Low Profile Wideband Self-Structuring Antenna

This proposal requests funds to pursue development and demonstration of a Self-Structuring Antenna (SSA) system to meet Navy requirements for a low-drag mobile wideband antenna. The SSA is an entirely new class of re-configurable antenna that employsadvanced search algorithms to assure optimal performance regardless of the environment or signal conditions. The SSA can be constructed on a lightweight, low profile, and flexible material to provide a higher performance alternative to fixed geometryantennas. The adaptable nature of the SSA allows it to operate over a wide frequency range and meet diverse mission requirements without incurring large upfront design costs. The smart algorithms operating in near real time allow the antenna to provideoptimal performance even when the antenna has been partially damaged. The ability to reconfigure an antenna in near real time using our Self -Structuring Antenna system will: enhance the likelihood of constant communications between military, commercialand civilian responders using diverse frequency bands in emergency situations; increase likelihood that communications can be maintained if the antenna is damaged by misuse or hostile activity.Potential commercial applications are numerous and include: antennas for automobiles, aircraft, cellular phones, wireless networking, HDTV, satellite radio, personal wireless devices.