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Smart Antennas and Systems for 5G and Beyond: Latest Advances and Prospects

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A special issue of Electronics (ISSN 2079-9292). This special issue belongs to the section "Microwave and Wireless Communications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2025) | Viewed by 20008

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Dr. Jesús Alberto López Fernández

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Area of Signal Theory and Communications, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Oviedo, 33203 Gijon, Spain
Interests: iterative methods and speed-up schemes; parallel algorithms; machine learning techniques applied in antenna design and signal processing
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Dr. Lei Wang

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Institute of Sensor Signal, Systems School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
Interests: antenna theory and applications; active electronically scanning arrays; integrated antennas and arrays; leaky-wave antennas; radio waves carrying OAM; wireless power transfer

Dr. Ignacio Rodríguez Larrad

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Guest Editor

Area of Signal Theory and Communications, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Oviedo, 33203 Gijon, Spain
Interests: radio propagation; 5G; 6G; industrial communications; non-terrestrial networks; Internet of Things
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Wei Fan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Electronic Systems, The Technical Faculty of IT and Design, University of Aalborg, 9920 Aalbog, Denmark
Interests: radio channel sounding; parameter estimation and modeling; antenna measurements; over-the-air testing; array signal processing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development and deployment of recent wireless networks, such as 5G, future 6G, and new WiFi standards, go hand in hand with a plethora of new and different applications that have increasingly stringent requirements. In the near future, it is expected that 5G FR1 networks will be widely deployed, 5G FR2 networks will be developed, numerous satellite constellations will be launched, and the foundations of 6G will be established. All these developments come under the promise of offering higher data rates and negligible latency, and will eventually lead to universal connectivity. The aim is to implement a cellular network in which sensors, appliances, mobiles, and autonomous devices (such as cars or even industrial elements) are able to interact with each other and comply with different requirements according to their different natures. In addition, 5G will allow for the coexistence of multiple users requiring high data rates. The development of smart or adaptive antennas plays a key role in the fulfilment of the stringent requirements that these new communication scenarios will pose.

The objective of this Special Issue is to illuminate the latest advancements in the design of smart antennas, with the ultimate goal of advancing the aforementioned applications and expanding the horizons of this captivating field. We warmly welcome researchers and industry professionals to contribute original research papers focusing on various topics, including, but not limited to:

Multibeam antenna technologies.
Plane-wave generators.
Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces.
Metamaterial-based antennas.
Wearable antennas.
Millimeter-wave (mmWave) and THz antennas.
Millimeter-wave (mmWave) and THz cooperative relays.
Compact antennas for massive MIMO.
Sub-THz channel sounders using phased-array and virtual-array solutions.
Antennas for the Internet of Things.
Antennas and transceivers for full-duplex communication.
Mobile UE tracking antennas for LEO satellite systems.
Advanced 5G mmWave antennas for mobile industrial elements.
Miniaturized UWB and mmWave antennas for novel 6G in-X subnetwork scenarios.
Antennas for wireless power transmission and harvesting.

Dr. Jesús Alberto López Fernández
Dr. Lei Wang
Dr. Ignacio Rodríguez Larrad
Dr. Wei Fan
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Electronics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

plane-wave generator
RIS
channel sounder for spatial profile measurements
5G
6G
non-terrestrial networks
adaptive antennas
tracking
active arrays
reconfigurable antennas and arrays
hybrid scanned arrays
AI inspired/assisted/augmented antennas and arrays

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Related Special Issue

Smart Antennas and Systems for 5G and Beyond: Latest Advances and Prospects, 2nd Edition in Electronics

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Research

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15 pages, 4268 KB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Impact of Conductive Fabrics Parameters on Textronic UHF RFID Transponder Antennas

by Magdalena Nizioł, Piotr Jankowski-Mihułowicz and Mariusz Węglarski

Electronics 2025, 14(23), 4552; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14234552 - 21 Nov 2025

Viewed by 194

Abstract

Growing environmental awareness is resulting in new initiatives aimed at improving quality of life and minimizing the negative impact of manufactured goods on the environment. The European Union’s strategy to introduce a Digital Product Passport fits perfectly into this trend. According to current assumptions, the DPP will be based on QR codes or NFC technology, but the use of solutions operating in higher-frequency bands is worth considering. One such solution could be a UHF RFID tag. One of the sectors where the DPP will need to be used is the textile industry, and since the authors are conducting research on textronic RFID tags, they decided to test new solutions in this area, which could ultimately serve as a ready-made solution for the future. It was decided to use commonly available conductive fabrics, which can be successfully used to manufacture antennas on typical production lines in textile factories without the involvement of specialized RFID engineers. Since the effectiveness of the tag depends on the parameters of the antenna used, it is crucial to consider the impact of different fabrics on those parameters. As part of the article, the authors prepared model antenna samples made of various conductive fabrics, and then analyzed (through simulation and experimental studies) the effect of the fabrics used on the impedance of the model antenna. Obtained results confirm the thesis about the influence of different conductive fabrics on antenna parameters, especially in the case of the real part of the impedance. The final product (tag) works equally effectively regardless of the fabric used, but the impact of changes in its parameters is noticeable (read range values dispersion). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Antennas and Systems for 5G and Beyond: Latest Advances and Prospects)

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13 pages, 3291 KB

Open AccessArticle

On-Chip Yagi Antenna Design at 38 GHz with 0.18 μm CMOS Techniques

by Chia-Wei Lin, Ming-An Chung and Bing-Ruei Chuang

Electronics 2025, 14(22), 4373; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14224373 - 8 Nov 2025

Viewed by 348

Abstract

In this study, a 38 GHz millimeter wave Yagi antenna was designed and fabricated on a chip using a 0.18 μm CMOS process. The radiation performance of the antenna is improved by using a Yagi antenna with end-fire. The proposed antenna chip measures the reflection coefficient at less than −10 dB over a bandwidth range from 36.6 to 39.8 GHz, covering the 5G n260 band. The CMOS antenna chip has a size of

1.2 \times 1.2 {m m}^{2}

. This study also proposes a solution for the easy measurement of the radiation characteristics to verify the performance in millimeter wave applications. For this purpose, the chip antenna uses bonding wire technology and is verified in a millimeter wave test system. Finally, the simulation and measurement results of the antenna pattern of the bondline technique yield similar radiation patterns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Antennas and Systems for 5G and Beyond: Latest Advances and Prospects)

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9 pages, 1855 KB

Open AccessCommunication

Range Enhancement of a 60 GHz FMCW Heart Rate Radar Using Fabry–Perot Cavity Antenna

by Jae-Min Jeong, Hyun-Se Bae, Hong Ju Lee and Jae-Gon Lee

Electronics 2025, 14(20), 4014; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14204014 - 13 Oct 2025

Viewed by 729

Abstract

This paper presents a bistatic 60 GHz frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar system for non-contact heart rate monitoring, utilizing high-gain Fabry–Perot cavity (FPC) antennas at both the transmitter and receiver. Each FPC antenna integrates a partially reflective surface (PRS) and a metallic ground plane to form a resonant cavity. Compared to conventional patch arrays of the same aperture, the FPC antenna improves the antenna gain from 4.1 dBi to 8.1 dBi at the transmitter and from 3.9 dBi to 7.8 dBi at the receiver, resulting in an overall link budget enhancement of approximately 7.9 dB. This dual high-gain configuration theoretically increases the maximum detection range by a factor of 2.48. The proposed radar system was implemented and experimentally validated under indoor conditions using both calibration targets and human participants. Active measurement results confirm that the bistatic radar equipped with FPC antennas extends the reliable heart rate detection distance by approximately 2.27 times compared to a conventional system, closely matching the theoretical prediction. These results confirm the practicality and effectiveness of FPC antennas in extending both the range and reliability of millimeter-wave vital sign detection systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Antennas and Systems for 5G and Beyond: Latest Advances and Prospects)

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29 pages, 2185 KB

Open AccessArticle

Calculating the Singular Values of Many Small Matrices on GPUs

by Amedeo Capozzoli, Claudio Curcio, Salvatore Di Donna and Angelo Liseno

Electronics 2025, 14(16), 3217; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14163217 - 13 Aug 2025

Viewed by 602

Abstract

This paper presents a fast and robust approach to evaluate the singular values of small (e.g.,

4 \times 4

5 \times 5

) matrices on single- and multi-Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) systems, enabling the modulation of the accuracy–speed trade-off. Targeting applications that [...] Read more.

This paper presents a fast and robust approach to evaluate the singular values of small (e.g.,

4 \times 4

5 \times 5

) matrices on single- and multi-Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) systems, enabling the modulation of the accuracy–speed trade-off. Targeting applications that require only computations of the SVs in electromagnetics (e.g., Multiple Input Multiple Output—MIMO link capacity optimization) and emerging deep-learning kernels, our method contrasts with existing GPU singular value decomposition (SVD) routines by computing singular values only, thereby reducing overhead compared to full-SVD libraries such as cuSOLVER’s gesvd and MKL’s desvg. The method uses four steps: interlaced storage of the matrices in GPU global memory, bidiagonalization via Householder transformations, symmetric tridiagonalization, and root finding by bisection using Sturm sequences. We implemented the algorithm in CUDA and evaluated it on different single- and multi-GPU systems. The approach is particularly suited for the analysis and design of multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) communication links, where thousands of tiny SVDs must be computed rapidly. As an example of the satisfactory performance of our approach, the speed-up reached for large matrix batches against cuSOLVER’s gesvd has been around 20 for

4 \times 4

matrices. Furthermore, near-linear scaling across multi-GPUs systems has been reached, while maintaining root mean square errors below

2.3 \times 10^{- 7}

in single precision and below

2.3 \times 10^{- 13}

in double precision. Tightening the tolerance from

δ = 10^{- 7}

δ = 10^{- 9}

increased the total runtime by only about 10%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Antennas and Systems for 5G and Beyond: Latest Advances and Prospects)

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27 pages, 774 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

GNSS Spoofing Detection Based on Wavelets and Machine Learning

by Katarina Babić, Marta Balić and Dinko Begušić

Electronics 2025, 14(12), 2391; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14122391 - 11 Jun 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2676

Abstract

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) are widely used for positioning, timing, and navigation services. Such widespread usage makes them exposed to various threats including malicious attacks such as spoofing attacks. The availability of low-cost devices such as software-defined radios enhances the viability of performing such attacks. Efficient spoofing detection is of essential importance for the mitigation of such attacks. Although various methods have been proposed for that purpose it is still an important research topic. In this paper, we investigate the spoofing detection method based on the integrated usage of discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and machine learning (ML) techniques and propose efficient solutions. A series of experiments using different wavelets and machine learning techniques for Global Positioning System (GPS) and Galileo systems are performed. Moreover, the impact of the usage of different types of training data are explored. Following the computational complexity analysis, the potential for complexity reduction is investigated and computationally efficient solutions proposed. The obtained results show the efficacy of the proposed approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Antennas and Systems for 5G and Beyond: Latest Advances and Prospects)

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13 pages, 6852 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sofware-Defined Radio Testbed for I/Q Imbalanced Single-Carrier Communication Systems

by Álvaro Pendás-Recondo, Jesús Alberto López-Fernández and Rafael González-Ayestarán

Electronics 2024, 13(15), 3002; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13153002 - 30 Jul 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1170

Abstract

An end-to-end testbed for In-phase and Quadrature (I/Q) Imbalance (IQI) communication systems based on Software-Defined Radio (SDR) is presented. The scenario under consideration is a Single-Input–Single-Output (SISO) single-carrier communication where the transmitter is heavily affected by IQI, whose effects are mitigated through digital signal processing at the receiver. The presented testbed is highly configurable, enabling the testing of different communication and IQI parameters. Crucial insights into the practical implementation of IQI mitigation techniques, specifically through the use of asymmetric signaling at the receiver, are provided. Initially, a detailed description of the mathematical framework is given. This framework serves as the foundation for the subsequent discussion on system implementation, effectively bridging the gap between research on IQI mitigation and its practical application in single-carrier architectures. Over-The-Air (OTA) Symbol Error Rate (SER) measurements for different constellations validate the receiver design and implementation. The source code of the presented testbed is publicly available. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Antennas and Systems for 5G and Beyond: Latest Advances and Prospects)

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21 pages, 2276 KB

Open AccessArticle

Beam Prediction for mmWave V2I Communication Using ML-Based Multiclass Classification Algorithms

by Karamot Kehinde Biliaminu, Sherif Adeshina Busari, Jonathan Rodriguez and Felipe Gil-Castiñeira

Electronics 2024, 13(13), 2656; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13132656 - 6 Jul 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3304

Abstract

Beam management is a key functionality in establishing and maintaining reliable communication in cellular and vehicular networks, and it becomes more critical at millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequencies and for high-mobility scenarios. Traditional approaches consume wireless resources and incur high beam training overheads in finding the best beam pairings, thus necessitating alternative approaches such as position-aided, vision-aided, or, more generally, sensing-aided beam prediction approaches. Current systems are also leveraging artificial intelligence/machine learning (ML) to optimize the beam management procedures; however, the majority of the proposed ML frameworks have been applied to synthetic datasets, leading to overestimated performances. In this work, in the context of vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication and using the real-world DeepSense6G experimental datasets, we investigate the performance of four ML algorithms on beam prediction accuracy for mmWave V2I scenarios. We compare the performance of K-nearest neighbour (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), decision tree (DT), and naïve Bayes (NB) algorithms on position-aided beam prediction accuracy and related metrics such as precision, recall, specificity, and F1-score. The impacts of different beam codebook sizes and dataset split ratios on five different scenarios’ datasets were investigated, independently and collectively. Confusion matrices and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves were also employed to visualize the (mis)classification statistics of the considered ML algorithms. The results show that SVM outperforms the other three algorithms, for the most part, on the scenario-per-scenario cases. However, for the combined scenario with larger data samples, DT outperforms the other three algorithms for both the different codebook sizes and data split ratios. The results also show comparable performance for the different data split ratios considered for the different algorithms. However, with respect to the codebook sizes, the results show that the higher the codebook size, the lower the beam prediction accuracy. With the best accuracy results around 70% for the combined scenario in this study, multi-modal sensing-aided approaches can be explored to increase the beam prediction performance, although at the expense of higher system complexity when compared to the position-aided approach considered in this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Antennas and Systems for 5G and Beyond: Latest Advances and Prospects)

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Review

Jump to: Research

42 pages, 1954 KB

Open AccessReview

Data Traffic Prediction for 5G and Beyond: Emerging Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions: A Scoping Review

by Evangelos Lykakis, Ioannis O. Vardiambasis and Evangelos Kokkinos

Electronics 2025, 14(23), 4611; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14234611 - 24 Nov 2025

Viewed by 506

Abstract

Accurate forecasting of data traffic assumes a critical role in the administration of 5G networks, as it allows for optimal routing, detection of network anomalies, and improved management of network resources. The latter aspect significantly contributes to enhanced energy preservation, quality of experience (QoE), and quality of service (QoS). This article offers a thorough analysis of the extant literature pertaining to data traffic prediction. It commences with an investigation into the primary obstacles associated with predicting data traffic within cellular networks. Subsequently, an in-depth analysis is conducted on the data traffic patterns, considering their unique attributes. The current prediction methodologies applicable to each pattern are then detailed in relation to the prevailing literature. Following this, a critique of contemporary methodologies utilized for predicting data traffic in mobile networks is presented, accentuating their respective impacts on network management. These methodologies are classified into traditional approaches (statistical and time series techniques) and contemporary approaches that exploit machine learning. In conclusion, this review not only investigates the nascent trends in mobile data traffic prediction but also proposes a novel framework for future research that will be intended to increase the predictive accuracy and computational efficiency of the predictions while concurrently protecting personal information. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Antennas and Systems for 5G and Beyond: Latest Advances and Prospects)

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21 pages, 779 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Optically Transparent Antennas for 5G and Beyond: A Review

by Bernardo Dominguez, Fábio Silva, Amit Baghel, Daniel Albuquerque and Pedro Pinho

Electronics 2025, 14(8), 1616; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14081616 - 16 Apr 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3026

Abstract

As wireless communication technology advances towards faster and higher transmission rates such as Fifth Generation (5G) and beyond, the need for multiple access points increases. The growing demand for access points often results in them occupying any available surface area and potentially disrupting the existing scenery. In order to address this issue, Optically Transparent Antennas (OTAs) emerge as an optimal solution for balancing the aesthetics of a specific setting with the desired communication system requirements. These antennas can be integrated into various infrastructures without interfering with the design of the objects on which they are installed. Research on the techniques and materials for OTA fabrication, which is proposed as a solution to the 5G wireless communication demand for access points, is presented. This work will highlight key antenna characteristics such as gain, bandwidth, efficiency, and transparency, and how the materials used for OTA implementation influence these parameters. Techniques like Metal Mesh (MM), Transparent Conductive Film (TCF), and Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) will be explained. The performance of the OTAs will be analyzed based on gain, bandwidth, transparency, and efficiency. This paper also addresses the challenges and limitations associated with OTAs. Finally, it confirms that OTAs offer a compelling solution for this scenario by balancing aesthetics with high antenna performance, making them an innovation for future wireless networks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Antennas and Systems for 5G and Beyond: Latest Advances and Prospects)

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23 pages, 9813 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Overview of Reconfigurable Antenna Systems for IoT Devices

by Elena García, Aurora Andújar and Jaume Anguera

Electronics 2024, 13(20), 3988; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13203988 - 10 Oct 2024

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5787

Abstract

The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as trackers and sensors, necessitates a delicate balance between device miniaturization and performance. This extends to the antenna system, which must be both efficient and multiband operational while fitting within space-constrained electronic enclosures. Traditional antennas, however, struggle to meet these miniaturization demands. Reconfigurable antennas have emerged as a promising solution for adapting their frequency, radiation pattern, or polarization in response to changing requirements, making them ideal for IoT applications. Among various reconfiguration techniques (electrical, mechanical, optical, and material-based), electrical reconfiguration reigns supreme for IoT applications. Its suitability for compact devices, cost-effectiveness, and relative simplicity make it the preferred choice. This paper reviews various approaches to realizing IoT reconfigurable antennas, with a focus on electrical reconfiguration techniques. It categorizes these techniques based on their implementation, including PIN diodes, digital tunable capacitors (DTCs), varactor diodes, and RF switches. It also explores the challenges associated with the development and characterization of IoT reconfigurable antennas, evaluates the strengths and limitations of existing methods, and identifies open challenges for future research. Importantly, the growing trend towards smaller IoT devices has led to the development of antenna boosters. These components, combined with advanced reconfiguration techniques, offer new opportunities for enhancing antenna performance while maintaining a compact footprint. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Antennas and Systems for 5G and Beyond: Latest Advances and Prospects)

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