Project Description
There is a fundamental disconnect between Internet of Things (IoT) systems research and research dealing with the development of new antenna technologies. The antenna portion of the radio frequency transceiver is often overlooked during the commercial product development process. The Drexel Wireless Systems Lab (DWSL) has developed technology and intellectual property relating to the knitting and printing of antennas and radiating structures. The group has access to Drexel facilities for printed circuit board fabrication, materials printing and industrial knitting machines to prototype antennas, potentially with non-traditional materials (e.g., printable inks, conductive threads) on non-traditional substrates (e.g., stickers, transparencies, glass), for IoT applications. DWSL is equipped with wireless metrology equipment for antenna fabrication and characterization, including an electromagnetic anechoic chamber and reverberant chamber for antenna characterization. Students working in DWSL through the proposed REU will use computational electromagnetic tools (e.g., HFSS) to design antennas for IoT applications, and use DWSL facilities to construct and characterize these devices.
Research Goals
- Build and test antennas for Internet of Things applications
- Compare traditional (i.e., copper) and non-traditional materials in the use of IoT antennas
- Complete electromagnetic analysis of antennas and IoT products
Learning Goals
- How to design and fabric antennas using non-traditional materials
- How to simulated antennas using computational electromagnetic tools
- How to evaluate
Group Conducting Research
Drexel Wireless Systems Lab: research.coe.drexel.edu/ece/dwsl/