Distributed Control System for Beam Steering Applications

An antenna system comprising:

• a multi-mode antenna configurable in a plurality of modes, each of the plurality of modes having a distinct radiation pattern, the multi-mode antenna comprising:
• a radiating element comprising a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, the vertical portion disposed on a ground plane, the horizontal portion extending from the vertical portion such that an antenna volume is defined between the ground plane and the horizontal portion of the radiating element;
• and
• a parasitic element positioned outside of the antenna volume;
• wherein the antenna system further comprises:
• a conductor that is spaced apart from the ground plane, the conductor coupled between the parasitic element and an active tuning circuit configured to vary a reactance of the parasitic element to configure the multi-mode antenna in one of the plurality of modes.