Advanced Antenna Technology Team

Multi-scale Modeling and Characterization of Electromagnetically Tunable Colloidal-based Materials

Mentors NASA/JSC Mentor: Mr. Patrick Fink TAMU Faculty Mentor: Dr. G. Huff, Electrical Engineering Gradute Student Mentors: Sean Goldberg, Frank Drummond, MS Candidates Student Team Members Rachel Anderson (EE), Justin Marshall (EE), Amy Bolon (ME), Joel Barrera (EE), Stephen Davis (AREO), Jamie Edelen (CS), Cameron Peters (AERO), David Ubana (EE)

Project Summary The adaptive control of electromagnetic (EM) properties across the surface of a spacecraft structure can greatly enhance its operational capabilities and survivability of both crew and craft. Structural composites and dynamic material systems with adaptive and/or reversible (or reconfigurable) EM properties can be a great asset for these purposes, and achieved by blending structural functionality into the constraints for EM boundary conditions across a surface and within device-like components. Microfluidic systems could be designed to realize controllable and autonomous devices with a host of EM properties that can be integrated into nanocomposite structures with tailored EM properties to provide a great deal of reactive impedance control over a wide range of frequencies. Provided the placement of variable boundary conditions and operation of devices are properly chosen, their properties can have a profound impact not only on the EM operation but also on the overall system characteristics and functionality. This team project will allow students to work with TAMU faculty from the departments of Aerospace and Electrical Engineering in the feasibility of using tunable colloids for distributed impedance control. The interdisciplinary team will focus on designing simple prototype structures where experimental test data will be used for correlation to analytical results. 2009 Spring Presentation Advanced Antenna Technology Presentation 2008 Fall Presentation Advanced Antenna Technology Presentation