Oneul ENM Files Patent for "Self-Healing" Base Station Antenna, Targets Physical AI Networks

A semi-active antenna (left), developed for the first time in South Korea by Oneul ENM, and its key component, a time-division duplexing low-noise amplifier (TDD LNA) module (right). Provided by Oneul ENM.

Oneul ENM is developing next-generation mobile communication antenna technology for the era of Physical AI and 5G-Advanced and is preparing to target domestic and international markets. Its strategy is to enhance the stability and cost efficiency of communications infrastructure by equipping the antenna itself with a "self-healing" function that keeps services running even when communications disruptions occur.

Oneul ENM, a company specializing in mobile communications antennas, said it has filed a patent application for "semi-active antenna technology for mobile communications." The company has completed development of a prototype and is pursuing field tests (proofs of concept, or POCs) with major domestic and international mobile carriers and global clients.

The technology is aimed primarily at Physical AI environments where communications reliability is critical, including humanoid robots, autonomous driving and smart factories. Because even a momentary communications outage can lead to a safety accident, the antenna is designed to reduce the likelihood of service interruptions by incorporating fail-safe and self-healing functions into its hardware.

The key is a time-division duplex low-noise amplifier (TDD LNA) module installed inside the antenna. Under normal conditions, it operates in active mode, offering low noise and high sensitivity. If a device malfunction or power failure is detected, it immediately switches to passive mode. The company says this creates a dual layer of protection against a complete communications outage, or "blackout," by maintaining communications in passive mode even if the active component fails.

The technology also improves communications performance. According to the company, it increases uplink reception performance by 2 dB (decibels) compared with existing technology, enabling data transmission speeds to rise by up to 16%. It is expected to be particularly useful for AI robots transmitting high-resolution vision data and in environments where remote-control signals are exchanged.

Its ability to reduce power consumption and deployment costs is another distinguishing feature. Oneul ENM developed the technology as a high-efficiency solution that optimizes power consumption and deployment costs between high-specification Massive MIMO antennas and existing passive antennas. The company says it can help reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) by lowering capital expenditures (CAPEX) for base station construction and power costs.

The technology also improves maintenance efficiency. It is designed to allow components to be replaced on-site on a module-by-module basis without interrupting communications services, even when a fault occurs, thereby reducing clients' operating and maintenance expenses (OPEX).

Oneul ENM plans to conduct technology validation with domestic and international mobile carriers and global clients, and to step up commercialization efforts aimed at securing actual supply contracts.

A Oneul ENM representative said, "As the global communications market faces the challenges of transitioning to next-generation networks, adopting Open RAN and maximizing power efficiency, this semi-active self-healing antenna will offer an optimal infrastructure alternative that meets the needs for both reliability and cost efficiency. We will accelerate our entry into domestic and international clients' supply chains through rigorous field validation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.