An antenna for a micro air vehicle (MAV) takes the form of a wrap-around
antenna (e.g., wrapped around a portion of the MAV) that selectively
emits radio signals in different directions depending on a frequency
selected by a radio altimeter in the MAV. The radar altimeter may be a
pulsed or a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar altimeter.
The wrap-around antenna includes groups of radiating elements in which at
least each group includes an average height that is different from an
average height of an adjacent group. Further, the average height of the
group determines which group will emit the signals most efficiently so
that a desired sector of space may be covered by the signals emitted from
the antenna. In one example, the center frequency of the radar altimeter
may be controlled in a deterministic manner to cause the radiating
elements to successively cover desired sectors of space.