4. Smart" antennas

4.1 Context

This title translates the expression Smart Antennas, which refers to the combination of adaptive arrays and processing of the signals they receive or emit, in the context of modern radiocommunications, radar and acoustics (sonar, echography, etc.). Since the turn of the millennium, the "explosion" of mobile telecommunications has given this theme a major boost. Smart" antennas combine adaptability and/or diversity in various domains: spatial (angular), temporal, frequency (spectral) and polarimetric. In this section, we'll look at various aspects of the role of antennas and propagation in high-speed radiocommunications, particularly in mobile systems: objectives, the role of propagation, the use of diversity, the "MIMO" (Multiple Input Multiple Output) concept and its illustration...