Multi-functional metamaterials and antennas for RF/Microwave communication and sensing devices

无线连接在现代社会中变得越来越重要，预计到2022年，仅在英国就有数亿台连接设备，每天进行超过10亿次数据交易。这些连接的很大一部分将是通过快速增长的物联网（IoT）进行的机器对机器（M2M）通信，物联网将连接大量传感设备，用于广泛的应用。根据应用的不同，这些无线连接将跨越大面积的射频（RF）和微波频谱，从低UHF到毫米波段。需要具有增强功能和多种功能的紧凑型物联网无线设备和传感器，以满足设想系统的需求。为飞机（包括无人驾驶飞行器-UAV）和汽车开发新的通信和传感系统对于成功部署下一代这些平台（如自动驾驶飞行器和无人驾驶汽车）也变得至关重要。军用和民用飞机以及汽车需要科普对射频通信和传感能力的日益增长的需求。随着当前在空中/机动车辆和紧凑型物联网设备中增加无线连接功能的趋势，天线的尺寸和数量可能最终决定系统的整体尺寸，成本和/或功率要求（例如，在物联网传感器的情况下的电池寿命）。超材料和超表面是能够实现天然材料无法获得的电磁特性和行为的人工结构。该提案旨在开发多功能和可调谐超材料的新范例，从而为上述两个主要应用领域（即物联网无线设备和自动驾驶航空/汽车）开发新型多功能天线。这项工作的成果将使英国成为这一变革领域的发展中心。重要的是，该提案将一个领先的学术研究小组与主要的工业合作伙伴聚集在一起，这些合作伙伴将有助于制定该计划，缩短基础研究和产品开发之间的滞后，从而进一步增加影响力。

Wireless connectivity is becoming increasingly important in modern society with a forecast of several hundreds of millions of connected devices in the UK alone by 2022, carrying out more than a billion daily data transactions. A large part of these connections will be machine-to-machine (M2M) communications through the rapidly increasing Internet of Things (IoT) that will connect a large number of sensing devices for a wide range of applications. Depending on the application, these wireless connections will span a large area of the radio frequency (RF) and microwave spectrum, from low UHF to mm-wave bands. Compact wireless devices and sensors for IoT with enhanced capabilities and multiple functionalities are required in order to meet the demands of the envisaged systems. The development of new communication and sensing systems for aircrafts (including unmanned air vehicles - UAVs) and automotive vehicles is also becoming crucial for the successful deployment of the next generations of these platforms, such as autonomous air vehicles and driverless cars. Military and civilian aircrafts as well as automotive vehicles are required to cope with an increasing demand for radio frequency communication and sensing capability. With the current trend of increasing wireless connectivity functionalities both in air/automotive vehicles and in compact IoT devices, the size and number of antennas may end up defining the overall size, cost and/or power requirements (e.g. battery life in the case of IoT sensors) of the system.A promising solution to the challenges outlined above is the developing science of RF/microwave metamaterials. Metamaterials and metasurfaces are artificial structures capable of achieving electromagnetic properties and behaviours that are not available from natural materials. This proposal aims to develop new paradigms of multi-functional and tunable metamaterials that will enable the development of novel multi-functional antennas for the two major applications sectors mentioned above, namely IoT wireless devices and autonomous air/automotive vehicles.The outcomes of this work would place the UK at the centre of developments in this transformative area. Importantly, this proposal brings together a leading academic research group with key industrial partners who will help to shape the programme and shorten the lag between fundamental research and product development thus further increasing impact generation.