Here is how engineers specify GPS antennas for reliable autonomous flight.
3 Rules for Choosing UAV GPS Antennas
1. Patch vs. Helical Design
Ceramic Patch Antennas: The industry standard. They provide excellent high-zenith gain but must be mounted facing straight up. Ideal for standard multirotors and quadcopters.
Helical (Quadrifilar) Antennas: Lighter and offer a wider beamwidth. Perfect for fixed-wing UAVs that bank aggressively, ensuring they maintain satellite lock even at extreme pitch and roll angles.
2. Multi-Band is Mandatory (L1/L2)
Legacy drones relied solely on single-band L1 GPS. Modern autonomous drones require multi-constellation (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou) and multi-band (L1/L2/L5) antennas. This allows the flight controller to utilize RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) positioning, reducing drift and achieving centimeter-level accuracy.