# Optimization Design for Sparse Planar Array in Satellite Communications
## 5 Summary and Outlook
### Future Research Directions
#### 5.1.2 Intelligent Reconfigurable Antennas Have Become the Focus of Research  
The reconfigurability and intelligence of the communication load antenna are effective ways to improve the flexibility and anti-interference ability of the satellite communication system. To achieve beamforming under different requirements and realize flexible arrays, the optimization design of intelligent reconfigurable antennas and digital antennas will become an important direction in this research field. In recent years, with the rapid development of satellite technology, the location of sparse arrays has continuously shown a trend of diversification. Spaceborne sparse area arrays require arrays to have higher flexibility, lower system complexity and cost loss, and higher reliability and anti-interference solid performance; hence, the array is required to have adaptive, reconfigurable, antiinterference performance and real-time dynamic adjustment of beams. The intelligent reconfigurable antenna can flexibly use beams, embodying the characteristics of self-selection, self-optimization, and adaptation, which can exponentially expand the communication capacity and has broad application prospects in the field of satellite communication. In satellite communication, intelligent reconfigurable antennas cover frequency, polarization, and pattern reconstruction from the reconstruction domain. The implementation methods include on-orbit RF reconstruction and on-orbit autonomous digital reconstruction. At the level of RF reconstruction, the smart antenna system can change the working frequency band, polarization characteristics, and pattern characteristics of the spaceborne smart antenna in orbit by changing the antenna unit's radiation structure and array arrangement according to the electromagnetic space situation perception results. In terms of autonomous digital reconstruction, the generalized array response of the smart antenna transceiver array can adaptively adjust the weight coefficient of each array element in the antenna array according to the dynamic spatial electromagnetic environment perception in the broadband range of a specific frequency band, as well as change the shape and polarization of the smart antenna in orbit, such that the satellite communication payload can adapt to the electromagnetic environment faced by the payload and achieve better communication performance in the electromagnetic environment. In future satellite communication systems, smart antennas will mainly depend on two aspects. First, when designing future satellite communication systems, it is necessary to fully consider the characteristics of smart antennas and continuously improve and upgrade them to ensure the compatibility of smart antenna technology, as well as better undertake the development of wireless communication technology. Second, the actual performance of the smart antenna needs to be evaluated according to the key parameters of the future satellite communication system to determine the actual performance of the smart antenna. In conclusion, the development and production of an antenna array for upcoming satellite communication systems ought to prioritize not only the optimization of particular mode performance indicators (e.g., peak sidelobe level, antenna gain, and main lobe width), but also the consideration of propagation scenarios, in order to attain a superior equilibrium between capacity performance and system architecture complexity [105].