A radar system for interacting with navigation targets is provided. The radar system is configured to interact with navigation targets (target devices) that shift the phase of a received radar transmission to generate a phase shifted response signal. Phase shifters (e.g., silicon germanium phase shifters) are designed to assign specific frequency responses from one or more navigation modules to identify target locations. The radar module transmits at a modulated signal at first frequency, each navigation target receives the radar transmission, phase shifts the signal and returns the phase shifted signal. Where two or more navigation targets are used, each will apply a different phase shift to the received radar transmission, wherein the frequency identifies the navigation target devices. In a radar system, the modulated transmission signal is compared to the returned phase shifted signal to determine a frequency difference between the two signals.

In examples, systems and methods for a radiating system of an aircraft are described. The aircraft system includes a conformal antenna array having a flexible substrate configured to conform to a curvature of a portion of an aircraft. Additionally, the conformal array has a plurality of antenna elements coupled to a first surface of the flexible substrate, where the plurality of antennas are formed in an array. The aircraft system further includes radio front-end hardware configured to communicate signals to and from the plurality of antenna elements. Moreover, the aircraft system includes a radar processing system coupled to the radio front-end hardware. Yet further, the aircraft system includes a renewable energy source configured to power the radar processing system and the radio front-end hardware.

In examples, systems and methods for a radiating system of an aircraft are described. The aircraft system includes a conformal antenna array having a flexible substrate configured to conform to a curvature of a portion of an aircraft. Additionally, the conformal array has a plurality of antenna elements coupled to a first surface of the flexible substrate, where the plurality of antennas are formed in an array. The aircraft system further includes radio front-end hardware configured to communicate signals to and from the plurality of antenna elements. Moreover, the aircraft system includes a radar processing system coupled to the radio front-end hardware. Yet further, the aircraft system includes a renewable energy source configured to power the radar processing system and the radio front-end hardware.

The disclosed structures and methods are directed to transmission and reception of a radio-frequency (RF) wave. An antenna comprises a stack-up structure having a first control layer, a second control layer, a first and a second parallel-plate waveguides, and a plurality of through vias. The antenna further comprises a first central port and a second central port being configured to radiate RF wave into the two parallel-plate waveguides independently; vertical-polarization peripheral radiating elements integrated with the first control layer and configured to radiate RF wave in vertical polarization; and horizontal-polarization peripheral radiating elements integrated with the second control layer and configured to radiate RF wave in horizontal polarization. A central port for transmission of RF wave into the stack-up structure of the antenna is also provided. Each vertical-polarization peripheral radiating element is collocated with one of the horizontal-polarization peripheral radiating element such that they cross each other, and that a RF wave radiation beam may be steered at an angle of 0 to 360 degrees in the plane of the stack-up structure, around the central port

The disclosed structures and methods are directed to transmission and reception of a radio-frequency (RF) wave. An antenna comprises a stack-up structure having a first control layer, a second control layer, a first and a second parallel-plate waveguides, and a plurality of through vias. The antenna further comprises a first central port and a second central port being configured to radiate RF wave into the two parallel-plate waveguides independently; vertical-polarization peripheral radiating elements integrated with the first control layer and configured to radiate RF wave in vertical polarization; and horizontal-polarization peripheral radiating elements integrated with the second control layer and configured to radiate RF wave in horizontal polarization. A central port for transmission of RF wave into the stack-up structure of the antenna is also provided. Each vertical-polarization peripheral radiating element is collocated with one of the horizontal-polarization peripheral radiating element such that they cross each other, and that a RF wave radiation beam may be steered at an angle of 0 to 360 degrees in the plane of the stack-up structure, around the central port

A tunable, optical metasurface can include an optically reflective surface to reflect optical radiation, such as infrared laser light. An array of optical resonant antennas may, for example, extend from or otherwise be positioned on the reflective surface with sub-wavelength spacings of, for example, less than one-half of a wavelength. Voltage-controlled liquid crystal may be positioned in the optical field region of each of the optical resonant antennas. A controller may apply a voltage differential bias pattern to the liquid crystal of optical resonant antennas, that may be arranged in tiled, interleaved, or randomly arranged subsets of optical resonant antennas to attain one-dimensional beam steering, two-dimensional beam steering, and/or spatial beam shaping.

A tunable, optical metasurface can include an optically reflective surface to reflect optical radiation, such as infrared laser light. An array of optical resonant antennas may, for example, extend from or otherwise be positioned on the reflective surface with sub-wavelength spacings of, for example, less than one-half of a wavelength. Voltage-controlled liquid crystal may be positioned in the optical field region of each of the optical resonant antennas. A controller may apply a voltage differential bias pattern to the liquid crystal of optical resonant antennas, that may be arranged in tiled, interleaved, or randomly arranged subsets of optical resonant antennas to attain one-dimensional beam steering, two-dimensional beam steering, and/or spatial beam shaping.

Methods and devices for integrating antennas fabricated using planar laminate processes. The method includes laminating one or more conductive layers to a first dielectric material layer, forming one or more holes through at least the first dielectric material layer, forming a monopole antenna through at least a first of the holes, attaching one or more integrated circuit dies to one of the conductive layer, and connecting the integrated circuit dies to the monopole antenna. The device can include a planar laminate integrated circuit module including one or more dielectric material layers, one or more integrated circuit die on a surface of or attached to the planar laminate integrated circuit module, and an integrated monopole antenna interfaced with the integrated circuit dies. The integrated monopole antenna is formed in a through hole of the planar laminate integrated circuit module, the through hole being formed through at least one of the dielectric material layers.

Methods and devices for integrating antennas fabricated using planar laminate processes. The method includes laminating one or more conductive layers to a first dielectric material layer, forming one or more holes through at least the first dielectric material layer, forming a monopole antenna through at least a first of the holes, attaching one or more integrated circuit dies to one of the conductive layer, and connecting the integrated circuit dies to the monopole antenna. The device can include a planar laminate integrated circuit module including one or more dielectric material layers, one or more integrated circuit die on a surface of or attached to the planar laminate integrated circuit module, and an integrated monopole antenna interfaced with the integrated circuit dies. The integrated monopole antenna is formed in a through hole of the planar laminate integrated circuit module, the through hole being formed through at least one of the dielectric material layers.

Antenna array and phased array system including a first and second antenna group, wherein the first antenna group includes two or more first antennas, and the second antenna group includes two or more second antennas, where in a first plane the one or more first and second antennas point in the same direction, and in a second plane, perpendicular to the first plane the one or more first antennas of the first antenna group are squinted by orientation away from the one or more second antennas of the second antenna group.