Conformal Antennas for Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)

During the Phase I Program, Aurora Flight Sciences and the University of South Carolina will demonstrate the feasibility of co-curing an integrated antenna assembly within carbon composite structures. As part of this program, a candidate platform will be selected from one of Aurora"s current UASs which will serve as the baseline for the program and provide a commercialization path for conformal antenna technology. The location for placement of the antenna on the UAS will be defined during the program along with materials of construction. In addition, the integrated antenna assembly will be designed and modeled, fabricated and then tested to verify the modeling. An embedded test coupon will be produced that includes the integrated antenna assembly and a representative structural element. BENEFIT: The need for conformal antennas is primarily being driven by the U.S. defense industry for future aircraft development programs. The technology developed as a result of this program would find applications in both military and commercial aircraft applications. Aurora will work to develop this technology and transition any processes or techniques developed during the course of this program to the military and commercial sectors. Application of this technology to Department of Defense programs will help to allow reduced platform weight, increase aircraft performance and provide the aircraft designer with increased design possibilities. Aurora will market the design and manufacturing techniques developed during this program as a tool in the acquisition and development of new aircraft programs in both the military and commercial sectors. It is expected that the early market will include Department of Defense contractors and specifically programs focused on the development of advanced aircraft structures.