Metamaterial-based reconfigurable antennas with dynamic radiation pattern functionality

现今，由于包括移动的通信、数据传送和智能传输的大量新兴应用，移动的通信系统正经历对数据速率的实质性需求。预计这种非常大的数据流量将在未来十年继续增加。为了实现这种高数据流量，可以探索mm波段，以向移动的用户提供多Gbps宽带接入。凭借这一特性，毫米波段被视为未来5G无线移动的网络的关键技术推动因素。然而，在mm波段，使用传统天线系统的无线通信系统遭受高路径损耗，这显著降低了它们在覆盖和容量方面的性能。为了克服这些挑战，我们建议在这个项目中开发新的电子可调超材料与理想的电磁性能，并将其应用于先进的超材料为基础的可重构天线的设计与动态辐射方向图的能力，提供可靠和紧凑的替代目前的毫米波天线技术。为了实现这一目标，首先，我们将在毫米波段的超材料单元进行理论和实验研究。 这将是随后的设计和开发的可重构天线的动态辐射模式，使用这些新开发的材料，其性能似乎很有前途。该项目从开发新型超材料单元到其工业应用的广阔视野使该项目成为未来5G及更高的毫米波段无线通信系统的独特和关键重要性。拟议项目将利用我们研究团队在天线设计和超材料方面的强大专业知识。研究工作将面向新的可调谐超材料结构的设计，使用它们来开发具有动态辐射方向图的可重构天线。这一项目将产生的新知识和对与这一工作不同阶段有关的高素质人员的培训肯定将有助于提高加拿大在这一高技术部门的全球竞争力。

Nowadays mobile communication systems are experiencing a substantial demand in data rates due to a large number of emerging applications that include mobile communications, data transfer and intelligent transport. This very large data traffic is expected to continue increasing in the next decade. To achieve this high data traffic, mm-wave bands could be explored to provide multi-Gbps broadband access to mobile users. With this feature, mm-wave bands are seen as key technology enablers for future 5G wireless mobile networks. However at mm-wave bands, wireless communication systems using conventional antenna systems suffer from high path loss, which reduces their performances significantly in terms of coverage and capacity. To overcome these challenges, we propose in this project to develop new electronically tunable metamaterials with desirable electromagnetic properties and apply them for the design of advanced metamaterial-based reconfigurable antennas with dynamic radiation pattern capability to offer reliable and compact alternative to current mm-wave antenna technologies. To address this objective, first we will conduct theoretical as well as experimental investigations on metamaterial unit cells at millimeter-wave bands. This will be followed by the design and development of reconfigurable antennas with dynamic radiation pattern using these newly developed materials whose properties appear promising. The broad vision of this project starting from the development of new metamaterial unit cells to its industrial applications makes this project unique and of critical importance for the future 5G and beyond wireless communication systems at mm-wave bands.The proposed project will take advantage of our research team's strong expertise in both antenna design and metamaterials. Research efforts will be oriented towards the design of new tunable metamaterial structures to use them for developing reconfigurable antennas with dynamic radiation pattern. The new knowledge that will emerge from this project and the training of highly qualified personnel associated to the different stages of this work will certainly contribute to enhance Canada's global competitiveness in this high-technology sector.