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

物联网（IoT），也被称为产业互联网，被预测为继产业革命和通信革命之后现代社会的第三次伟大革命。在物联网中执行的大部分通信将在设备之间进行，即所谓的机器对机器（M2M）系统，并且以越来越自动化的方式进行。与当今无处不在的移动通信或无线数据网络相比，物联网设备运行的环境往往更加复杂、混乱和具有挑战性。本研究解决了物联网无线通信链路的一个关键组成部分，即用于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。该项目的研究成果不仅有可能对M2M系统的鲁棒性产生积极影响，而且还可能对动态环境中使用的系统产生积极影响，例如车对车、第一响应者和军事野战。此外，潜在的知识可能会影响医疗设备、身体传感器系统、机器人系统、无人驾驶地面和空中飞行器以及类似应用的未来设计，在这些应用中，定制、形状因素、产量或其他考虑因素使直接数字制造（DDM）成为一个有吸引力的选择。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的STEM项目密切合作，特别是那些来自代表性不足和弱势群体的学生，以开展活动，为使无线通信成为可能的基础提供见解。拟议的研究将导致技术和技术，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。先进的制造和集成方法将以减少这些设备和系统的尺寸和成本为目标进行研究。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。研究人员之前的工作具有长期和富有成效的合作历史，对高度混乱环境的信道条件，3D天线设计以及使用DDM进行微波电路和天线制造做出了新的理解。这项工作将利用这种专业知识来研究新的信道模型和由此产生的理论，这些理论将为下一代自适应天线系统的研究提供信息。一种基于收集和分析天线在各种信道条件下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。利用统计表征方法研究多极化系统中天线单元的方位、间距和重构。先进的DDM工艺将使用独特的3D打印机进行研究，该打印机将塑料挤出，粘贴微点胶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，包括包含铁电调谐网络的封装集成天线系统。电子可调谐DDM器件的实现需要一种新的工艺，将长度尺度为10微米（DDM）的技术与长度尺度为微米（集成电路）的技术相结合。与GOALI合作伙伴Harris公司合作，演示高性能毫米波（60 GHz）天线系统的最终目标需要严格控制特征尺寸、印刷导体的质量和表面特征；使用脉冲激光加工将被研究作为一种手段来解决这些挑战。

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.