GOALI: Collaborative Research: Integrated Antenna System Design for High Clutter and High Bandwidth Channels Using Advanced Propagation Models

GOALI：协作研究：使用先进传播模型的高杂波和高带宽信道集成天线系统设计

• 批准号: 1508907
• 负责人: Jeff Frolik
• 金额: $ 22.56万
• 依托单位: University of Vermont & State Agricultural College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-09-01 至 2019-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1508907&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: GOALI; Collaborative; Research; Integrated; Antenna

The Internet of Things (IoT), also referred to as the Industrial Internet, is projected to be modern society's third great revolution following the Industrial Revolution and the Communications Revolution. A great proportion of the communications performed in the IoT will be between devices, in so-called machine-to-machine (M2M) systems, and in an increasingly automated manner. The environments in which IoT devices will operate will often be more complex, cluttered and challenging for wireless communications than either today's ubiquitous mobile communications or wireless data networks. This research addresses a critical component of the IoT wireless communications link, namely the antenna systems for these small, inexpensive devices. New antenna designs are needed, along with new methods for low-cost digital manufacturing and for testing the devices under realistic operating conditions. The research findings of this project have potential to positively impact the robustness of not only M2M systems but also systems utilized in dynamic environments such vehicle-to-vehicle, first-responder and military field operations. Furthermore, the underlying knowledge could influence the future designs of medical devices, on-body sensor systems, robotic systems, un-manned ground and air vehicles and similar applications where customization, form factor, production volume or other considerations make direct digital manufacturing (DDM) an attractive option. Graduate students from the University of Vermont and the University of South Florida will collaborate with the industry participants from Harris Corporation. The investigators will also work closely with STEM programs targeting high school students, in particular those students from underrepresented and disadvantaged populations, to develop activities that provide insights on the foundations that make wireless communications possible. The proposed research will lead to techniques and technology that enable wireless devices for Internet of Things (IoT) applications operating at 2.45, 5 and 60 GHz to determine and adapt to the channel impairments using new antenna system designs. Advanced manufacturing and integration approaches will be studied with the goal of reducing the size and cost of these devices and systems. The intellectual merit lies in the fusion of ideas from propagation modeling, antenna design and direct digital manufacturing (DDM). Previous work by the investigators, who have a long and productive history of collaboration, has contributed new understanding of channel conditions for highly cluttered environments, 3D antenna designs, and the use of DDM for microwave circuit and antenna fabrication. The work will leverage this expertise in the investigation of new channel models and the resulting theory that will inform the study of next generation, adaptive antenna systems. A new approach to quantifying antenna system performance based on collecting and analyzing antenna responses to a wide range of channel conditions is the basis for the proposed propagation studies. The orientation, spacing and reconfiguration of antenna elements in a multi-polarization system will be studied using a statistical characterization method. Advanced DDM processes will be investigated using a unique 3D printer that combines plastic extrusion, paste micro-dispensing and laser processing in a single tool. The new processes will provide the ability to realize 3D structural electronics that comprise package-integrated antenna systems that include ferroelectric tuning networks. The realization of electronically-tunable DDM devices requires a new process to merge a technology with length scales on the order of 10's of microns (DDM) with one having length scales on the order of microns (integrated circuits). The eventual goal of demonstrating, in collaboration with GOALI partner Harris Corp., high performance mm-wave (60 GHz) antenna systems of this nature necessitates tight control over feature sizes and the quality and surface features of printed conductors; the use of pulsed laser processing will be studied as a means to address these challenges.

物联网（IoT），也称为工业互联网，预计将成为继工业革命和通信革命之后现代社会的第三次伟大革命。 物联网中执行的通信很大一部分将在设备之间进行，即所谓的机器对机器 (M2M) 系统，并且以日益自动化的方式进行。 对于无线通信而言，物联网设备的运行环境通常比当今无处不在的移动通信或无线数据网络更加复杂、混乱和更具挑战性。 这项研究解决了物联网无线通信链路的一个关键组件，即这些小型、廉价设备的天线系统。需要新的天线设计，以及低成本数字制造和在实际操作条件下测试设备的新方法。该项目的研究结果不仅有可能对 M2M 系统的鲁棒性产生积极影响，而且还可能对车对车、急救人员和军事现场行动等动态环境中使用的系统产生积极影响。此外，基础知识可能会影响医疗设备、体上传感器系统、机器人系统、无人驾驶地面和空中车辆以及类似应用的未来设计，在这些应用中，定制、外形尺寸、产量或其他考虑因素使直接数字制造（DDM）成为有吸引力的选择。佛蒙特大学和南佛罗里达大学的研究生将与哈里斯公司的行业参与者合作。研究人员还将与针对高中生（特别是来自弱势群体的学生）的 STEM 项目密切合作，开展活动，为无线通信的基础提供深入见解。拟议的研究将带来技术和技术，使工作在 2.45、5 和 60 GHz 的物联网 (IoT) 应用的无线设备能够使用新的天线系统设计来确定和适应信道损伤。 将研究先进的制造和集成方法，目标是减小这些设备和系统的尺寸和成本。 其智力优势在于融合了传播建模、天线设计和直接数字制造 (DDM) 的思想。 研究人员有着悠久而富有成效的合作历史，他们之前的工作为高度杂乱环境的信道条件、3D 天线设计以及 DDM 在微波电路和天线制造中的使用提供了新的理解。这项工作将利用这些专业知识来研究新的信道模型以及由此产生的理论，为下一代自适应天线系统的研究提供信息。基于收集和分析天线对各种信道条件的响应来量化天线系统性能的新方法是所提出的传播研究的基础。将使用统计表征方法来研究多极化系统中天线元件的方向、间距和重新配置。将使用独特的 3D 打印机来研究先进的 DDM 工艺，该打印机将塑料挤出、膏体微分配和激光加工结合在一个工具中。 新工艺将提供实现 3D 结构电子器件的能力，该电子器件包括包含铁电调谐网络的封装集成天线系统。电子可调DDM器件的实现需要一种新工艺，将长度尺度为10微米量级的技术(DDM)与长度尺度为微米量级的技术(集成电路)相融合。与 GOALI 合作伙伴 Harris Corp. 合作展示这种性质的高性能毫米波 (60 GHz) 天线系统的最终目标需要严格控制印刷导体的特征尺寸以及质量和表面特征；将研究使用脉冲激光加工作为应对这些挑战的手段。