Shape-Shifting Antenna Takes Cue From “The Expanse”
17th December 2024
An antenna’s shape determines what kind of signals it can work with. So key aspects of its operations are in fact already locked in at manufacturing. However, a new shape-shifting antenna could dynamically adapt to different communications requirements allowing it to do the work of multiple fixed antennas.
The new design is the brainchild of a multidisciplinary team at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, and was made possible by cutting-edge 3D printing techniques. The antenna features a double spiral made of “shape-memory alloy,” which changes shape when heated or cooled, and can operate effectively at frequencies ranging from 4-11 gigahertz.