A groundbreaking antenna that can change its shape based on temperature could revolutionize how we communicate across military, scientific, and commercial applications. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) have successfully developed this innovative technology using advanced manufacturing techniques and special metal alloys.
The novel antenna transforms from a flat spiral disk when cool into a cone spiral when heated, allowing it to operate across different radio frequency bands - something traditional fixed antennas cannot achieve. This adaptability means one shape-shifting antenna could potentially replace multiple conventional antennas while providing enhanced communication capabilities.
"I have spent my career working with antennas and wrestling with the constraints imposed by their fixed shape," said Jennifer Hollenbeck, an electrical engineer at APL who conceived the idea after being inspired by science fiction. "I knew APL had the expertise to create something different."
The development process required overcoming several technical hurdles. The team had to perfect the 3D printing of nitinol - a specialized nickel-titanium alloy that can "remember" and switch between two different shapes when heated or cooled. They also needed to devise an innovative power system to heat the antenna without disrupting its radio frequency properties.
"We made shrapnel in the printer a few times because the antenna is trying to change shape as you're printing it, due to the heat," said Mary Daffron, one of the researchers. "It wants to peel apart."
After extensive experimentation and refinement, the team successfully created a working prototype. The technology could enable communications to adapt dynamically to available spectrum and switch between short- and long-range operations on demand.
The laboratory is now pursuing patents for the shape-adaptive antenna technology, the novel heating system, control methods, and manufacturing processes. According to Conrad Grant, APL's Chief Engineer, this innovation will be "a game-changing enabler" for applications requiring radio frequency adaptability in compact configurations.
Looking ahead, the research team aims to optimize their manufacturing process for different machines and material variations, making the technology more widely applicable across various temperature ranges and operating conditions.
The shape-shifting antenna technology shows promise for enhancing communications capabilities for military special operations, mobile networks, and even space missions to distant planets.
Note: Only one link was provided and I inserted it in the most contextually relevant location, connecting military communications capabilities to the article about cyber security threats.