Antenna as sensors: a mini review

Abstract

Antenna-based sensors are emerging as a transformative class of multifunctional devices that unify wireless communication and environmental sensing within a single, compact architecture. Unlike conventional systems that rely on separate sensing and transmission units, antenna sensors leverage the intrinsic electromagnetic sensitivity of antenna structures to detect physical, chemical, or biological parameters such as temperature, humidity, strain, and pH. By embedding or coating antennas with responsive materials or designing them to react to changes in the surrounding dielectric environment, these systems can modulate key properties—such as resonance frequency, return loss, or radiation pattern—in response to external stimuli. This dual-functionality enables real-time, wireless monitoring with significantly reduced component count, enhanced power efficiency, and, in many cases, fully passive operation. Furthermore, recent advances in flexible materials, additive manufacturing, and miniaturized design have expanded the versatility of antenna sensors for applications in wearable electronics, structural health monitoring, biomedical diagnostics, and the Internet of Things (IoT). This article presents a mini review on the principles, architectures, and opportunities of antenna-based sensors, emphasizing their potential to redefine the paradigm of distributed, low-power sensing systems.