Hybrid Textile Antenna Suite for the Warrior of the 21st Century

"The next generation Warrior systems pose a number of challengingproblems for communications. In particular, the fast-growing amount ofinformation the individual soldier is required to receive and transmitrequires radio and communication systems with increased performance.This need is complicated by current antennas which impede the mobilityof the soldier by protruding from the soldier system. In addition, thehigh loads carried by the soldier put pressure on system designers toseek technology which can reduce weight and bulk. What is needed is asuite of antennas which are conformal to the body and which can beembedded into the soldier system to optimize performance and mobility.During the Phase I program, one of two textile based technologies wasexplored for application as a body-born radiator. This proposal seeksto expand this work and also explore another novel packaging concept tointegrate antenna radiators and feed lines onto fabric using a commontextile joining technology. This packaging concept will enable thefabrication of integrated patch antennas and the incorporation offlexible electronic circuits as well. The resulting hybrid textile isflexible, low profile, environmentally rugged, and can be applied toexisting soldier systems garments or load bearing systems. (P-01596)"