FARA - FAst reconfigurable antenna system

迫切需要弹性、动态、远程无线电技术来实现移动无线网络的骨干，例如用于点对点/点对多点战术无线电系统和ad hoc公共安全网络的骨干。这些网络的定义特征是它们不断变化，因为网络的节点可以处于运动中，并且无线电信道本身是时变的。关键的是，在这样的系统中使用的天线必须能够在非常宽的角度范围内动态地扫描一个或多个波束，在定向和非定向（全向）辐射模式之间切换，并且覆盖大的频带。虽然传统的相控天线阵列通常用于需要电子波束控制能力的应用中，但在保持低成本和易于实施的同时满足所列出的所有要求，这对该技术提出了重大挑战。与此同时，可重新配置天线的进步表明，它们可以通过减少硬件占用来解决这些挑战，从而更容易实现并降低整体成本。特别是，在先进的电磁表面的进展已经说明了他们的潜力，成为可重构天线的关键构件，使用新的设计范式，通过电磁元表面的出现成为可能。通过新型可重构电磁表面的设计和集成与一种新型的基于圆柱的馈电系统，我们的目标是开发一个快速可重构天线系统（FARA），为无线网络提供一个先进的，低成本的天线平台。拟议的活动将为加拿大提供重大的经济、培训和技术利益，并保持其在全球无线通信领域的竞争力。

There is an urgent need for resilient, dynamic, long-range radio technology to realize the backbone of on-the-move wireless networks, such as those used in point-to-point / point-to-multipoint tactical radio systems and ad hoc public safety networks. A defining characteristic of these networks is that they are constantly changing, since the nodes of the network can be in motion and the radio channel itself is time-varying. Critically, antennas used in such systems must be able to dynamically scan one or several beams over a very wide angular range, switch between directive and un-directive (omni-directional) radiation modes, and cover a large band of frequencies. While traditional phased antenna arrays are often chosen in applications requiring electronic beam-steering capabilities, meeting all the requirements listed while maintaining low cost and ease of implementation poses major challenges to this technology. At the same time, advances in reconfigurable antennas have shown that they can potentially address these challenges with a reduced hardware footprint, translating to much easier implementation and lower costs overall. In particular, progress in advanced electromagnetics surfaces has illustrated their potential in becoming key building blocks of reconfigurable antennas using new design paradigms made possible through the advent of electromagnetic metasurfaces. Through the design and integration of novel reconfigurable electromagnetic surfaces with a novel cylindrical-based feeding system, we aim to develop a FAst Reconfigurable Antenna System (FARA) to provide an advanced, low-cost antenna platform for wireless networks. The proposed activities will provide significant economic, training, and technological benefits to Canada and maintain its competitiveness in wireless communications on the global stage.****