EAGER: Reconfigurable Textile Antennas and Radio Frequency (RF) Electronics Using Microfluidic Techniques

该项目的目标是引入和研究改变游戏规则的方法，以实现可靠的(a)可重构射频前端，使用新型微流体，在聚合物通道内结合可移动的金属涂层石英片，以实现寄生负载，以及(b)柔性电子元件进入具有吸引力的服装，其性能与不灵活的铜同行相似。提出的微流控重构概念以前从未尝试过，旨在克服先前微流控切换机制遭受毒性和氧化的问题。它的成功是变革性的，因为它将导致基于广泛可用的材料的可靠和无毒的重新配置。智力上的优势在于研究新的微流控重构概念。由于这些概念以前从未被考虑过，因此其可行性面临挑战，需要几种新技术共存，包括流体流动，涂层石英颗粒/片的制造，氧化，使用复合聚合物制造新通道，材料兼容性，可重复性和可靠性。拟议的设备旨在实现可靠的高速连接，无论个人如何？位置或运动提议的可重构纺织天线和射频前端的更广泛影响是改变游戏规则。它将使整个无线电频谱的有效访问成为可能，并提供对病人的按需远程医疗监测，使他们能够呆在家里。这项技术的实现为材料科学、电气工程和纺织设计/制造等领域的多学科研究提供了独特的机会。通过引进本科生和研究生项目招收代表性不足的学生的夏令营将继续进行

The objective of this program is to introduce and research game-changing approaches for reliable (a) reconfigurable RF front-ends using novel microfluidics that incorporates movable metal-coated quartz pieces within polymer channels to realize parasitic loadings, and (b) flexible electronics into attractive garments with performance similar to their inflexible copper counterparts. The proposed microfluidic reconfiguration concept has never been tried before, and is aimed at overcoming issues with previous microfluidic switching mechanisms that suffer from toxicity and oxidation. Its success is transformative as it will lead to reliable and non-toxic reconfigurations based on widely available materials. The intellectual merit is to research novel microfluidic reconfiguration concepts. Because these concepts have never been considered before, there are challenges relating to their viability, requiring coexistence of several new technologies, including fluidic flow, fabrication of coated quartz particles/pieces, oxidation, fabrication of new channels using composite polymers, material compatibility, repeatability and reliability. The proposed devices are aimed at achieving reliable high speed connectivity, regardless of a person?s position or movement. The broader impact of the proposed reconfigurable textile antennas and RF front-ends is game-changing. It will enable efficient access to the entire radio spectrum and provide for on-demand remote medical monitoring of medical patients, allowing them to stay at home. The realization of this technology provides for a unique opportunity to carry out multidisciplinary research in material science, electrical engineering and textile design/manufacturing. Summer camps for recruiting underrepresented students by introducing undergrad and graduate student projects will be pursued