Linear antenna array modeling with deep neural networks

In modern wireless telecommunication systems, antenna arrays are widely used as elements of multiple – input multiple – output technology. In the fifth-generation systems, arrays are utilized to realize beamforming that forms the radiation pattern of the base station in the direction of the mobile user. This requires the utilization of many-element antenna arrays that are precisely controlled to achieve the required radiation properties. In this paper we apply the concept of deep neural network to model antenna array radiation properties. In this proof-of-concept research we aim at investigating to what extent it is possible to use deep neural networks for modeling antenna arrays. We consider a full-wave model of linear array with a reflector, which was controlled by the phase and amplitude of the signals feeding the elementary radiators. The applied method made it possible to solve the direct and inverse problems. The results that we obtained show that deep neural networks are able to model antenna array properties.