Directional antennas for wireless sensor networks

Directional antennas provide angle-of-arrival information, which can be used for localization and routing algorithms in wireless sensor networks. We briefly describe three classical, major types of antennas: 1) the Adcock-pair antenna, 2) the pseudo-Doppler antenna, and 3) the electronically switched parasitic element antenna. We have found the last type to be the most suitable for wireless sensor networks, and we present here the early design details and beam pattern measurements of a prototype antenna for the 2.4-GHz ISM band, the SPIDA: SICS Parasitic Interference Directional Antenna