Scientists at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Ohio used a 3D printer to prototype and bench test what they call a “structurally embedded vascular antenna.”
The antenna’s elements can be manipulated, changing their radiation patterns and frequency response, by pumping liquid metal alloy in and out of the tubes that make up the vascular network. Flow meters and optical sensors control the pump.
It’s a slick idea and allows the formation of antennas inside structures that can change shapes delivering “electromagnetic agility.” [Continue reading Original Story by Troy Carter]
