Adaptive artificial impedance surface conformal antennas

摘要

Moving platforms, like manned and unmanned aerial vehicles, require adaptable directive antennas for both communication and radar applications. The integration of these antennas into the body of the platform drives significant development time and expense, and in many cases adversely affects the overall vehicle performance by adversely affecting its aerodynamics or weight. Being able to integrate the antenna function directly in the skin of the platform will result in simpler better performing vehicles. We have developed an AIB with which we have used to demonstrate 2D electronic beam steering. These results show how AIB technology can be utilized for the realization of next generation conformal, electrically steerable directive antennas.