Brian Collins: more than 50 years in antenna engineering, 24 of them consulting

Biography

I work as an independent consultant on radio systems, antennas, radio propagation, and the business activities of SMEs working in international markets. BSC Associates Ltd was incorporated in 2003 and now supplies design, measurement, inspection and maintenance services for antennas and associated radio equipment, together with expert‑witness services relating to base‑station antenna systems, accidents and patents.

Embedded antenna design for user devices and IoT hardware is a particular speciality: well‑optimised antennas repeatedly unlock performance that customers hadn't known was available. The practice draws on extensive experience of antenna design for base stations, mobile and IoT devices, sensors, medical, military, broadcasting and general communications. When a project needs more than RF engineering alone, a network of qualified associates provides complementary expertise in lean manufacturing, mechanical and electronics design and embedded software.

Career history

• 2002 – present Independent consultant; Founder & Principal Consultant, BSC Associates Ltd (incorporated 2003)
  More than 250 completed engagements spanning embedded antenna design, base‑station systems, EMF compliance, expert‑witness work, advisory and training. References available on request.
• 2003 – 2012 Consultant, then part‑time Chief Applications Engineer, Antenova Ltd (Cambridge, UK)
  Alongside the consulting practice. Designed small antennas for a wide variety of devices including handsets, payment terminals and GPS trackers. Named inventor on many of the company's patents.
• Before 2002 Technical Director, CSA Ltd (Rochester, UK)
  Led the engineering team on the design, manufacture and installation of antennas for broadcasting, communications and military applications.

Academic & professional

I hold an honorary professorship in the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science at Queen Mary University of London, where I currently consult with the team working on Space‑Based Solar Power systems.

I provide in‑company short courses on antennas, propagation and radio systems, and lecture each year on the Antennas & Propagation course at the University of Surrey and for the Rohde & Schwarz Technology Academy.

I'm a regular member of the Technical Programme Committees for antenna conferences organised by the IEEE and IET and have taken part in their organisation. I serve as a referee for the Antennas and Propagation journals of both institutions and am a member of the Peer Review College of the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Having worked with antennas for more than 50 years, including many high‑power radio and TV broadcast systems, I keep up to date with research on the possible health effects of EM fields on the human body and advise clients, regulators and property owners on ICNIRP compliance.