Advanced electromagnetic shields for unmanned ground and aerial vehicle platforms

电磁干扰（EMI）是指从设备发出的电磁波干扰其操作或其他电子设备的操作，导致其故障。加拿大武装部队要求为无人驾驶地面和航空载具平台（称为UxV）提供电磁干扰屏蔽保护，这些平台携带敏感传感器，用于探测爆炸威胁物体，包括常规地雷和简易爆炸装置。DRDC认为基于聚合物和气凝胶的屏蔽是一种使能技术，可以在CAF未来作战中将面临的拥挤和有竞争力的电磁环境中充分利用基于UxV的EM传感器。因此，该联盟提案旨在利用不列颠哥伦比亚省（UBC）大学的Arjmand和Markley博士的专业知识和资源，以及作为工业合作伙伴的Advanced BioCarbon 3D（ABC）和ZEN Graphene Solutions（ZEN），为CAF使用的未来UxV开发多功能EMI屏蔽。该研究项目将帮助加拿大在下一代电磁屏蔽数十亿美元的市场中处于领先地位，从而为加拿大创造更多的就业机会。此外，该项目的成功将有助于CAF开发更可靠的选择性爆炸危险传感器，这些传感器可以安装在更轻，更小的UxV上，具有更强的机动性。这将提高CAF在战区保护加拿大士兵的能力。此外，开发的EMI屏蔽件可以在加拿大其他高科技领域实现应用，如信息和通信技术，健康，航空航天，汽车和国防。拟议项目将由HQP在不同级别进行，即，4名博士生和4名本科生研究助理。拟议的研究将培训HQP，并为他们提供纳米技术，聚合物加工和电磁屏蔽设计方面的专业知识。如此广泛的跨学科技术专长备受追捧，并为HQP在航空航天和国防等众多领域的未来职业生涯提供了竞争优势，从而提高了加拿大经济的竞争力。

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) occurs when electromagnetic waves emitted from a device interfere with its operation or the operation of other electronic devices, causing their malfunction. There is a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) requirement to provide EMI shielding protection for unmanned ground and aerial vehicle platforms, referred to as UxV, carrying sensitive sensors used to detect explosive threat objects, including conventional landmines and improvised explosive devices. DRDC considers polymer-based and aerogel-based shields as an enabling technology to allow for the full exploitation of UxV-based EM sensors in congested and contested electromagnetic environments that the CAF will face in future operations. As such, this Alliance proposal aims to draw on the expertise and resources of Drs. Arjmand and Markley from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Advanced BioCarbon 3D (ABC) and ZEN Graphene Solutions (ZEN), as the industrial partners, to develop versatile EMI shields for futuristic UxV used by CAF. This research project will help Canada position itself at the forefront of the multi-billion-dollar market of the next generation of electromagnetic shields, thus creating more jobs in Canada. Furthermore, the success of this project will help CAF develop more reliable selective explosive hazard sensors that can be mounted on lighter and smaller UxV with enhanced maneuverability. This will enhance the capacity of CAF to protect Canadian soldiers in war zones. In addition, the developed EMI shields can realize applications in other Canadian high-tech sectors, such as information and communication technologies, health, aerospace, automotive, and defence. The proposed project will be conducted by HQP at different levels, i.e., 4 PhD students and 4 undergraduate research assistants. The proposed research will train HQP and equip them with expertise in Nanotechnology, Polymer Processing, and Design of Electromagnetic Shields. Such a broad range of interdisciplinary technical expertise is highly sought and gives HQP a competitive advantage for their future careers in numerous sectors, such as aerospace and defence, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Canada's economy.