Novel Design and Fabrication of Conformal GPS & Communications Antenna for UAV

This Phase I project will develop and demonstrate the feasibility of innovative broadband conformal antenna concepts for UAVs. There is significant interest to integrate VHF (30-300 MHz), UHF (300 MHz – 1 GHz), L-band (1-2 GHz), S-band (2-4 GHz) and X-band (8-12 GHz) antennas into the aircraft structure to provide multiband, 360-degree coverage without the weight penalty of conventionally mounted radars, rotadomes, canoes and radomes. MesoScribe Technologies Inc. in partnership Ohio State University and EDO Corp. propose an integrated strategy combining design, simulation and Direct Write antenna fabrication to implement the combined GPS & Communications antenna technology onto the tail/fuselage of a surrogate UAV. The AF081-068 program will serve as a platform to meet the project objectives as well as validate a new approach to integrate conformal antennas within military systems.