Conformal Antenna Material Technology

There is a need for new innovative design concepts for developing conformal antennas for military, aerospace, and civilian applications. Conventional conformal antennas are designed to be `flush-mounted' to the shape of the aircraft, spacecraft, groundvehicles and personnel equipment for reasons that include; reduction of aerodynamic drag and heating effects, to satisfy radiation pattern requirements, to achieve stealth capabilities, to achieve improved mobility, and to satisfy security and clandestinecommunication requirements. In many cases, designing antennas to `conform to the shape' is severely limited due to the lack of materials technologies that enable antenna designs to conform to complex shapes and geometries as well as thin film materialsand fabrics such as uniforms, and tent netting. The design of conformal antennas encounters many of these structural configurations, thereby, making the design very challenging. Applied EM, Inc. (AEM) will conduct research in conformal antenna materialstechnology and develop innovative conformal antenna concepts for future design applications. AEM is teaming with Unitech LLC and use of their unique and patented dielectric and conductive coating systems for a new class of conformal antenna designs for awide range of military applications. On typical military platforms, numerous antenna systems are required for navigation, communication, electronic warfare, radar and fire control applications; as well as sensors on satellites, missiles, tanks, ships andother surface platforms. Consequently, military uses pose a tremendous market for our conformal antennas. In commercial applications, there are many potential uses for conformal antennas that include automobiles, trucking industry, indoor and outdoorswireless connections for cellular telephony, sensors, mobile communication, voice and messaging, teleconferencing, inventory control and tracking, security and monitoring, automatic data collection, etc., as well as anti-collision avoidance andcommunications for intelligent vehicle highway systems.