Metasurface-enabled frequency, polarization, and directivity reconfigurable low-profile and high-gain holographic antenna architecture

Abstract

A dynamically controllable metasurface antenna system is disclosed. The system comprises: a metasurface comprising a plurality of electronically addressable meta-atoms, each meta-atom comprising an integrated electronic component configured to control a local phase and / or amplitude response in response to an applied bias; a feed configured to launch surface waves onto the metasurface; and a control circuit operatively coupled to the plurality of meta-atoms and configured to selectively bias individual meta-atoms to dynamically control at least one of frequency response, beam direction, or polarization state of the antenna system in real time.

Description

METASURFACE-ENABLED FREQUENCY, POLARIZATION, AND DIRECTIVITY RECONFIGURABLE LOW-PROFILE AND HIGH-GAIN HOLOGRAPHICANTENNA ARCHITECTURECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 681,489, filed on 9 August 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth below.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The various embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to antennas, and, more particularly, to metasurface antenna systems.BACKGROUND

[0003] Conventional phased array antennas are widely used in modem communication and sensing systems due to their ability to dynamically steer beams, control polarization, and operate over wide frequency ranges. However, these systems typically suffer from significant drawbacks, including high cost, substantial power consumption, complex electronics, and bulky form factors. These limitations are particularly acute in applications where size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) constraints are critical, such as in aerospace, defense, and nextgeneration wireless communications.

[0004] Recent advances in metasurface and metamaterial technologies have enabled new classes of antennas that promise to address some of these challenges. Metasurface antennas utilize arrays of subwavelength elements — often referred to as “meta-atoms” or “unit cells” — to manipulate electromagnetic waves at the surface level. By electronically controlling the local scattering properties of these meta-atoms, metasurface antennas can, in principle, achieve reconfigurable frequency response, beam steering, and polarization agility, all within a low- profile and potentially lower-cost architecture.

[0005] Despite these advances, existing metasurface antennas often face practical limitations. Many require complex or lossy feed structures, lack real-time reconfigurability, or are limited in their ability to simultaneously control multiple radiation characteristics such as frequency, polarization, and directivity. Furthermore, integration with environmental protectionstructures, such as radomes, can degrade performance, particularly at wide scan angles or across broad frequency bands.

[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for improved metasurface antennas that overcome one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional systems.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a dynamically controllable metasurface antenna system is provided. The system comprises: a metasurface comprising a plurality of electronically addressable meta-atoms, each meta-atom comprising an integrated electronic component configured to control a local phase and / or amplitude response in response to an applied bias; a feed configured to launch surface waves onto the metasurface; and a control circuit operatively coupled to the plurality of meta-atoms and configured to selectively bias individual meta-atoms to dynamically control at least one of frequency response, beam direction, or polarization state of the antenna system in real time.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method of dynamically controlling a metasurface antenna system is provided. The method comprises: launching surface waves onto a metasurface of the antenna system using a feed; electronically addressing a plurality of meta-atoms arranged on the metasurface, each meta-atom comprising an integrated electronic component; selectively biasing the integrated electronic component of individual meta-atoms to control local phase and / or amplitude response; and dynamically adjusting at least one of frequency response, beam direction, or polarization state of the antenna system in real time by modifying the biasing of the meta-atoms.

[0009] These and other aspects of the present disclosure are described in the Detailed Description below and the accompanying drawings. Other aspects and features of embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the following description of specific, exemplary embodiments in concert with the drawings. While features of the present disclosure may be discussed relative to certain embodiments and figures, all embodiments of the present disclosure can include one or more of the features discussed herein. Further, while one or more embodiments may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used with the various embodiments discussed herein. In similar fashion, while exemplary embodiments may be discussed below as device, system, or method embodiments, it is to be understood that such exemplary embodiments can be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The following detailed description of specific embodiments of the disclosure will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, specific embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities of the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 provides a schematic of a dynamically controllable metasurface antenna system, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 2 provides a notional illustration of a reconfigurable metasurface antenna system, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 3A provides a notional metasurface array comprised of individually addressable voltage controlled subwavelength meta-atoms and a plot of frequency response, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3B provides a notional phase profile across a surface for holographic beamforming, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIGS. 4A-C illustrate a wideband monocone feed covering 8-18 GHz integrated with a metasurface aperture, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 4A illustrates a monocone feed above the metasurface exciting a surface wave that is projected into the far-field as a directive beam. FIG. 4B illustrated realized gain at grazing to the surface around the azimuth. FIG. 4C plots modeled reflection at the monocone feed junction.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The present disclosure addresses the shortcomings of conventional antennas discussed above by providing a metasurface-enabled, frequency-, polarization-, and directivity- reconfigurable antenna architecture. Embodiments of the present disclosure can comprise a low-profile, electronically addressable metasurface array excited by a feed structure specifically designed to launch surface waves, which are then scattered into the far field by the meta-atoms. The architecture enables real-time, element-by-element control of the antenna’s radiation characteristics using programmable electronics, such as FPGAs or other logic devices. The system can further incorporate a radome structure with integrated impedance matching to optimize electromagnetic performance across a wide bandwidth and field of view. Embodiments disclosed herein can be scalable and modular, allowing multiple metasurface arrays to be tiled together to form larger antenna systems. This approach provides a significantreduction in SWaP-C compared to traditional phased arrays, while offering enhanced flexibility, real-time reconfigurability, and robust environmental protection, making it suitable for a wide range of advanced communication and sensing applications.

[0017] Although preferred exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that other exemplary embodiments are contemplated. Accordingly, it is not intended that the disclosure is limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other exemplary embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, in describing the preferred exemplary embodiments, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity.

[0018] To facilitate an understanding of the principles and features of the present disclosure, various illustrative embodiments are explained below. The components, steps, and materials described hereinafter as making up various elements of the embodiments disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable components, steps, and materials that would perform the same or similar functions as the components, steps, and materials described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of the disclosure. Such other components, steps, and materials not described herein can include, but are not limited to, similar components or steps that are developed after development of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0019] As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0020] Also, in describing the preferred exemplary embodiments, terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is intended that each term contemplates its broadest meaning as understood by those skilled in the art and includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

[0021] Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and / or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another exemplary embodiment includes from the one particular value and / or to the other particular value.

[0022] By “comprising” or “containing” or “including” is meant that at least the named compound, member, particle, or method step is present in the composition or article or method, but does not exclude the presence of other compounds, materials, particles, method steps, evenif the other such compounds, material, particles, method steps have the same function as what is named.

[0023] Mention of one or more method steps does not preclude the presence of additional method steps or intervening method steps between those steps expressly identified. Similarly, it is also to be understood that the mention of one or more components in a device or system does not preclude the presence of additional components or intervening components between those components expressly identified.

[0024] The materials described as making up the various members of the invention are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable materials that would perform the same or a similar function as the materials described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention. Such other materials not described herein can include, but are not limited to, for example, materials that are developed after the time of the development of the invention.

[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the disclosed technology, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and disclosed herein. Wherever convenient, the same references numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[0026] As discussed above, the present disclosure provides dynamically controllable and reconfigurable metasurface antenna systems. FIGS. 1-2 illustrate exemplary antenna system. The antenna system can comprise a metasurface 105 comprising a plurality of meta-atoms 110, a feed 115, and a control circuit 120. The metasurface can comprise a plurality of meta-atoms 110 (e.g., unit cells). The meta-atoms can be arranged in an array. The array can be either periodic (i.e., repeating) or fragmented / non-periodic. The number of meta-atoms 110 on a metasurface can vary widely depending on an intended application of the antenna system, ranging from 10’s to 100’s to 1000’s of individual meta-atoms 110. Each of the meta-atoms can comprise a patterned conductive surface, e.g., copper 112. Each of the meta-atoms 110 can also comprise an integrated electronic component 111 configured to control a local phase and / or amplitude response in response to an applied bias. The electric component can be many different electric components capable of receiving a voltage bias, including, but not limited to, pin diodes, varactor diodes, RF switches, materials with reconfigurable properties, and the like. The electric components allow the meta-atoms to have electronically addressable resonances that alter the reflected amplitude and phase across frequency. The meta-atoms 110 can be tiled into a metasurface 105 such that the amplitude and phase profile across the spatial extent ofthat surface 105 can be addressed with a bias voltage (i.e., Zm n(V ) with high spatial resolution, i.e., subwavelength control.

[0027] The sizes of the meta-atoms can also vary depending on an intended application for the antenna system. For example, in some embodiments, the meta-atoms can be sub-wavelength meta-atoms, i.e., the meta-atoms have a length and / or width that is smaller than a wavelength of the driven antenna excitation. For example, the meta-atoms 110 can be arranged with a <2 / 2 characteristic dimension of the lattice spacing to form an array of significant electrical size (e.g., -100A2) on the order of several wavelengths along the characteristic dimension of the array (e.g., ~10A), which could be circular, rectangular, etc. depending on the application requirement and / or installation area available.

[0028] An exemplary metasurface array comprised of the addressable meta-atoms is notionally shown in FIG. 3A with representative size scales, switch density, and phase response. The spatially varying amplitude and phase (i.e., impedance) profile, FIG. 3B, on the metasurface can then be used for holographic beamforming, i.e., a flat lens effect. As an example, the reflected phase (< >r) states can be finely tuned with a varactor diode to have a full tuning range from 0 < (f>r< 7T or a subset of phase states can be used to reduce the system complexity with the trade of degraded efficiency and side lobe levels. The impedance profile forms a pattern that can interfere with a source, e.g., surface waves, impinging on the surface that maps directly into a desired radiative state (e.g., frequency, polarization, directivity, beam angle, etc.) and physical layer filtering (e.g., interference mitigation spectrally with frequency selectivity and spatially with beam pattern control).

[0029] The holographic beamforming process can assume conversion of a surface wave into a propagating one, and, thus, the feed 115 can be configured to efficiently excite surface waves to provide optimal efficiency of a metasurface based reconfigurable antenna system. The feed 115 can be coupled to an RF port 116. The RF port 116 can be positioned beneath the control circuit 120 and can extend through the metasurface 105. The RF port 116 can receive a signal and cause the feed to excite surface waves on the metasurface 105 based on that received signal. The feed 115 can be many different feed structures known in the art. In some embodiments, the feed can comprise a monocone. In some embodiments, the feed 115 can comprise multiple individual feed structures dispersed at various locations on the metasurface 105 configured to simultaneously or sequentially excite surface waves on the metasurface 105. This can allow the antenna system to form multiple beams simultaneously.

[0030] As an example of such a feed 115, an exemplary monocone with a geometry tailored to excite a surface wave is shown in FIG. 4A. The resulting radiation from the feed can be optimized at grazing relative to the surface normal of the metasurface layer, FIG. 4B. The reflection coefficient magnitude of the feed 115 is shown in FIG. 4C, confirming the feasibility of achieving efficient surface wave excitation. Although a wideband monocone feed was shown here as an example, other feed structures could be implemented under the constraint of efficient surface wave excitation, e.g., monopoles or even a limited number of feeds to provide additional phasing locally for the surface wave.

[0031] The control circuit 120 can be operatively coupled to the plurality of meta-atoms 110 and configured to selectively bias individual meta-atoms 110 to dynamically control at least one of frequency response, beam direction, or polarization state of the antenna system in real time. In other words, the control circuit can apply differing voltage bias levels (or no voltage bias at all) to various meta-atoms to alter the metasurface’s impact on electromagnetic waves emanating therefrom. By selectively controlling individual meta-atoms 110, the control circuit can dynamically reconfigure the antenna surface in real time to control beam direction, frequency, and polarization state.

[0032] The control circuit 120 can comprise many different control circuits known in the art, including, but not limited to, interposer boards, printed circuit boards (PCBs), field programmable gate arrays 121 (FPGAs), digital-to-analog converters (DACs), voltage circuits (e.g., voltage doubler), or any programmable logic device.

[0033] The control circuit can be programmed based on analytic solutions based on holographic principles. Additionally, in some embodiments, the antenna system can be experimentally characterized through the use of optimization algorithms to generate a library of operation states. Further, a neural network, or other artificial intelligent machine learning (AFML) techniques, can be trained to represent the state space of the metasurface-based antenna system. The neural network can be implemented in hardware through microchip processors specifically designed for neural inference for a low-SWAP solution that can be deployed with the metasurface antenna system for in-situ reconfiguration. The experimental based approaches can allow for the parasitics and other non-idealities from models to be captured naturally for a reliable and accurate operation. Multiple objectives can be used with the experimental approach to improve side lobe levels and other competing objectives.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, voltage control can be applied to vias 113 in the meta-atom 110 that penetrates through the RF ground plane 130. An integrated multi-layer PCB 122 canprovide the DC path to the electronics from the vias 113 that connect to control lines that are connected to voltage conditioning circuitry, digital-to-analog converters (DACs), and a controller (e.g. , FPGA 121, microcontroller, etc.). Alternatively, an interposer layer can be used to interface the metasurface layer with the control architecture which would allow for different control architectures to be implemented, e.g., different number of individually addressable subarrays, different speed control, etc., to provide a flexible payload for the reconfigurable metasurface antenna system /

[0035] In some embodiments, the antenna system can further comprise a radome 125 disposed over the metasurface. The radome 125 can be used to protect the antenna system from external environmental conditions. In some embodiments, the radome 125 can be tailored to also provide impedance matching for optimum RF performance across wide -bandwidths, wide- angles, and a diversity of polarization states. The metasurface 105 can have exposed components that are vulnerable to the environment, such as the use surface mount components and a protruding feed 115. To protect these components, a low-density foam or other dielectric layer can be used with a composite skin to form a radome 125. As an example, the foam layer can have perforations such that there is no physical contact with the surface mounted components or the feed 115. The effective dielectric constant of the foam layer can be adjusted along with the thickness, as measured along the axis of the surface normal unit vector, and composite skin permittivity and thickness to provide a wide-angle impedance-matching (WAIM) layer 126. The composite skin can be formed by a fiberglass material, e.g., S-glass, for the shear strength, tensile strength, thermal stability, abrasion resistance, moisture resistance, and RF transparent properties as a protective shell. The fiberglass skin can be easily used in a conformal application to the antenna system and provide an aerospace grade composite reinforcement with minimal insertion losses as an RF transparent window. The radome 125 can be integrated with the backplane of the antenna system through bushing or other affixing methods. The resulting metasurface antenna system would be suitable as a lightweight, portable, and mechanically robust device for maritime, terrestrial, airborne, and space-based applications.

[0036] In some embodiments, the metasurface antenna system can operate in a modular fashion, in which multiple metasurface arrays can be tiled together to form a larger antenna system. Such embodiments can allow for even greater applications with wider ranges of reconfigurability.

[0037] Embodiments of the disclosed technology have many commercial applications. For example, these low-profile high-gain reconfigurable antennas can be applied for communications (e.g., satellite communication), multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO), collision avoidance, broadband connectivity for mobile platforms, detecting and tracking uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), deployment on UAVs or uncrewed platforms generally, space-based applications, autonomous vehicles, and other deployments that benefit from a low-SWAP-C solution. This can be used in the commercial sector, e.g., SATCOM, public services, e.g., disaster relief, and the aerospace and defense industry, e.g., COMMS.

[0038] Embodiments of the disclosed technology also offer many advantages over conventional technologies. For example, the antennas disclosed herein can display broader bandwidths, higher frequencies, higher gain, simplified integrated feed, fast switch speeds, polarization diversity, improved element level control, and a favorable RF isolated control architecture, when compared to conventional technologies.

[0039] The various embodiments of the present disclosure can be further understood according to the following clauses:

[0040] Clause 1 : A dynamically controllable metasurface antenna system comprising: a metasurface comprising a plurality of electronically addressable meta-atoms, each meta-atom comprising an integrated electronic component configured to control a local phase and / or amplitude response in response to an applied bias; a feed configured to launch surface waves onto the metasurface; and a control circuit operatively coupled to the plurality of meta-atoms and configured to selectively bias individual meta-atoms to dynamically control at least one of frequency response, beam direction, or polarization state of the antenna system in real time.

[0041] Clause 2: The system of Clause 1, wherein the feed comprises a monocone configured to excite surface waves on the metasurface.

[0042] Clause 3 : The system of any of Clauses 1 -2, further comprising a radome disposed over the metasurface.

[0043] Clause 4: The system of any of Clauses 1 -3, wherein the radome includes an impedance matching layer.

[0044] Clause 5 : The system of any of Clauses 1 -4, wherein the meta-atoms are arranged in a periodic array.

[0045] Clause 6: The system of any of Clauses 1-5, wherein the meta-atoms are arranged in a fragmented, non-periodic array.

[0046] Clause 7: The system of any of Clauses 1-6, wherein the integrated electronic component comprises a PIN diode, varactor diode, or RF switch.

[0047] Clause 8: The system of any of Clauses 1-7, wherein the metasurface antenna system is configured to operate in a modular fashion, such that multiple metasurface arrays can be tiled together to form a larger antenna system.

[0048] Clause 9: The system of any of Clauses 1-8, wherein the metasurface antenna system is configured for real-time reconfiguration of beam direction, frequency, and polarization state.

[0049] Clause 10: The system of any of Clauses 1-9, wherein the metasurface antenna system comprises a plurality of feeds, the plurality of feeds configured to simultaneously excite surface waves on the metasurface to support multiple simultaneous beams.

[0050] Clause 11 : The system of any of Clauses 1-10, wherein the plurality of meta-atoms are subwavelength meta-atom elements.

[0051] Clause 12: The system of any of Clauses 1-11, wherein the control circuit is integrated into the PCB.

[0052] Clause 13: The system of any of Clauses 1-12, wherein the control circuit comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of: an interposer board; a field programmable gate array (FPGA); a digital to analog converter (DAC); and a voltage circuit.

[0053] Clause 14: The system of any of Clauses 1-13, further comprising an RF port coupled to the feed.

[0054] Clause 15: The system of Clause 14, wherein the RF port is disposed beneath the control circuit.

[0055] Clause 16: The system of any of Clauses 1-15, wherein the feed extends through the metasurface.

[0056] Clause 17: A dynamically controllable metasurface antenna system comprising: a metasurface comprising a plurality of electronically addressable meta-atoms, each meta-atom comprising a bias-dependent electronic component; a feed configured to impart surface waves onto the metasurface; a control circuit operatively coupled to the plurality of meta-atoms and configured to selectively bias individual meta-atoms to dynamically control at least one of frequency response, beam direction, or polarization state of the antenna system in real time; and a radome disposed over the metasurface.

[0057] Clause 18: The system of Clause 17, wherein the feed comprises a monocone configured to excite surface waves on the metasurface.

[0058] Clause 19: A method of dynamically controlling a metasurface antenna system, the method comprising: launching surface waves onto a metasurface of the antenna system using a feed; electronically addressing a plurality of meta-atoms arranged on the metasurface, each meta-atom comprising an integrated electronic component; selectively biasing the integrated electronic component of individual meta-atoms to control local phase and / or amplitude response; and dynamically adjusting at least one of frequency response, beam direction, or polarization state of the antenna system in real time by modifying the biasing of the meta- atoms.

[0059] Clause 20: The method of Clause 17, wherein the antenna system is the antenna system of any of Clauses 1-18.

[0060] It is to be understood that the embodiments and claims disclosed herein are not limited in their application to the details of construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the description and illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the description and the drawings provide examples of the embodiments envisioned. The embodiments and claims disclosed herein are further capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting the claims.

[0061] Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the application and claims are based may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments and claims presented in this application. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions.

[0062] Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially including the practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent and legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the claims of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting to the scope of the claims in any way.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A dynamically controllable metasurface antenna system comprising: a metasurface comprising a plurality of electronically addressable meta-atoms, each meta-atom comprising an integrated electronic component configured to control a local phase and / or amplitude response in response to an applied bias; a feed configured to launch surface waves onto the metasurface; and a control circuit operatively coupled to the plurality of meta-atoms and configured to selectively bias individual meta-atoms to dynamically control at least one of frequency response, beam direction, or polarization state of the antenna system in real time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the feed comprises a monocone configured to excite surface waves on the metasurface.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a radome disposed over the metasurface.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the radome includes an impedance matching layer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the meta-atoms are arranged in a periodic array.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the meta-atoms are arranged in a fragmented, nonperiodic array.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated electronic component comprises a PIN diode, varactor diode, or RF switch.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the metasurface antenna system is configured to operate in a modular fashion, such that multiple metasurface arrays can be tiled together to form a larger antenna system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the metasurface antenna system is configured for realtime reconfiguration of beam direction, frequency, and polarization state.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the metasurface antenna system comprises a plurality of feeds, the plurality of feeds configured to simultaneously excite surface waves on the metasurface to support multiple simultaneous beams.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of meta-atoms are subwavelength meta- atom elements.

12. The system claim 1, wherein the control circuit is integrated into the PCB.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of: an interposer board; a field programmable gate array (FPGA); a digital to analog converter (DAC); and a voltage circuit.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising an RF port coupled to the feed.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the RF port is disposed beneath the control circuit.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the feed extends through the metasurface.

17. A dynamically controllable metasurface antenna system comprising: a metasurface comprising a plurality of electronically addressable meta-atoms, each meta-atom comprising a bias-dependent electronic component; a feed configured to impart surface waves onto the metasurface; and a control circuit operatively coupled to the plurality of meta-atoms and configured to selectively bias individual meta-atoms to dynamically control at least one of frequency response, beam direction, or polarization state of the antenna system in real time; and a radome disposed over the metasurface.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the feed comprises a monocone configured to excite surface waves on the metasurface.

19. A method of dynamically controlling a metasurface antenna system, the method comprising: launching surface waves onto a metasurface of the antenna system using a feed; electronically addressing a plurality of meta-atoms arranged on the metasurface, each meta-atom comprising an integrated electronic component; selectively biasing the integrated electronic component of individual meta-atoms to control local phase and / or amplitude response; and dynamically adjusting at least one of frequency response, beam direction, or polarization state of the antenna system in real time by modifying the biasing of the meta- atoms.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the antenna system is the antenna system of any of claims 1-18.

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