Optimization and comparative analysis of quarter-circular slotted microstrip patch antenna using particle swarm and fruit fly algorithms

This paper proposes a parametric study of modified rectangular microstrip antenna in the frequency range between 1.4-2.65 GHz for wireless communication applications, incorporating with optimization methods Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Fruit Fly Optimization (FOA). To design an antenna using optimization methods a fitness function of required parameters is needed. The resonance frequency of Microstrip Patch Antennas (MPAs) depends on various parameters and a standard frequency function does not exist for MPAs. In this study, a rectangular patch antenna is designed for the required resonance frequency and modified with circular quarter slots. The frequency-shift with the change of design variables, which are the substrate thickness and the radius of the slots, is observed. The resonance frequency is obtained as a function of the design variables and it is used in the optimization process to minimize the difference between the target frequency and the calculated one. The original algorithms FOA and PSO have been adapted for its application to a modified rectangular patch antenna design problem: resonance frequency and design of antenna. The design parameter values obtained via optimization and the performances of the optimization methods are presented. The results showed that both PSO and FOA find the dimensions correctly. It is also observed that the sensitivity of the FOA increases with the fruit fly population and the convergence gets faster. The outcomes of this paper show that the PSO algorithm gives better results when compared to the FOA for the proposed antenna.