Adaptive Tools for Electromagnetics and Materials Modelling to Bridge the Gap between Design and Manufacturing (AOTOMAT)

Lead Research Organisation: Queen Mary University of London
Department Name: Sch of Electronic Eng & Computer Science

Abstract

There is an industry-wide expectation that in order to meet the challenges laid out in the Horizon 2020 JTP document Clean Sky 2 (CS2), radically novel approaches are needed for the aircraft design, aerodynamics and the integration of novel functional and structural capabilities that together provide significant to savings weight and fuel. Current designs of communication system are based on non-conformal solutions and/or mechanically steerable antenna systems using mechanically steerable parabolic dishes (bulky) or phased arrays (expensive), both covered with excessive radomes. These solutions are protuberant, increasing aerodynamic drag, fuel consumption, visibility, and degrading handling qualities.

To enable this step change, seamlessly embedded antennas and communication systems are needed so that they become part of the aircraft fuselage, which are constructed using novel advanced materials. This concept presents a highly innovative but challenging objective since solutions must also be manufacturable at sensible cost while meeting structural and system functionalities. The electromagnetic challenge is to come up with a conformal embedded communication system design that does not degrade performance, and allows interoperability between multiple antennas on a single platform in the presence of structural materials. In addition, the effects of new functionalities on strict mechanical and safety performance must be considered, and MRO-based repair and maintenance must remain possible.

An adaptive approach to design is therefore required to optimize across (i) electromagnetic performance, (ii) aerodynamic performance based on realistic loads and non-linear vibrations and (iii) manufacturability, particularly drawing on latest 3D additive approaches to embedded functional materials. We aim to develop a novel computational tool-set that will be based on recent scientific advances in electromagnetics, atomistic-scale material and data-driven modelling both at the functional-structural dimensions and over the multi-scale geometric complexity. This deployment will provide robust design methodologies that can minimize the cost during the prototyping stage by providing results in a realistic time frame and will lead to optimal engineering designs in relation to aircraft that are ad hoc at best and heuristic at worst.

Planned Impact

In excess of 58000 new commercial aircraft will be built over the period 2014 to 2033, according to the UK trade & investment report "Global Aerospace Outlook 2015". When coupled with the industry wide expectation that in order to meet the challenges laid out in the Horizon 2020 JPT document Clean Sky 2, radically novel approaches are needed for the aircraft design that will provide significant reductions in both weight and environmental noise. In order to balance these requirements with the ever increasing pressure of high-data rate communication, multi-functional, multi-band, frequency agile reconfigurable conformal embedded antennas will be needed. With it, the need for a novel antenna synthesis tool that will provide optimised realisable novel designs in a realistic time frame by iteratively and intelligently coupling system level design with material modelling and aerodynamic considerations. This will require the development and application of new theory, the creation of innovative computer-aided design tools, and the manufacture and characterisation of novel devices and systems enabled by the production of radically new materials. AOTOMAT will be the new standard in embedded conformal antenna design and synthesis, offering designers an unmatched combination of flexible design capabilities, concise and accessible information and exportable simulation models compatible with all major commercial EM software packages.

Designers will be able to select from a collection of proprietary pre-optimised antennas designs in order to minimise the risk of exceeding budget and time constraints at early stages of the design process. Custom designs capability will be an added feature with the numerical modelling hosted on a cloudcomputing platform, where a network of remote servers will be used to distribute, exchange and optimise the customised designs.

These concepts provide the UK with an opportunity to innovate, lead and manipulate the future of aircraft antenna system design while actively supporting some of the most successful companies in the UK economy (BAE systems and Cobham). Current communication equipment supply is dominated by two US suppliers; Rockwell Collins and Honeyell, however in order to meet the demand of future systems there is an opportunity to re-establish the UK communication equipment supplier as key player in the world market. The AOTOMAT programme is a critical step in re-balancing of the UK communication capability. From the UKs economic and social standpoint the application of radio alone contributes in excess of £13 billon to UK GDP and supports more than 400,000 jobs. The UK aerospace sector has a 17% global market share second only to the US and creates annual revenues of over £24 billon and exports circa 75% of output, making a positive contribution to the UK trade balance. The sector supports more than 3000 companies across the UK, directly employing 100,000 people and supporting additional 130,000 jobs indirectly "lifting off - implementing the vision of UK aerospace". Clean Sky 2 has been already endorsed and supported by the leading European aeronautic research organisations and academia with a total of £3 billon earmarked from public and private investment over the Horizon 2020 action, i.e 2014-2023. AOTOMAT will be the catalytic around which our industrial partners can make help ensure British aerospace maintain its leading position in the marketplace and capitalise on available Horizon 2020 funding. Ensuring retention and growth of highly skilled jobs and supporting UK's knowledge economy.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description A topology optimization procedure has been developed to find the binary layout of a dielectric coating that, when wrapped around a metallic cylinder, mimics the scattering from a predefined, arbitrarily-shaped dielectric object. We reported the design, fabrication and experimental verification of an illusion device working at microwave frequencies. Fabrication was carried out with 3D-printing and spatially resolved near field measurements in a waveguide configuration were performed, allowing us to map the illusion effect. Our work provided general guidelines for engineering electromagnetic illusions but can be extended to shape the near and far-field radiations using low index isotropic materials.

Meanwhile, composites with subwavelength features exhibit effective properties that depends on the microstructure morphology and materials, which can be adjusted to obtain enhanced characteristics. We have developed the systematic design of electromagnetic metamaterials composed of dielectric inclusions in a ferroelectric matrix that, under an applied voltage, present an optimized effective tunability higher than the bulk due to a nonlinear local electric field enhancement. The effect of volume fraction, losses, and biasing field on homogenized properties is investigated and the analysis of the photonic band diagram is carried out, providing the frequency dependence of the anisotropic effective index and tunability. Such metaceramics can be used in microwave antennas and components with higher reconfigurability and reduced power consumption.
Exploitation Route The research finding has been taken up by the industry and academics through newly funded EPSRC project "ANIMATE", which the topology optimisation has been applied to design new ferroelectric materials for tunable applications at high frequencies.
Sectors Aerospace

Defence and Marine

Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)

Electronics

 
Description In excess of 58000 new commercial aircraft will be built over the period 2014 to 2033, according to the UK trade & investment report "Global Aerospace Outlook 2015". When coupled with the industry wide expectation that in order to meet the challenges laid out in the Horizon 2020 JPT document Clean Sky 2, radically novel approaches are needed for the aircraft design that will provide significant reductions in both weight and environmental noise. In order to balance these requirements with the ever increasing pressure of high-data rate communication, multi-functional, multi-band, frequency agile reconfigurable conformal embedded antennas will be needed. With it, the need for a novel antenna synthesis tool that will provide optimised realisable novel designs in a realistic time frame by iteratively and intelligently coupling system level design with material modelling and aerodynamic considerations. This will require the development and application of new theory, the creation of innovative computer-aided design tools, and the manufacture and characterisation of novel devices and systems enabled by the production of radically new materials. AOTOMAT will be the new standard in embedded conformal antenna design and synthesis, offering designers an unmatched combination of flexible design capabilities, concise and accessible information and exportable simulation models compatible with all major commercial EM software packages. Designers will be able to select from a collection of proprietary pre-optimised antennas designs in order to minimise the risk of exceeding budget and time constraints at early stages of the design process. Custom designs capability will be an added feature with the numerical modelling hosted on a cloudcomputing platform, where a network of remote servers will be used to distribute, exchange and optimise the customised designs.
First Year Of Impact 2017
Sector Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)
 
Description A State of the Art Review of Smart Materials: A Review of Metamaterials in the UK
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in systematic reviews
Impact This KTN report looks at metamaterials in applications involving the manipulation of magnetic radiation. This technology was developed in the defence and security field but there are potential commercial opportunities. It includes case studies highlighting interest from the communications industry, as metamaterials can improve the performance of antennae, for example.
URL https://connect.innovateuk.org/documents/2854053/3676905/A%20Review%20of%20Metamaterials%20in%20the%...
 
Description Election to Adcom Member and Chair of Publication Committee, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society.
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact The members of these committees spend a tremendous amount of effort in activities that may not be particularly glamorous but are absolutely critical to the technical advancement of our field.
URL https://www.ieeeaps.org/103-current-committee-members/strategic-planning/454-strategic-planning
 
Description IET reacts to Industrial Strategy White Paper
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
Impact Dear Yang Thank you for joining us at the Pillar 8 Industrial Strategy workshop on Cultivating World Leading Sectors in March. All of your comments were fed back into the report, which has now been completed and is available to download here: http://www.theiet.org/policy/ind-strat/ind-strat.cfm?type=pdf The IET will be continuing its work in this area, and we are currently supporting the Government commissioned Review of Industrial Digitalisation led by Juergen Maier, UK CEO of Siemens, as part of the process of developing an Industrial Strategy for the UK. An important part of this review is to understand the barriers that prevent investment/adoption of digital technology. Uptake in the UK is too low and the Government wants to understand why that is and more importantly what policies should be considered to improve investment and increase UK productivity. It is an opportunity for you to directly influence Government industrial policy as it applies to Digital technology in Industry and as such I very much hope that you will invest 10 minutes to make your voice heard. Please use the link to complete the survey: http://industrialdigitalisation.org.uk/your-voice/ Please do let me know if you have any questions. Kind regards Hannah Hannah Conway Project Coordinator The Institution of Engineering and Technology T: +44 (0)1438 767266 M: +44 (0)7725 207925
URL https://www.theiet.org/policy/media/press-releases/Industrial_strategy_white_paper_2017.cfm
 
Description London Regional Defence and Security Cluster organisation
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact The LRDSC holds a number of values that are at the core of what it has been formed to achieve. We expect all members to uphold the same values: Collaboration: Encouraging collaborative working and partnerships to broaden outreach and increase efficiency Innovation: Fostering and incubating novel ideas and innovation Respect: Inclusivity of membership and opportunity to thrive for all, including the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion. Representation: Providing a sector voice and representation, helping to shape the future of D&S People: Investing in our workforce through education, training and skills development
 
Description Machine learning and manufacturing
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact The Royal Society is currently carrying out a project on machine learning, which is considering the potential of this technology, and the challenges that come with it.
URL http://blogs.royalsociety.org/in-verba/2016/08/09/machine-learning-and-manufacturing/
 
Description Member of Management Board for the SPF (Strategic Priority Fund): AI for Science and Government Programme at the Alan Turing Institute.
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
Impact Providing expert advice to the Institute on the development and management of world- leading research and enterprise activities for strategic funding allocation.
 
Description Member of enterprise committee for the Royal Academy of Engineering
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact In particular, I have contributed to the draft of responses to the following questions: • Do you agree with our characterisations of the issues facing UK SMEs, and our potential solutions to these issues? • Are there any other themes, issues or solutions that we have missed? • Is there any work by other organisations on the topics we have included that it would be useful to cite? • Are there any issues or solutions that are candidates for removal?
 
Description Member of membership committee for the Royal Academy of Engineering
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact policy changes including EDI considerations in FREng election etc
 
Description member of ERC starting grant evaluation panel
Geographic Reach Europe 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
Impact The ERC Work Programme will no longer include detailed prescriptive profiles of principal investigators. In the application, the Curriculum Vitae and Track Record will be merged into one document of up to four pages. The applicant will be expected to include - apart from standard biographical information - a list of up to ten research outputs that demonstrate how they have advanced knowledge in their field, with an emphasis on more recent achievements, and a list of selected examples of significant peer recognition (for example, prizes). A short explanation of the significance of the selected outputs, the applicant's role in producing each of them, and how the applicant has demonstrated their capacity to successfully carry out the proposed project can also be included. The applicant may also include relevant information on, for example, career breaks, unusual career paths, as well as any particularly noteworthy contributions to the research community. These will not in themselves be evaluated but are important to provide context to the evaluation panels when assessing the principal investigator's research achievements and peer recognition in relation to their career stage.
URL https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/news/evaluation-erc-grant-proposals-what-expect-2024
 
Description Adaptive Communications Transmission Interface (ACTI)
Amount £2,000,000 (GBP)
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2017 
End 09/2020
 
Description DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC MATERIAL DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING FOR FUTURE WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY (DREAM)
Amount £2,579,837 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/X02542X/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2023 
End 02/2028
 
Description Dstl PhD studentship on software defined materials
Amount £120,000 (GBP)
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2019 
End 07/2022
 
Description Frequency Agile Antennas
Amount £300,000 (GBP)
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2019 
End 09/2022
 
Description Multi-functional sensor designs based on graphene
Amount £100,000 (GBP)
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2019 
End 09/2020
 
Description SOFTWARE DEFINED MATERIALS FOR DYNAMIC CONTROL OF ELECTROMAGENTIC WAVES (ANIMATE)
Amount £1,631,777 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/R035393/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2018 
End 08/2022
 
Description SYnthesizing 3D METAmaterials for RF, microwave and THz applications (SYMETA)
Amount £4,000,000 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/N010493/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2016 
End 02/2021
 
Description TERAhertz high power LINKS using photonic devices, tube amplifiers and Smart antennas (TERALINKS)
Amount € 1,000,000 (EUR)
Funding ID EP/P016421/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2017 
End 12/2018
 
Description THz Antenna Fabrication and Measurement Facilities (TERRA)
Amount £1,232,783 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/S010009/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2018 
End 11/2021
 
Description Transmission Channels Measurements and Communication System Design for Future mmWave Communications (mmWave TRACCS)
Amount £491,424 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/W026732/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2022 
End 05/2026
 
Title AOTOMAT design tools based on transformation optics, optimization and AI/ML design 
Description AOTOMAT has created a new standard in embedded conformal antenna and electromagnetic designs and synthesis, offering engineers an unmatched combination of flexible design capabilities, concise and accessible information and exportable simulation models compatible with all major commercial EM software packages. Engineers will be able to select from a collection of proprietary pre-optimised antennas designs in order to minimise the risk of exceeding budget and time constraints at early stages of the design process. Custom design capability will be an added feature with the numerical modelling hosted on a cloud-computing platform, where a network of remote servers will be used to distribute, exchange and optimise the customised designs. Modelling of ferroelectric-dielectric composites by knowledge and data fusion, powered by inherent natures of learning abilities of humans and machines. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact not yet 
 
Title Data from: Evaluation of the Laguerre-Gaussian mode purity produced by 3D-printed microwave spiral phase plates 
Description Computer-aided design software and additive manufacturing provide flexibility in the direct fabrication of multi-material devices. This design and fabrication versatility has been investigated for the manufacture of dielectric spiral phase plates (SPP) to generate electromagnetic waves with helical wave-fronts. Three types of SPPs designed to produce an orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode number l=|1| were additively manufactured using multi-material extrusion and multijet fabrication methods. The phase mode and mode characteristics of transformed helical microwaves as a function of the SPP geometrical features was investigated experimentally in the 12 to 18 GHz frequency range, providing high purity at characteristic frequencies. The SPPs were further combined with an additively manufactured dielectric lens that provided a marked improvement in OAM mode purity. Finally, multiplexing and de-multiplexing of two OAM modes were demonstrated successfully using the optimum SPP geometry and design. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The dataset is useful for the design of metamaterial devices, especially those for OAM functionalities 
URL http://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.31zcrjdh6
 
Description AGC Contract on Optical Transparent Antennas for future wireless communications 
Organisation AGC Chemicals Europe
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution 3D printed antennas have been co-developed with AGC for future communications in driverless automotives
Collaborator Contribution AGC has been providing system requirements, system integration and demonstration.
Impact A patent application is being prepared and a potential spinout will come out of this collaboration
Start Year 2020
 
Description Adaptive Communications Transmission Interface (ACTI) 
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Previous work will have elucidated the requirements of the beam-steering antenna for this application and (probably) the shortcomings (e.g. SWAP) of the COTS products we have hitherto used. This work aims to solve these problems by employing novel antenna techniques. The fundamental electromagnetics problem is to create steerable directional beams from a compact antenna package. This is challenging because the frequency of operation is such that the antenna structure is not large in terms of wavelengths. Compromises in bandwidth and aperture efficiency conventionally are needed to reduce size as well as a reduction in directivity. The research programme will investigate novel methods that have the potential to break this rigid paradigm.
Collaborator Contribution Provide financial and technical support on the project. Determine performance of candidate antenna/control/stack hybrids.
Impact The project has just started and more research outcomes will be reported in the next submission. This is a highly interdisciplinary collaboration involving researchers from communities in communications, wireless network, RF & Microwave Devices and antennas.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Adaptive Communications Transmission Interface (ACTI) 
Organisation Plextek
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Previous work will have elucidated the requirements of the beam-steering antenna for this application and (probably) the shortcomings (e.g. SWAP) of the COTS products we have hitherto used. This work aims to solve these problems by employing novel antenna techniques. The fundamental electromagnetics problem is to create steerable directional beams from a compact antenna package. This is challenging because the frequency of operation is such that the antenna structure is not large in terms of wavelengths. Compromises in bandwidth and aperture efficiency conventionally are needed to reduce size as well as a reduction in directivity. The research programme will investigate novel methods that have the potential to break this rigid paradigm.
Collaborator Contribution Provide financial and technical support on the project. Determine performance of candidate antenna/control/stack hybrids.
Impact The project has just started and more research outcomes will be reported in the next submission. This is a highly interdisciplinary collaboration involving researchers from communities in communications, wireless network, RF & Microwave Devices and antennas.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Adaptive Communications Transmission Interface (ACTI) 
Organisation Queen's University Belfast
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Previous work will have elucidated the requirements of the beam-steering antenna for this application and (probably) the shortcomings (e.g. SWAP) of the COTS products we have hitherto used. This work aims to solve these problems by employing novel antenna techniques. The fundamental electromagnetics problem is to create steerable directional beams from a compact antenna package. This is challenging because the frequency of operation is such that the antenna structure is not large in terms of wavelengths. Compromises in bandwidth and aperture efficiency conventionally are needed to reduce size as well as a reduction in directivity. The research programme will investigate novel methods that have the potential to break this rigid paradigm.
Collaborator Contribution Provide financial and technical support on the project. Determine performance of candidate antenna/control/stack hybrids.
Impact The project has just started and more research outcomes will be reported in the next submission. This is a highly interdisciplinary collaboration involving researchers from communities in communications, wireless network, RF & Microwave Devices and antennas.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Adaptive Communications Transmission Interface (ACTI) 
Organisation University of Liverpool
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Previous work will have elucidated the requirements of the beam-steering antenna for this application and (probably) the shortcomings (e.g. SWAP) of the COTS products we have hitherto used. This work aims to solve these problems by employing novel antenna techniques. The fundamental electromagnetics problem is to create steerable directional beams from a compact antenna package. This is challenging because the frequency of operation is such that the antenna structure is not large in terms of wavelengths. Compromises in bandwidth and aperture efficiency conventionally are needed to reduce size as well as a reduction in directivity. The research programme will investigate novel methods that have the potential to break this rigid paradigm.
Collaborator Contribution Provide financial and technical support on the project. Determine performance of candidate antenna/control/stack hybrids.
Impact The project has just started and more research outcomes will be reported in the next submission. This is a highly interdisciplinary collaboration involving researchers from communities in communications, wireless network, RF & Microwave Devices and antennas.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Antenna Design Studies 
Organisation Qinetiq
Department QinetiQ (Farnborough)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution 1. Antenna A design studies and test of prototypes; 2. Antenna B-design studies and test of prototypes; 3. Device A-superscatter design studies and test of prototypes
Collaborator Contribution QinetiQ-provision of design guidelines at start of project-provision of prototypes for testing 3 months after initial design, noting requirement to optimise
Impact N/A
Start Year 2021
 
Description Compact Rotman Lens for 5G base station antennas 
Organisation Huawei Technologies Sweden AB
Country Sweden 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution A Rotman lens based compact beamforming system has been proposed for some time in terms of developing cost-effective beam-steering antennas. Original designs are often frequency-dependent and they are bulky for RF frequencies, which are targeted, for example, current generations of mobile communication. Conventional techniques for Rotman lens size reduction often result in increased fabrication costs and reduced antenna performance such as beam-scanning. In this proposal, we present two techniques for the miniaturisation of Rotman lens without degrading major antenna radiation performance. The new design is based on several techniques developed at Queen Mary University of London, including artificial dielectrics, metamaterials, transformation optics and advanced manufacturing. We anticipate that all proposed solutions are cost effective and can be scalable based on low cost substrate materials such as FR-4 for industrial applications.
Collaborator Contribution Huawei is funding a PDRA for 6 months for a feasibility study.
Impact The project is still ongoing.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Luneburg lens for passive radar enhancement 
Organisation Qinetiq
Department QinetiQ (Farnborough)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The lens reflector is a sphere in shape, usually composed of concentric dielectric shells. By the proper selection of dielectric constants for each shell, radar energy incident on one of the faces of the lens is focused at a point on the rear surface of the lens. The rear conductive surface reflects radar energy back to the source. The physical characteristic of a Luneburg lens varies according to its application and the frequency at which it is required to operate. To meet a variety of weapon system requirements, QinetiQ Target Systems integrates a variety of lens types into its targets. Generally these are of 7.5 inches in diameter, but alternative sizes from 4 inches to 8.7 inches in diameter are available. QMUL has been able to use TO techniques developed from QUEST and compressed the lens into compact and flat devices, which enable seamless integration with airplane frame, such as wings.
Collaborator Contribution Qinetiq provides funding, technical specifications and fabrication facilities to support this partnership.
Impact N/A
Start Year 2022
 
Description Metasurface design for HBF antennas 
Organisation Qinetiq
Department QinetiQ (Farnborough)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution This study entails the design of a holographic beam forming antenna. Holographic antennas are a type of leaky wave antenna where the feeding surface wave interacts with the radiated plane wave resulting in diffraction at the aperture. The beam shape and direction may be controlled by varying the metasurface impedance profiles, and they have the advantage that they can be thin, relatively easy to manufacture and are easier to integrate within a system due to for example an in-plane feed. Furthermore holographic beam forming overcomes the hardware expense and complexity of a phased array beamforming. The metasurfaces are formed from conductive patches on a dielectric substrate, and a number of designs have been reported in the literature, such as for example at satcom frequencies, cognitive radios and for ultra-wideband applications relating to tracking and wireless comms.
Collaborator Contribution Qinetiq provided antenna fabrication.
Impact N/A
Start Year 2020
 
Description Ofcom and Queen Mary University of London publish white paper on reflective surfaces in wireless networks 
Organisation Ofcom
Department Office of Communications (Ofcom) - Research Department
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Ofcom has undertaken a piece of technology foresight work in collaboration with Queen Mary University of London on the potential role of reflective surfaces in future wireless communications. QMUL provided the technical support including numerical simulations of reflective surfaces.
Collaborator Contribution Ofcom has provided the technical requirement, written the final white paper.
Impact White paper has been published based on a multi-disciplinary effort, which the expertise of computational electromagnetics, wireless channel modelling and system planning is involved.
Start Year 2023
 
Description SOFTWARE DEFINED MATERIALS FOR DYNAMIC CONTROL OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES (ANIMATE) 
Organisation Qinetiq
Department QinetiQ (Farnborough)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The ultimate objective of ANIMATE is to remove the traditional boundary between the designs of antennas and RF/microwave electronics as well as materials and devices, so that a generic material platform can be developed that is programmable and flexible for multifunctional applications integrating communication, sensing and computation. Specifically, in this project, we will: 1. Establish a holistic approach of software-defined materials for communication, sensing and computation, by building novel integrated and adaptive antenna technologies. 2. Integrate wireless sensor networks into the design of computer interface and control units for tunable materials to demonstrate and validate the wholly new concept of "networked materials" at subwavelength scales. 3. Exploit challenging applications of proposed antenna and material technologies with our core industrial partners at all stages of development: prototyping, manufacturing, toolbox validation, platform integration and testing. 4. Research novel active and tunable materials and investigate fundamental limits of relevant materials to industrial challenges. 5. Develop simulation tools that span from materials, device and process modeling with intricate complexities that open up the design domain significantly and enable the production of optimal structures with improved performance.
Collaborator Contribution Our industrial partners are a vital part of our impact strategy, keeping our focus on what they need for innovative devices and systems to commercialise. We have recently established a strategic collaboration with Dr Sajad Haq (SH) and his team at QinetiQ (QQ), who have committed strong financial support and co-created the ANIMATE project. Other industrial collaborators include Thales UK, Huawei, BAE Systems, Satellite Application Catapult and UK SMEs including Flann Microwaves and Plextek, et al. We have a long history of collaborations with universities (Oxford, Sheffield, Exeter and Loughborough), some of whom (SYMETA) have provided letters of support for this application.
Impact A news release from Qinetiq can be found from https://www.qinetiq.com/News/2018/06/Queen-Mary-Collaboration As the project just started, there has been no publishable outputs and outcomes.
Start Year 2018
 
Description SOFTWARE DEFINED MATERIALS FOR DYNAMIC CONTROL OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES (ANIMATE) 
Organisation Thales Group
Department Thales UK Limited
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The ultimate objective of ANIMATE is to remove the traditional boundary between the designs of antennas and RF/microwave electronics as well as materials and devices, so that a generic material platform can be developed that is programmable and flexible for multifunctional applications integrating communication, sensing and computation. Specifically, in this project, we will: 1. Establish a holistic approach of software-defined materials for communication, sensing and computation, by building novel integrated and adaptive antenna technologies. 2. Integrate wireless sensor networks into the design of computer interface and control units for tunable materials to demonstrate and validate the wholly new concept of "networked materials" at subwavelength scales. 3. Exploit challenging applications of proposed antenna and material technologies with our core industrial partners at all stages of development: prototyping, manufacturing, toolbox validation, platform integration and testing. 4. Research novel active and tunable materials and investigate fundamental limits of relevant materials to industrial challenges. 5. Develop simulation tools that span from materials, device and process modeling with intricate complexities that open up the design domain significantly and enable the production of optimal structures with improved performance.
Collaborator Contribution Our industrial partners are a vital part of our impact strategy, keeping our focus on what they need for innovative devices and systems to commercialise. We have recently established a strategic collaboration with Dr Sajad Haq (SH) and his team at QinetiQ (QQ), who have committed strong financial support and co-created the ANIMATE project. Other industrial collaborators include Thales UK, Huawei, BAE Systems, Satellite Application Catapult and UK SMEs including Flann Microwaves and Plextek, et al. We have a long history of collaborations with universities (Oxford, Sheffield, Exeter and Loughborough), some of whom (SYMETA) have provided letters of support for this application.
Impact A news release from Qinetiq can be found from https://www.qinetiq.com/News/2018/06/Queen-Mary-Collaboration As the project just started, there has been no publishable outputs and outcomes.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Software Defined Materials for Antenna Applications 
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution This project is aimed to develop a new paradigm for software defined materials with wireless sensor network at subwavelength scales, in industrial contexts, which can be programmable for current and evolving standards, security requirements and multiple functionalities. It arises from several industrial challenges relevant to the development of future wireless communication, radar and sensor systems, which require frequency agile, broadband and beam-steerable antenna solutions. It is related to topic areas including "materials for antennas" and "novel electromagnetic materials".
Collaborator Contribution The ultimate objective of this PhD project is to remove the traditional boundary between the designs of antennas and RF/microwave electronics as well as materials and devices, so that a generic material platform can be developed that is programmable and flexible for multifunctional applications integrating communication, sensing and computation.
Impact The project is about to start and PhD recruitment is in the process.
Start Year 2019
 
Description Spatial SpANiel Antennas (Spatial Antenna Network Intelligence) 
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution This project supports AOTOMAT, our recent spinout company from QMUL founded by Prof. Yang Hao and Dr Henry Giddens in partnership with Queen Mary Innovation, the technology Transfer Office of QMUL. AOTOMAT uses a suite of proprietary modelling and design tools to develop new electromagnetic devices, materials and systems that are based on recent advances in electromagnetics, atomistic-scale materials, meta-heuristic optimisation and data-driven modelling. The AOTOMAT technology is robust and minimises the cost of design, development and prototyping of complex EM devices. In particular, AOTOMAT technology is focused on designing antennas and EM devices such as lenses which are suitable for 3D printing and additive manufacturing. The AOTOMAT design tools utilise a number of methods such as TO and multi-objective constrained optimisation of 3-dimenaional EM devices. Importantly, these are tailored to account for the limitations of differing manufacturing methodologies. Recently, AOTOMAT's technology has been used to generate 3D printed lens designs for car windscreen antennas with mm-wave beam tilting for next generation automotive communications.
Collaborator Contribution AOTOMAT will be subcontracted by QMUL to deliver new designs of various lens antennas that are suitable for 3D printing using their propriety design tools. Any IP that is developed by AOTOMAT in the development of the design tools used in the this work relating specifically to the TO and Electromagnetic Optimisation design process will be retained by the company. All final designs and the details of the design process will be provided in the technical documentation provided during and at the end of the project. The physical antennas and their individual designs will be owned by DSTL.
Impact This project supports AOTOMAT, our recent spinout company from QMUL founded by Prof. Yang Hao and Dr Henry Giddens in partnership with Queen Mary Innovation, the technology Transfer Office of QMUL.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Wearable antennas 
Organisation Qinetiq
Department QinetiQ (Farnborough)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The aims of the design and optimisation process remain reduction in the size, weight and power requirements associated with the antenna. In the core programme two design, manufacture and test iterations are provided for. Testing at the conclusion of the first phase will involve the antenna, feed and artificial magnetic conductor only. At the conclusion of the second phase, the antenna is to be tested on a human phantom.
Collaborator Contribution QinetiQ will provide data on available dielectric materials-with initial work starting from a value of er=3. It is also desired to operate the antenna conformally on a soldier's body, therefore it must be integrated onto an artificial magnetic conductor. QinetiQ will separately design a suitable surface and provide a model of that surface to QMUL for integration into the overall antenna optimisation process (underway). QinetiQ will also undertake antenna manufacture.
Impact N/A
Start Year 2021
 
Company Name Aotomat Limited 
Description  
Year Established 2021 
Impact The company was just set up but we have started to receive the contract from the industrial and government partners.
 
Description Collaborating with Queen Mary University of London on advanced materials 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact The news release has drawn attentions within the industry/business on a recent funded EPSRC project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.qinetiq.com/News/2018/06/Queen-Mary-Collaboration
 
Description Isotropic Systems Raises $14 Million in Series A Funding Led by Boeing HorizonX Ventures to Advance Space-Based Connectivity 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Yang Hao was the board director until 2018 for Isotropic System Limited. The company is still doing well and recently announced a $14 million Series A round of funding led by Boeing HorizonX Ventures, with participation from WML, Space Angels and Space Capital.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.isotropicsystems.com/news/2019/1/15/isotropic-systems-raises-14-million-in-series-a-fund...
 
Description Keynote Speaker at ACEM, Nanjing, August 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact This is a keynote delivery for research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Keynote Speaker at ANTEM, Waterloo, Canada, August 2018. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This is a keynote speech on Transformation Optics.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Keynote Speaker at RINEM, the 26th Italian National Meeting on Electromagnetics, Cagliari, Italy, September 2018. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This is a keynote delivery on transformation optics.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Keynote Speaker at Sigma Symposium 2018: "LED there be light", Nijmegen, Netherland, April 17, 2018. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact This is a talk at workshop organized by students.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Keynote Speaker at iWAT, Florida, USA, March 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact This is a keynote speech on our current research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Keynote Speaker at iWAT, Florida, USA, March 2019. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact A keynote speech was given on metamaterials and hyperuniform disorder metasurfaces
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL http://iwat2019.org/conference/sessions
 
Description Next Generation of Antenna Research Secured with £1.2M Grant 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact New contracts and contacts have been made, a joint lab is in process with several companies.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.iconnect007.com/index.php/article/113055/next-generation-of-antenna-research-secured-with...
 
Description Scientists develop AI technology which can tell how someone is feeling, Daily Mail, 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact This is a news release on our recent work on the detection of human emotion using wireless signals.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9233749/Scientists-develop-AI-technology-tell-feeling.html
 
Description • Qinetiq new strategic partnership with Queen Mary University of London is set to deepen and enhance our commitment to investing in partnerships with academia and will drive forward innovation in the field of advanced materials. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact ANIMATE is an advanced materials programme led by Queen Mary University of London under the leadership of Professor Yang Hao. It is funded by industry and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) which is the main UK government agency for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences. QinetiQ works collaboratively with a range of UK universities on research projects that are funded by the EPSRC.

On this particular project, our involvement will:

Provide the mechanism for transitioning of technology into new products
Help new products to create revenue across the wider UK supply chain
Engage current and future customers from inception of the programme
Provide £300K to fund three PhD studentships in this area

ANIMATE is specifically focusing on synthesising a new class of software-defined smart materials which have properties that can be modified by a software-controlled digital hardware, enabling new functionalities for alternative applications to be added simply by loading or updating new software. In doing this, we will create a generic systems platform that is programmable and flexible for multi-functional applications, enabling integrated communication, sensing and computation. We expect that the first generation products which could be marketed will be in the areas of multi-functional antennas, compressive sensing and imaging.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.qinetiq.com/News/2018/06/Queen-Mary-Collaboration