ENHANCED DISINFECTION OF FOOD HANDLING EQUIPMENT

Not Available Ultra-Wideband (UWB) antennas for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been a challenge for some time, due to size and weight requirements. Such antennas can aid a number of missions in a cost-effective manner, including Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Foliage Penetration (FOPEN), Ground Moving Target Indicators (GMTI) and Counter-Camouflage Concealment and Deception (CC&D). UAVs have been shown to be a cost-effective method of carrying out these missions, but without the right antennas, these missions may fall short of their goals. The antennas required for these missions must be effective over a broad bandwidth, and they can induce only minimal drag on the surface of the aircraft. The frequencies of interest extend as low as 25 MHz. It is at the low end of the band where size constraints are most challenging. Obtaining a good antenna pattern is a challenge unless the antenna is the same size as a wavelength. Impedance matching over a broad bandwidth is also a challenge, because electrically small antennas normally have a matching circuit that provides a good match only within a very narrow band. Another challenge lies in steering the beam electronically. To address these challenges, we propose developing a crossed linear dipole array along the bottom of the fuselage and wing that is flush with the aircraft surface. We will explore antennas that reach as low as 25 MHz, with a decade of bandwidth. Designs that introduce minimal drag will be considered. We will calculate the antenna pattern, and we will calculate impedance match and radiation efficiency. We will also consider how to design systems with two polarizations. Finally, we will explore the patterns available after steering the beam using phase shifters. During Phase I we will build and test a scale model of a candidate array element.