/AntennaCalculationAutotuningTool

Antenna Calculation and Autotuning (AntennaCAT) is a comprehensive implementation of machine learning to automate, evaluate, and optimize the antenna design process using EM simulation software.

AntennaCAT

Antenna Calculation and Autotuning (AntennaCAT) is a comprehensive implementation of machine learning to automate, evaluate, and optimize the antenna design process using EM simulation software. It utilizes a combined antenna designer and internal calculator to accelerate the CAD condsturction and EM simulation of several common topologies, while eliminating model disparity for automated data collection.

Table of contents

Wiki and Documentation

See the Release Schedule below for code roll out updates.

As we prepare for the first code release, we're sharing information on the Wiki of how to download, setup and use AntennaCAT.

You can Start Here for general project information.

Pages are being updated daily, so check back in a few days if the information you're looking for hasn't been posted yet.

Release Schedule

Where are we so far? (Nov. 7, 2024)

  • The dissertation based on the AntennaCAT software has been released at https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/7841/
  • The Individual optimizers have been released for unit testing
  • The objective function library has been posted
  • The journal/magazine article for AntennaCAT is under review
  • The Wiki is being updated daily

What does that mean for the code release?

  • The code will be released independent from the journal/magazine publication, still targeting before the end of 2024 (read: before mid-November).
  • Post release 1, updates and code examples will be found at https://lc-linkous.github.io/projects/antennaCAT
  • Documentation of usage examples will be posted in the Wiki on this page. The full explanation of all of the details that did not fit in the dissertation will begin appearing, but this may take some time

Stages of major revision roll out:

  • AntennaCAT v. 2024.0

    • All of the core antennaCAT features - a stable first release so collaborators can find bugs while I document the newer updates. This release includes the calculator, a couple of the replication studies, the load/detect script features, optimizers WITHOUT the hyperparameter suggestion network. This version will be fully integrated with Ansys HFSS, with the template framework for the other EM simulation software included. Why not all of them hooked up? Licensing issue being handled over the academic Winter break so we can test on non-code development systems.

  • AntennaCAT v. 2025.1

    • (or maybe 2024.1, the difference is 3 free weekends to document code)
    • The rest of the replication study set. The hyperparameter suggestion network added in and documented.
    • Start phasing in the other EM simulation softwares.

  • AntennaCAT v. 2025.2

    • The first round of bending and custom layers added back in. This works differently for different EM simulation software, so the templates are more intricate for these steps
    • At this point, that's 99.9% of the functionality released open-source. Major revisions after this point will be due to feature additions not originally planned.

Requirements

Library requirements for locally run Python code are included in requirements.txt and can be installed using 'pip install -r requirements.txt'

cairocffi==0.9.0
cffi==1.15.1
colour==0.1.5
contourpy==1.0.7
cycler==0.11.0
dxfgrabber==1.0.1
ezdxf==1.0.3
fonttools==4.39.4
importlib-resources==5.12.0
kiwisolver==1.4.4
matplotlib==3.7.1
numpy==1.24.3
packaging==23.1
pandas==2.0.1
pcb-tools==0.1.6
pcb-tools-extension==0.9.3
Pillow==9.5.0
Pint==0.21
pycparser==2.21
pyparsing==3.0.9
python-dateutil==2.8.2
pytz==2023.3
six==1.16.0
typing_extensions==4.5.0
tzdata==2023.3
wxPython==4.2.0
zipp==3.15.0

Organization

The siplified projct structure is shown below. Full file structure will be updated in the documentation for future collaboration efforts.

.
├── AntennaCalculationAndAutotuning
|
├── .src                                # dir for source code of AntennaCAT
│   │
│   ├── ...                             # root of the project code.
│   │
│   └── main.py                         # main program file. The project entry point.
|
├── README.md                           # this README
└── requirements.txt                    #project requirement minimum

Running

AntennaCAT and derivatives should be run from main.py, either in an IDE or with 'python main.py'.

While there are unit testing artifacts in some code files, entry at other points in the program will cause some features to not work.

It is recomended to run AntennaCAT in a virtual enviornment, but it is not a requirement.

Related Publications and Repositories

  1. L. Linkous, “Machine Learning Assisted Optimization for Calculation and Automated Tuning of Antennas,” VCU Scholars Compass, 2024. https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/7841/ (accessed Oct. 21, 2024).

  2. L. Linkous, J. Lundquist, M. Suche and E. Topsakal, "Machine Learning Assisted Hyperparameter Tuning for Optimization," 2024 IEEE INC-USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting (Joint with AP-S Symposium), Florence, Italy, 2024, pp. 107-108, doi: 10.23919/INC-USNC-URSI61303.2024.10632482.

  3. L. Linkous and E. Topsakal, "Machine Learning Assisted Optimization Methods for Automated Antenna Design," 2024 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting (USNC-URSI NRSM), Boulder, CO, USA, 2024, pp. 377-378, doi: 10.23919/USNC-URSINRSM60317.2024.10464597. [Online:] https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10464597

  4. L. Linkous, J. Lundquist and E. Topsakal, "AntennaCAT: Automated Antenna Design and Tuning Tool," 2023 IEEE USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting (Joint with AP-S Symposium), Portland, OR, USA, 2023, pp. 89-90, doi: 10.23919/USNC-URSI54200.2023.10289238. [Online:] https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10289238

  5. E. Karincic, E. Topsakal, and L. Linkous. "Patch Antenna Calculations and Fabrication Made Simple for Cyber Security Research," 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland, 2023, June. ASEE Conferences, 2023. [Online:] https://peer.asee.org/43974

  6. L. Linkous, E. Karincic, J. Lundquist and E. Topsakal, "Automated Antenna Calculation, Design and Tuning Tool for HFSS," 2023 United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting (USNC-URSI NRSM), Boulder, CO, USA, 2023, pp. 229-230, doi: 10.23919/USNC-URSINRSM57470.2023.10043119. [Online:] https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10043119

Individual Optimizer Repositories:

Base Optimizer Alternate Version Quantum-Inspired Optimizer Surrogate Model Version
pso_python pso_basic pso_quantum
cat_swarm_python sand_cat_python cat_swarm_quantum
chicken_swarm_python - chicken_swarm_quantum
sweep_python *alternates in base repo - -
bayesian optimization_python - - *interchangable surrogate models
included in base repo
multi_glods_python - -

The Objective Function Test Suite is now public