Horn integrated 3-D printed four-port MIMO DRA for CubeSats

Arvind Kumar; Pramod Kumar; Utkarsh Karnwal

doi:10.1515/freq-2024-0141

Article

Horn integrated 3-D printed four-port MIMO DRA for CubeSats

Arvind Kumar , Pramod Kumar and Utkarsh Karnwal

Published/Copyright: April 28, 2025

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From the journal Frequenz Volume 79 Issue 7-8

Abstract

This article explores 3D-printed horn-integrated MIMO Dielectric Resonator Antennas (DRAs) designed specifically for CubeSats. Traditional manufacturing methods struggle to create complex and customized DRAs. However, 3D printing offers a revolutionary approach, enabling the development of intricate, optimized DRA configurations even in miniaturized sizes. Notably, the 3D printing material utilized in this design is Polylactic Acid (PLA), a biodegradable material that contributes to reducing electronic waste (e-waste) in space. The proposed design boasts an impressive bandwidth exceeding 6 GHz (11.42 GHz–17.52 GHz) with an |S₁₁| below −10 dB. It achieves a maximum gain of 12.4 dBi and a maximum directivity of 15.4 dBi. Furthermore, the Envelope Correlation Coefficient (ECC) remains remarkably low, at less than 0.06. These attributes make this MIMO antenna ideal for advanced communication systems and MIMO-enabled applications, particularly within the realm of CubeSat technology.

Keywords: horn antenna; DRA (dielectric resonator antenna); CubeSat; MIMO (multiple input multiple output)

Corresponding author: Pramod Kumar, Principal Scientist, Head (Microwave & Plasma Group), SP3 Technologies LLP, GIDC, Sachin, Surat, Gujrat, India, E-mail: er.pramodkumar@gmail.com

Research ethics: Not applicable.
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study, or their legal guardians or wards.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.

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Received: 2024-05-06

Accepted: 2025-03-31

Published Online: 2025-04-28

Published in Print: 2025-08-26

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/freq-2024-0141

Keywords for this article

horn antenna; DRA (dielectric resonator antenna); CubeSat; MIMO (multiple input multiple output)