformer design in symmetric ESPAR arrays

An exciting body of work regarding electronically steerable parasitic array radiator (ESPAR) antenna technology has been generated in recent years (E. Taillefer,et al). By utilizing mutual coupling as a benefit rather than a drawback ESPAR antennas move the spectrum of possible array structures a significant step closer to the widely-desired goal of a small, low-cost, and low-power electrically-steered enhanced-gain antenna. This paper is intended to contribute to the excellent body of existing knowledge by proposing a simplified ESPAR beamformer design technique. ESPAR design, based as it is on the complicated phenomenon of mutual coupling, is one of the more inefficient aspects of the current state of the technology. Simulations reveal surprisingly good results using the reduced-complexity beamforming technique, and future verification work is planned.