Novel Materials and Designs for Low Cost, High Per

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 specially engineered materials as the antenna substrate. The Phase I effort will focus on design and modeling of a novel antenna that fully leverages the electromagnetic material properties of the substrate. Luna has teamed with a leader in the field of antenna development to optimize and integrate the novel materials technology with a cutting edge antenna design. In the Phase I program the antenna will be designed and modeled and a prototype antenna will be fabricated and characterized. The program will leverage a low cost, high throughput technology to rapidly prototype and produce the antennas.