Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-14-2019

Abstract

Antennas on multiple platforms with the capability to be reused is a novel concept in antenna technologies. This thesis explores the idea of such a flexible antenna that can be stuck on any surface using certain adhesives and be peeled off for reuse for a different purpose. This thesis specifically focuses on the application of being used on small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAVs). Three basic designs are fabricated and investigated. One of them is a reconfigurable meandering monopole, consisting of a PIN diode which resonates at two different frequencies depending on the applied external voltage. A challenge that is addressed is the need for the antenna to be miniaturized, since the frequencies used by sUAVs traditionally require large antennas. To tackle this problem a high bandwidth Log Periodic dipole array (LPDA) is designed and tested. The elements of the LPDA are folded, and the effect this has on the antenna performance is studied. The Q factor for such an antenna is evaluated and correlated as a function of how well the antenna was miniaturized. All the fabricated antennas are tested on multiple surfaces, some of them even conformal, to see how their properties change when stuck to different surfaces.

Keywords

Peel-off Antennas, Microstrip Antennas, Electrically Small Antennas, Reconfigurable antennas, Adhesives, Log Periodic Dipole Arrays, Reconfigurable Antennas, Antenna miniaturization

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Electrical Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Christos Christodoulou

Second Committee Member

Mark Gilmore

Third Committee Member

Firas Ayoub

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