Cover story: Li WH, Chen J, Gao SZ et al. An externally perceivable smart leaky-wave antenna based on spoof surface plasmon polaritons. Opto-Electron Adv 7, 240040 (2024)

The research group from Southeast University in China delivered an externally perceivable leaky-wave antenna (LWA) system based on spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs). The smart antenna system can obtain visual information of moving targets through a RealSense Depth Camera, identify external jammer and target using artificial-intelligence-enabled computer vision (CV) technology, control the reconfigurable SSPP-LWA by digital signal, and consequently realize intelligent switching of electromagnetic (EM) radiation and automatic beam tracking towards the recognized target. Advanced CV technology is used in the vision-based scheme to identify the external jammer and target, and automatically realize real-time switching between the radiation state (when external jammer is not detected) and non-radiation state (when external jammer is detected). In the radiation state, the system acquires the position information of the recognized target, sends the real-time position to computer, gives feedback instructions to the reconfigurable SSPP-LWA to adjust the angle of beam, and hence realizes automatic tracking of moving target. 

    Leveraging the capabilities of external perception and beam reconfiguration, this smart system offers the ability to autonomously select optimal operating modes and intelligently communicate in dynamic and complex environments. This scheme not only optimizes the spectrum utilization and reduces interference, but also improves the intelligence level and automation level of the system, showing a wide range of application prospects in unmanned aerial vehicle, automatic driving, and intelligent transportation.