RF & Microwave

Looking to Kirigami to Shape Modern Wireless Technology

Researchers showed how kirigami — a variation of origami — can transform a single sheet of acetate coated with conductive MXene ink into a flexible 3D microwave antenna whose transmission frequency can be adjusted simply by pulling or squeezing to slightly shift its shape.

All-Electric, High-Heat Thermochemical Reactor

Professor Jonathan Fan and his team at Stanford Engineering have designed and demonstrated a new type of thermochemical reactor that can generate the immense amounts of heat required for many industrial processes by using electricity instead of burning fossil fuels.

‘Impossible’ Millimeter Wave Sensor Has Wide Potential

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have developed a proof-of-concept sensor that may usher in a new era for millimeter wave radars. They call its design a “mission impossible” made possible. Read on to learn more.

Streaming Video Over Legacy Military Tactical Networks

Joshua Cryer, President and CEO of Reticulate Micro, is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology Podcast.

Photonics-Based Wireless Link Breaks Speed Records for Data Transmission

The researchers anticipate that with multiplexing techniques (where more than one channel can be used) and more sensitive receivers, the data rate can be increased to 1 terabit per second, ushering in a new era of near-instantaneous global communication. Read on to learn more.

Unlocking the Next Generation of Wireless Communications

With a goal to revolutionize cellular communications, Penn engineers have developed an adjustable filter that can successfully prevent interference, even in higher-frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. Read on to learn more about the matter.

Unique Amplifier Could Change Optical Communication

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed an optical amplifier that they expect will revolutionize both space and fiber communication.

How Much Do You Know About Electronic Warfare?

How much do you know about electronic warfare? Test your knowledge with this quiz.

How Much Do You Know About Unmanned Underwater Vehicles?

How much do you know about unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs)? Test your knowledge with this quiz.

Hyper-Distributed RFID Antenna (HYDRA) System

Innovators have developed a method and apparatus to multiplex Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) signals efficiently. The resulting Hyper-Distributed RFID Antenna (HYDRA) system enhances distribution of the RFID reader signal, providing improved coverage for large areas as well as for small, fixed regions requiring a high density of reader antennas.

‘Attacker’ Device to Protect AVs from Cyberattacks

To help improve the safety and security of AVs, researchers have devised a novel algorithm designed to mimic an attacking device. The algorithm lets researchers identify areas for improvement in autonomous vehicle security.

How Much Do You Know About Avionics Systems?

How much do you know about avionics systems? Test your knowledge with this quiz.

Compact Chip Converts Light into Microwaves for Super-Accurate Timing

NIST Physicist Franklyn Quinlan leads one of a group of teams working to shrink a table-top system of precise timing technology down to a single integrated chip. This will significantly increase the stability of timing signals used for applications such as GPS, phone and internet connections, and radar.

Microwave Sensing Technology Enables Versatile Imaging

Microwave sensing and imaging (MSI) technology, which has been in for many years, has now improved to the point that it may usefully supplement or even replace MRI machines and CT scanners in certain applications, including stroke detection and breast cancer detection.

O-RAN Redefining the Future of Wireless Connectivity

Ultimately, the success of the 5G Open Radio Access Network (5G O-RAN) deployments hinges on a multi-pronged approach involving a blend of collaboration, standardization, and advanced automated testing tools.

Ice Detection from Microwave Sensors

Ice build-up on aircraft and wind turbines can impact the safety and efficiency of their systems. Microwave sensors were developed that can identify in real time these accumulations while calculating the rate of melting. This is crucial data for aviation.

A New Wireless Tracking System Enhances the Extended Reality Experience

Aditya Arun and his team from the Wireless Communication Sensing and Network Group (WCSNG) at the University of California San Diego have developed an asset localization system that uses wireless signals to track physical objects with centimeter-level accuracy in real time, and then generates a virtual representation of these objects.

New Phase Shifter to Reduce Antenna Signal Loss

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new type of high-performance “phase shifter” using a liquid gallium alloy — which varies the phase angle of microwave and millimeter-wave radio signals — for use in advanced phase array antenna systems.

SuperGPS Accurate Within 10 Centimeters

This new technology — developed by engineers at Delft University of Technology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and VSL, and which can achieve an accuracy of 10 centimeters — is important for the implementation of a range of location-based applications, such as automated vehicles, quantum communication, and next-generation mobile communication systems.

This Tiny, Tamper-Proof ID Tag Can Authenticate Almost Anything

A few years ago, MIT researchers invented a cryptographic ID tag that is several times smaller and significantly cheaper than the traditional radio frequency tags (RFIDs) that...

How Much Do You Know About Counter UAS Technology?

Development of new Counter UAS technologies is expanding across the global Aerospace and Defense industry. Test your knowledge of counter UAS technology with this quiz.