Java based interactive tools for antenna beamforming simulation

Abstract

This report summarizes the knowledge and experience gained by the author throughout the final year project, and serves a guideline of students who will embark on similar projects involving Java tool development, based on theory of radar and antenna.Under the guidance of Prof. Lu Yilong, the author undertook the design & development of two interactive Java (Applet embedded in HTML tags) tools. The first tool is for is for visualization of pattern of N-element uniform linear dipole antenna array, in three 2D-cutoff planes, by varying 10 parameters, such as the element orientation, array orientation, and dipole length. The second one is for Radar Equation calculation, along with diagram of the radar detection range with respect to one out of three important parameters (Peak Power, Antenna Gain and Signal to Noise Ratio). During the one-year dedicated commitment of the project, the theoretical knowledge of radar system and antenna radiation theory is acquired, as well as the expertise of Model-View-Control (MVC) design pattern and the experience of rich client (Applet) programming in Java.