Novel Materials and Designs for Low Cost, High Performance Printable UHF/VHF Antennas

The use of conformal and embedded antennas can significantly reduce the visibility of communications antennas and improve aerodynamic performance for a number of ground and airborne platforms including Humvees, Mine Resistance Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, and Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs). Despite these advantages, the largest limitation for conventional conformal and embedded antennas is the tradeoff between reducing the profile of the antenna and maintaining antenna performance. To overcome these challenges, Luna Innovations has been developing high performance antennas through combing specially engineered substrate materials, unique antenna designs, and rapid antenna prototyping techniques. Based on the successful feasibility demonstration from Phase I, the Phase II effort will focus on development, test, and demonstration of prototype UHF/VHF antennas for applications required by the topic. The proposed substrate materials, antenna designs and prototyping techniques will be optimized and scaled-up to produce the prototype antennas, which will be delivered to Army for validation by the end of the Phase II program.