Remi Sarkis

ICAR project (2011-2012 )

• Description:Intelligent Control of Adversary Radio communications ICAR , is a project for the European Defense Agency. This project shall enhance the participant's abilities of interception and control of radio communication in an urban environment in European Union terrain. It should augment the capabilities of detection, localization, control, interception, and blocking of radio communication (from KF range transmitters to satellite telephone terminals) by the enemy; that is terrorist groups, criminal organizations, and minimal dangers connected with IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) detonated by radio. The system activity shall have minimal or imperceptible impact on the present telecommunication infrastructure and services by it rendered. The project will end up in demonstration of its elements and display of its capabilities.

• ICAR Antenna Tasks:

• Design and manufacturing of circular array of five wideband antennas on a circular ground plane of radius 105 cm. Each antenna should cover the frequency band from 100 to 500 MHz.

• Design and manufacturing of circular array of five wideband antennas on a circular ground plane of radius 60 cm. Each antenna should cover the frequency band from 1 to 3 GHz.

• My contribution to ICAR: I proposed an egg shaped antenna for the circular array working from 1 to 3 GHz. I studied the single antenna by numerical simulation using the commercial software CST. After optimization of the single element, I studied the antenna array behaviour and the effect of mutual coupling. Then I collaborated with the mechanical laboratory for the manufacturing. Finally I measured the S-parameters of this array in the anechoic chamber using 4-port Vector Network Analyser PNA-X. Very good agreement is obtained between the measurement and the numerical simulations. Demonstrations of this project are scheduled in July 2012.

Wideband 'Egg' monopole antenna.

Cicular array of 6 'Egg' antennas.

ICAR Antenna Array mounted on a vehicule.