Katherine Siakavara

Bio: Katherine Siakavara is an academic researcher from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The author has contributed to research in topics: Antenna (radio) & Microstrip antenna. The author has an hindex of 18, co-authored 108 publications receiving 1225 citations.

Application of a Comprehensive Learning Particle Swarm Optimizer to Unequally Spaced Linear Array Synthesis With Sidelobe Level Suppression and Null Control

Abstract: We present unequally spaced linear array synthesis with sidelobe suppression under constraints to beamwidth and null control using a design technique based on a Comprehensive Learning Particle Swarm Optimizer (CLPSO). CLPSO utilizes a new learning strategy that achieves the goal to accelerate the convergence of the classical PSO. Numerical examples are compared to the existing array designs in the literature and to those found by the other evolutionary algorithms. The synthesis examples that are presented show that the CLPSO algorithm outperforms the common PSO algorithms and a real-coded genetic algorithm (GA).

Self-Adaptive Differential Evolution Applied to Real-Valued Antenna and Microwave Design Problems

Abstract: Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is an evolutionary algorithm based on the bird fly. Differential evolution (DE) is a vector population based stochastic optimization method. The fact that both algorithms can handle efficiently arbitrary optimization problems has made them popular for solving problems in electromagnetics. In this paper, we apply a design technique based on a self-adaptive DE (SADE) algorithm to real-valued antenna and microwave design problems. These include linear-array synthesis, patch-antenna design and microstrip filter design. The number of unknowns for the design problems varies from 6 to 60. We compare the self-adaptive DE strategy with popular PSO and DE variants. We evaluate the algorithms' performance regarding statistical results and convergence speed. The results obtained for different problems show that the DE algorithms outperform the PSO variants in terms of finding best optima. Thus, our results show the advantages of the SADE strategy and the DE in general. However, these results are considered to be indicative and do not generally apply to all optimization problems in electromagnetics.

On the Direction of Arrival (DoA) Estimation for a Switched-Beam Antenna System Using Neural Networks

Abstract: A generic direction of arrival (DoA) estimation methodology is presented that is based on neural networks (NNs) and designed for a switched-beam system (SBS). The method incorporates the benefits of NNs and SBSs to achieve DoA estimation in a less complex and expensive way compared to the corresponding widely known super resolution algorithms. The proposed technique is step-by-step developed and thoroughly studied and explained, especially in terms of the beam pattern structure and the neuro-computational procedures. Emphasis is given on the direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) applications, and particularly the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). Extensive simulations are realized for each step of the method, demonstrating its performance. It is shown that a properly trained NN can accurately find the signal of interest (SoI) angle of arrival at the presence of a varying number of mobile users and a varying SoI to interference ratio. The proposed NN-SBS DoA estimation method can be applied to current cellular communications base stations, promoting the wider use of smart antenna beamforming.

Sparse Linear Array Synthesis With Multiple Constraints Using Differential Evolution With Strategy Adaptation

Abstract: This letter addresses the problem of designing sparse linear arrays with multiple constraints. The constraints could include the minimum and maximum distance between two adjacent elements, the total array length, the sidelobe level suppression in specified angular intervals, the main-lobe beamwidth, and the predefined number of elements. Our design method is based on differential evolution (DE) with strategy adaptation. We apply a DE algorithm (SaDE) that uses previous experience in both trial vector generation strategies and control parameter tuning. Design cases found in the literature are compared to those found by SaDE and other DE algorithms. The results show that fewer objective-function evaluations are required than those reported in the literature to obtain better designs. SaDE also outperforms the other DE algorithms in terms of statistical results.

A Multi-Objective Approach to Subarrayed Linear Antenna Arrays Design Based on Memetic Differential Evolution

Abstract: In this paper we present a multi-objective optimization approach to subarrayed linear antenna arrays design. We define this problem as a bi-objective one. We consider two objective functions for directivity maximization and sidelobe level minimization. Memetic algorithms (MAs) are hybrid algorithms that combine the benefits of a global search Evolutionary Algorithm (EA) with a local search method. In this paper, we introduce a new memetic multi-objective evolutionary algorithm namely the memetic generalized differential evolution (MGDE3). This algorithm is a memetic extension of the popular generalized differential evolution (GDE3) algorithm. Another popular MOEA is the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II). MGDE3, GDE3 and NSGA-II are applied to the synthesis of uniform and nonuniform subarrayed linear arrays, providing an extensive set of solutions for each design case. Depending on the desired array characteristics, the designer can select the most suitable solution. The results of the proposed method are compared with those reported in the literature, indicating the advantages and applicability of the multi-objective approach.

The Wind Driven Optimization Technique and its Application in Electromagnetics

Abstract: A new type of nature-inspired global optimization methodology based on atmospheric motion is introduced. The proposed Wind Driven Optimization (WDO) technique is a population based iterative heuristic global optimization algorithm for multi-dimensional and multi-modal problems with the potential to implement constraints on the search domain. At its core, a population of infinitesimally small air parcels navigates over an $N$ -dimensional search space following Newton's second law of motion, which is also used to describe the motion of air parcels within the earth's atmosphere. Compared to similar particle based algorithms, WDO employs additional terms in the velocity update equation (e.g., gravitation and Coriolis forces), providing robustness and extra degrees of freedom to fine tune. Along with the theory and terminology of WDO, a numerical study for tuning the WDO parameters is presented. WDO is further applied to three electromagnetics optimization problems, including the synthesis of a linear antenna array, a double-sided artificial magnetic conductor for WiFi applications, and an E-shaped microstrip patch antenna. These examples suggest that WDO can, in some cases, out-perform other well-known techniques such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Genetic Algorithm (GA) or Differential Evolution (DE) and that WDO is well-suited for problems with both discrete and continuous-valued parameters.

Machine Learning for 5G/B5G Mobile and Wireless Communications: Potential, Limitations, and Future Directions

Abstract: Driven by the demand to accommodate today’s growing mobile traffic, 5G is designed to be a key enabler and a leading infrastructure provider in the information and communication technology industry by supporting a variety of forthcoming services with diverse requirements. Considering the ever-increasing complexity of the network, and the emergence of novel use cases such as autonomous cars, industrial automation, virtual reality, e-health, and several intelligent applications, machine learning (ML) is expected to be essential to assist in making the 5G vision conceivable. This paper focuses on the potential solutions for 5G from an ML-perspective. First, we establish the fundamental concepts of supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning, taking a look at what has been done so far in the adoption of ML in the context of mobile and wireless communication, organizing the literature in terms of the types of learning. We then discuss the promising approaches for how ML can contribute to supporting each target 5G network requirement, emphasizing its specific use cases and evaluating the impact and limitations they have on the operation of the network. Lastly, this paper investigates the potential features of Beyond 5G (B5G), providing future research directions for how ML can contribute to realizing B5G. This article is intended to stimulate discussion on the role that ML can play to overcome the limitations for a wide deployment of autonomous 5G/B5G mobile and wireless communications.

An Efficient Method for Antenna Design Optimization Based on Evolutionary Computation and Machine Learning Techniques

Abstract: In recent years, various methods from the evolutionary computation (EC) field have been applied to electromagnetic (EM) design problems and have shown promising results However, due to the high computational cost of the EM simulations, the efficiency of directly using evolutionary algorithms is often very low (eg, several weeks' optimization time), which limits the application of these methods for many industrial applications To address this problem, a new method, called surrogate model assisted differential evolution for antenna synthesis (SADEA), is presented in this paper The key ideas are: (1) A Gaussian Process (GP) surrogate model is constructed on-line to predict the performances of the candidate designs, saving a lot of computationally expensive EM simulations (2) A novel surrogate model-aware evolutionary search mechanism is proposed, directing effective global search even when a traditional high-quality surrogate model is not available Three complex antennas and two mathematical benchmark problems are selected as examples Compared with the widely used differential evolution and particle swarm optimization, SADEA can obtain comparable results, but achieves a 3 to 7 times speed enhancement for antenna design optimization