1
Survey on Antenna Technologies for WSN
Ephrem Chekole
Faculty of Electrical
and Computer Engineering
Jimma Institute Of Technology
Email:ephremchekole07@gmail.com
Abstract—Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have emerged as
a key technology for a broad spectrum of applications, ranging
from weather forecasting or complex industrial plant monitoring
to military surveillance. Although WSNs are very useful, they
have several shortcoming swith respect to the need of the
design parametrs. Design parameters for an ideal wireless sensor
network include minimal size and energy consumption, local
intelligence for self-assembly and data processing, minimum data
transmission over maximum range, ad hoc deployment and re-
dundant path allocation. The primary main issue is their limited
battery life, in many applications; the energy module cannot
be replaced. Since communication is the most power-consuming
task, it is important to achieve energy-efficient communication in
order to increase the lifetime of the devices through a careful use
of power transmission. One promising solution for overcoming
this issue is the use of higher energy efficient, reasonable cost
and small sized directional antenna. Researchers are in progress
to come up with this type of antenna. From this perspective, this
paper aims to survey the current state of the art in the field of
antenna technology, reviews some of the recent developments in
antenna design for wireless sensor networks and to identify the
major research challenges and perspectives.
Index Terms—Wireless Sensor Network.
I. INTRODUCTION
Wireless sensor networks (WSN) consist of small, low
power energy constrained devices used to monitor physical
or environmental conditions. WSNs have applications in a
vast range of different domains, scenarios, and disciplines.
These include healthcare, industrial, environmental monitor-
ing, structural health monitoring and military surveillance
[10]. A wireless sensor networks consists of a large number
of small sensor nodes with sensing, data processing, and
communication capabilities able to realize a distributed and
remote monitoring/control of the environment [7]. The nodes
in WSNs communicate with each other in an ad hoc manner.
When the destination is far from the source, data packets will
be relayed through multiple intermediate nodes in a multi-
ho fashion. Compared with infrastructure wireless networks,
such as Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) and cellular
networks, WSNs are more susceptible to the failure of nodes
due to various reasons, such as channel fading, the depletion
of the battery power and malicious attacks [5].
WSN nodes are usually equipped with omnidirectional
antennas such as monopole and dipole antennas, consequently
only a portion of the total radiated power directed at the
receive node is effectively used, whereas the rest of the
power is wasted [10]. However, omni-directional antennas
radiate/receive radio signals in all directions. As a result,
WSNs equipped with omni-directional antennas suffer from
poor network performance due to the interference on some
undesired directions and the short transmission range [5]. One
promising solution for overcoming this issue is the use of a
directive and reconfigurable antenna design at the hardware
level of the sensor node. This permits a significant reduction
in collision and interference packets. Moreover, it can help to
extend the range of communication between nodes, allowing
the possibility of using a smaller number of nodes within the
monitoring area [9].
Recent works show that applying directional antennas in
WSNs can greatly improve the network performance. The
performance improvement mainly is owed to the effect that
directional antennas can concentrate the radio signal in the
desired directions so that the interference in other undesired
directions is significantly reduced. As a result, directional
antennas have become mandatory in the future generation
communication systems, such as millimeter-wave (mmWave)
networks and 802.11ad WiFi in order to compensate the high
attenuation of mmWave signals. Besides, directional antennas
can be deployed in robotic sensor networks to achieve a
longer communication range and lower interference than omni-
directional antennas [6].
Furthermore, it is shown in [7] that WSNs with directional
antennas have higher network connectivity than WSNs with
omni-directional antennas and in [8] the sensor nodes are often
randomly situated, and each node is likely to be equipped with
a single antenna. If these sensor nodes are able to synchronize,
it is possible to form beam by considering sensor nodes as
a random array of antennas. Using probabilistic arguments, it
can be shown that random arrays formed by dispersive sensors
can shape nice beam patterns with a sharp main lobe with low
side lobe levels [8].
Due to their increased complexity, higher costs and larger
sizes, directional antennas are not traditionally used in
wireless sensor networks, but recent technology trends may
support this method. This paper mainly surveys some of the
recent developments in directional antenna design for wireless
sensor networks, offering a broad perspective of the future
use of directional antennas in mitigating power consumption
and security risks, together with new challenges and open
research issues.

II. D IRECTIONAL AND O MNIDIRECTIONAL
A NTENNAS -A B RIEF C OMPARISON
Traditionally, communication inside WSNs is done using
omnidirectional antennas which broadcast radio signal almost
uniformly in all directions. Omnidirectional antennas are s-
mall, inexpensive and simple to deploy, but they suffer from
poor spatial reuse, high collisions, reduced energy efficiency
and are susceptible to security attacks [8]. A relevant example
of omnidirectional antennas is a simple dipole, having the
radiation pattern depicted in Figure 1.
Fig. 1. Omnidirectional radiation pattern (dipole antenna).
If the mentioned drawbacks dramatically affect the normal
WSN operation and security, wireless nodes can be equipped
with directional antennas either alone or in conjunction with
existing omnidirectional antennas. A directional antenna, also
known as beam antenna, is the type of antenna which emits
or receives greater power in a particular direction (Figure 2)
[8]. By focusing its radiation pattern in a specific direction,
they reduce the interferences and collisions, increase the gain
and enhance the security against eavesdropping, jamming or
other malicious attacks.
Fig. 2. Directional radiation pattern for the binomial array antenna
A brief comparison between the two types of antennas is
provided in Table 1, the three aspects of practical interest for
directional antennas usage in future WSN technologies are:
improved energy consumption, longer transmission range and
higher security.
Because of these listed characteristics and drawbacks of
omnidirectional antenna recent researchers mainly focus on
2
TABLE I
O MNIDIRECTIONAL VS . DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA COMPARISON ..
Characteristic Omnidirectional Directional
Energy efficiency Lower Higher
Broadcasting direction All Desired
Transmission range Lower Higher
Node orientation Not required Required
Price Lower Higher
Dimensions Smaller Bigger
Transmission security Lower Higher
Collisions More Less
directional antenna that is why this paper focuses on surveys
of directional antenna for wireless sensor network application.
III. S UMMARY OF D IFFERENT RESEARCHERS ON
DIRECTIONAL ANTENNAS FOR WSN
Giorgetti et al.[1]:In this paper the proposed antenna was
a Four-Beam Patch Antenna (FBPA) designed to meet the
size, cost and complexity constraints of sensor nodes. The
proposed Four-Beam Patch Antenna (FBPA) was composed of
four coaxially fed planar patch antennas arranged in a box like
structure. The antenna, designed for operations in the 2.4GHz
ISM band (e.g. using the IEEE 802.15.4 standard), has dimen-
sions comparable to those of commercially available sensor
nodes, had a simple design and implements the beam selection
through two digital lines. The RF signal was distributed to the
four faces by a single pole four-trough switch, which was
controlled by two digital lines and allows the wireless node
to dynamically select which face to use. The proposed FBPA
showed that it is effective in increasing the radio range by more
than 100m, decreasing the variance of the signal by about 70
% and suppressing in-band interferences.
Nilsson[2]: This paper identified three construction types
as plausible candidates to equip WSN nodes: the adcock-pair
antenna, pseudo-Doppler antenna, and electronically switched
parasitic element antenna. He proposed a variant of electroni-
cally switched parasitic element antenna, named SPIDA 2.44-
GHz prototype, and demonstrated its efficiency through nu-
merical simulations and lab experiments. Distinguishing fea-
tures are that SPIDA is simple and inexpensive to manufacture,
consisting of a small circuit board and 1-mm copper wire; and
that the beam pattern in the horizontal plane well approximates
an offset circle, without any significant side lobes, despite an
11-dB (7 dB effective) gain difference between 0 and 180
directions. Due to its simplicity and low cost, the proposed
SPIDA instance of the ESPE antenna structure appears to be an
attractive candidate. The special structure of SPIDA produces
a beam pattern well suited to efficient signal processing.
K. Kim[3]: An antenna for a wireless sensor network for an
indoor environment was proposed. The proposed antenna was
composed of an artificial magnetic conductor reflector, two
branched radiators, and a power divider including a switched-
line phase shifter. Two branched radiators act as four bent
monopoles or two crossed dipoles by the switched-line phase
shifter. The radiation pattern is controlled by a switched-line
phase shifter. The power divider (pin diode is used as a switch
in the power divider) provides two branched radiators in phase
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or out of phase power which makes a side directional pattern TABLE II

or a normal directional pattern, respectively. The proposed C OMPARISONS OF D IFFERENT D ESIGNED ANTENNAS FOR WSN.
antenna is designed to be operated at 2.4 GHz. Authors Frequenc Structure of the Electronic Beam Beam Plane
Luca Catarinucci[4]:In this work a switched-beam antenna Antenna compo- No width
for WSNs nodes in the ISM band (2.4-2.4835 GHz) was nent
Giorgetti 2.4 A box-like SP4T 4 360 Azimuth
proposed. The radiating structure consists of four identical etal. [1] GHz structure of four
antennas, composed of an array of two L-shaped quarter- coaxially fed
wavelength slot antenna elements arranged in a compact and planar patch
antennas TelosB
symmetrical planar structure. Due to a properly designed Nilsson 2.4 Electronically FET 2 360 Azimuth
switching circuit which controls the feeding of the antenna [2] GHz switched
elements, one among eight possible different radiation patterns parasitic element
antenna TMote
in the azimuth plane can be selected on the basis of specific Sky
needs. Simulations and experimental results, referred to a K. 2.4 Artificial Power 3 180 Elevation
prototype realized on a FR-4 substrate, demonstrate the ap- Kim[3] GHz magnetic divider +
conductor Switched
propriateness of the proposed switched-beam antenna system reflector + line Phase
as hardware element enabling new power saving strategies in Cross dipole shifter
WSN contexts. Catarinucci 2.4 four arrays SP8T 8 90 4 Azimuth
et al. [4] GHz of two L-
Ms.M.Sujatha [6]: A full planar and compact switched beam shaped quarter-
antenna in the ISM band was modeled for WSN applications. wavelength slot
The proposed antenna consists of four radiating structures antenna elements
arranged in a
each with two L shaped elements and hence there are eight symmetrical
L shaped quarter wavelength slot antennas. These elements planar structure.
are arranged in a compact and symmetrical planar structure. Ms.M. 2.96 four arrays Ultra 8 8*45 Azimuth
Su- GHz of two L- CMOS
There are eight switchable radiation patterns with 360 degree jatha[6] shaped quarter switches
covering the azimuth plane. The operating frequency of this wavelength slot
antenna is 2.96GHz. The return loss of the proposed switched antenna elements
arranged in a
beam antenna is -34.4dB at frequency 2.96GHz. Since the symmetrical
return loss of the antenna is very low, the antenna is very planar structure.
efficient. Akimu 2.4 2 Monopoles +2 Switching 4 604 Azimuth
Di- GHz loaded parasitic reflectors
Mohamed Hanaoui[7]: This paper presents the design and hissou[9] elements or
implementation of smart antenna system in WSN severely to directors
minimize the energy consumption due interference constraints. + PIN
diode
In this work, they study a uniform linear antenna array (linear
Sowmyadevi2.45GHz A microstrip 4RF 4 360 both
array of N equispaced isotropic antenna)prototype of smart A[10] patch antenna Switch az-
antenna system. They first creates a view of ground with nodes as the radiator imuthal
by using MATLAB, then compare active communication using with parasitic and
elements eleva-
SAS and active communication using OAS using the static tion
topology. Total Gain of Smart Antenna System in a given planes
direction is bigger and significant than an Omnidirectional
Antenna System and by increasing the number of elements
employed in the array the gain can be also improved. The new multi-directional switched beam antenna at 2.45 GHz
designed system provides a flexible and low cost solution for for wireless sensor network applications was proposed in this
them to make in the smart-home and office smarter. paper. The beam of the antenna could be switched towards
Akimu Dihissou[9]: In this paper, a four switchable beam the boresight 00, at an angle of 800 in both azimuth and
antenna dedicated to Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) nodes elevation planes. The two ports when excited with a 900 phase
in the 2.4 ISM band (2.42.485 GHz) was presented. It consists difference lead to a circular polarization in the beam directed
of two fed monopoles and two loaded parasitic ones. The towards the boresight. They had applied the principle of Yagi-
proposed structure presents a reconfigurable radiation pattern Uda antenna for pattern reconfiguration. A microstrip patch
in the azimuth plane able to cover a 360 angle with four antenna as the radiator with parasitic elements on each of the
beams having each a narrower beam width. The excitation four sides of the patch acts as the reflector or the director
value for each feeding port was thoroughly investigated in depending on the ON/OFF states of the switches. Further work
order to achieve a high gain in the direction of each director. on the integration of PIN diodes as switches along with the
Then, using PIN diodes, one of these two directions can be bias network is in progress.
selected, which allows a reconfigurable radiation pattern. The
proposed antenna is a very simple and compact antenna design IV. C OMPARISONS OF D IFFERENT D ESIGNED
for WSN applications using a weighting coefficient between ANTENNAS FOR WSN
the powers delivered by the two feeds. Over the last few years, a strong research effort has been
Sowmyadevi A [10]: The design and development of a dedicated to the design of more and more performing Smart

Antenna System. Some of the best relevant designed direc-
tional antennas are listed and compared in the Table 2 above.
Nevertheless, their integration in WSN nodes to minimizing
the energy consumption and to extend nodes lifetime, has not
been exhaustively explored yet.
In particular, a smart switched-beam directional antenna is
proposed in [1]. It is composed of four planar patch antennas
arranged in a box-like structure. It can switch among four
radiation beams with a uniform coverage of the azimuth plane
and a good radiation gain in the main lobe direction, but its
very large size is not compatible with the integration in WSN
nodes. K. Kim[3]: had proposed a Switched beam antenna
composed of an artificial magnetic conductor reflector, two
branched radiators and a power divider including a switched-
line phase shifter. It is capable of switching between a side
directional pattern and a normal directional pattern. Unfortu-
nately, it does not offer a radiating beam in the azimuth plane,
although it achieves a substantial peak gain. Catarinucci et
al. [4] had also proposed eight micro strip antennas in a 3d
configuration and a vertical half wavelength dipole antenna
to provide nine radiation patterns. A digital control circuit is
used to switch among nine radiation patterns which have an
HPBW of nearly 60 degrees. It provides a uniform coverage
of 360 but the main issue is it is very difficult to use with a
WSN node due to its 3d configuration.
The proposed antenna in [6] consists of four arrays of two
L-shaped quarter wavelength slot antenna elements arranged in
a symmetrical planar structure and showed that demonstrate
the appropriateness of the proposed switched-beam antenna
system as hardware element enabling new power saving strate-
gies in WSN contexts. Moreover, it is both compact and inex-
pensive. Unfortunately, it exhibits a Half-Power Beam Width
(HPBW) of a single beam of nearly 120 degrees. Mohamed
Hanaoui [7] studied a uniform linear antenna array prototype
of smart antenna system and demonstrated the appropriateness
of the smart antenna system than omnidirectional antenna,
as hardware element enabling new power saving strategies in
WSN contexts.
In [9] paper, a four switchable beam antenna dedicated
to Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) nodes in the 2.4 ISM
band (2.42.485 GHz) is presented. It consists of two fed
monopoles and two loaded parasitic ones. The experimental
results showed that the proposed designs are suitable for
WSN applications needing reconfigurable radiation patterns
but here the designed methodology very complex relative to
other proposed antenna. In [10] A multi-directional switched
beam antenna at 2.45 GHz is developed that can direct the
beam towards boresight 00 or 800 in both E and H planes. A
microstrip patch antenna as the radiator with parasitic elements
on each of the four sides of the patch acts as the reflector or
the director depending on the ON/OFF states of the switches.
Further work on the integration of PIN diodes as switches
along with the bias network must be included.
V. C HALLENGES AND P ERSPECTIVES
Although the use of sensor nodes equipped with directional
antennas represents a promising tool for WSNs in several
4
application. The road towards endowing commercial wireless
sensor nodes with directional antennas is still long and not
free of challenges, and further improvements being expected
in both technological and operational aspects. The most im-
portant difficulties in providing such sensor nodes lie in:
(i) Designing small sized, reasonably priced and energetic-
efficient directional antennas able to be integrated in highly
resource-constrained sensor nodes;
(ii) Providing network protocols able to assure self-
localization, self-configuration, self-synchronization and self-
optimization in the case of randomly deployed sensor networks
using aerial scattering or other similar procedures;
(iii) Designing effective and reliable neighbor discovery
mechanisms, being known that traditional approaches either
depend on omnidirectional announcers and on time synchro-
nization or are two complex to be implemented in real large-
scale sensor networks;
(iv) Coordinating the mechanisms based on the use of
directional antennas with other security related technique.
(v) Adapting the in-network data and message aggregation
mechanisms to the directional antenna-based topology of WS-
N; and
(vi) Designing customized topology control mechanisms to
increase effective network capacity and conserve energy.
Despite the fact that some protocols or mechanisms re-
quired by operational needs are already reported in scientific
literature, their validation in real-world WSNs applications
is still pending. Despite all these difficulties, the use of
directional antennas in wireless sensor networks has already
proved several advantages: it improves the transmission reli-
ability, increases the spatial reuse, extends the transmission
range or decreases the overall network power consumption.
Moreover, directional antennas offer sensor nodes additional
control over signal strength and interference, which allows the
use of optimization techniques for providing higher network
throughput and transmission reliability. Last but not least, the
directional antennas provide significant advantages in coping
with various security threats.
VI. C ONCLUSION
The use of directional antennas for equipping WSN nodes
arises from the need to optimize energy consumption, to raise
the quality of transmissions or to decrease the number of hops
due to longer transmission ranges. Even though research in this
area is still in a beginning stage for real application, the results
are encouraging, demonstrating the need for further theoretical
and experimental investigation. Certainly, future studies should
include new research topics including the need to cope several
types of malicious attacks, to consider the potential benefits
of using both directional and omnidirectional antennas on the
same sensor nodes, to combine the strategies based on the use
of directional antennas with other security-related methods, or
to expand the research area to other more complex varieties
of WSNs.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I would like to thank Dr.Mulugeta Atlabachew for his giving
this golden chance which will enable me to go further in
writing and publishing paper.

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