Beam Steering using Retrodirective Array Near Field Characteristics

In this paper we suggest a new method for beam steering which relies on the physical position of a small energised excitation probe positioned within the near field of a retrodirective antenna array. In this way we recreate the action of a phased array by un-conventional means. Normal retrodirective self-tracking action is restored by de-energising the probe. We demonstrate that with a ten element retrodirective array that we can produce about 20dB gain over a scan angle of up to +/- 50 degrees with a small probe moving along an arc whose origin is at the phase centre of the retrodirective array.