Personal Radio with Smart-Array Antenna
A low-cost radio box design with a smart-array antenna that can be scaled for various applications, including:
Personal satellite radio system with a smart tracking system.
High-gain 5G smart-array transceiver.
Key Features:
Low-Cost Design: The unit incorporates a novel, cost-effective array design embedded within the main enclosure of the radio.
Efficient Circuitry: The digital circuitry responsible for controlling the radio and the smart array has been optimized for speed and simplicity.
Scalability: The design can be easily adapted for different applications and frequency ranges.
Internal Battery Unit and Power Optimizer Unit (POU): The unit is equipped with an internal battery while utilizing a POU to maximize battery life.
Innovative Factors
This design utilizes several innovative approaches and techniques developed during the project development:
Low-Cost Array Design.
Smart Beam-Steering Algorithm and Circuitry.
Internal Communication Unit: Interfaces with cellphones using a dedicated application.
Additional Sensors: Enhance unit performance in different environments.
Bill of Material and Mass Production
Below is the BoM prepared for the mass-production on the unit.
Enclosure: $15
Heatsink: $10
Antenna Array: $25
Battery: $5
Digital Components: $50
Firmware/Software: $15
PCB: $12
Packaging: $5
RF-End Components: $45
Quality Assurance: $5
Sensors: $8
Total: $195
Market studies suggest a unit price of $299, providing a profit margin of over 30%.
Project Duration
The objectives for this project were as follows:
Detailed hardware design.
Initial GUI or app design.
Creation of an initial prototype with limited functionality.
Project duration: The project lasted for a total of 6 months, equivalent to 600 hours.