Conformal Lightweight Antenna Structures for Aeronautical Communication Technologies

Meador, Mary Ann ; Downey, James

关键词: ANTENNA DESIGN;    AIRCRAFT COMMUNICATION;    PILOTLESS AIRCRAFT;    BEYOND VISUAL LINE OF SIGHT (BVLOS);    COMPOSITE STRUCTURES;    WEIGHT REDUCTION;    AEROGELS;    ANTENNA ARRAYS;    SIMULATION;    RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE;    SUPERHIGH FREQUENCIES;   

RP-ID  :  GRC-E-DAA-TN60464

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来源: NASA Technical Reports Server

【 摘 要 】

This project is to develop antennas which enable beyond line of sight (BLOS) command and control for UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). We will take advantage of newly assigned provisional Ku-band spectrum for UAVs and use unique antenna designs to avoid interference with ground systems. This will involve designing antennas with high isotropic effective radiated power (EIRP) and ultra-low sidelobes. The antennas will be made with polymer aerogel as a substrate to both reduce weight and improve performance, as demonstrated in an Aero Seedling. In addition, designing the antennas to be conformal to the aircraft fuselage will reduce drag.