FARA - FAst reconfigurable antenna system

迫切需要有弹性的、动态的、远距离的无线电技术来实现移动无线网络的主干，例如用于点对点/点对多点战术无线电系统和自组织公共安全网络中的那些。这些网络的一个决定性特征是它们不断变化，因为网络的节点可能在运动，而无线电信道本身是时变的。关键是，这种系统中使用的天线必须能够在非常宽的角度范围内动态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，并覆盖很大的频带。虽然在需要电子波束控制能力的应用中通常选择传统的相控阵天线，但在满足所有要求的同时保持低成本和易于实施，这对这项技术构成了重大挑战。与此同时，可重新配置天线的进步表明，它们有可能通过减少硬件占地面积来应对这些挑战，从而使实施变得更容易，总体成本更低。特别是，先进电磁表面的进展表明，它们有潜力成为可重构天线的关键构件，使用通过电磁亚表面的出现而成为可能的新设计范例。通过设计和集成新型可重构电磁表面和新型圆柱馈电系统，我们的目标是开发一种快速可重构天线系统(FARA)，为无线网络提供先进的、低成本的天线平台。拟议的活动将为加拿大提供显著的经济、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.****