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MEMS-Enabled Smart Reconfigurable Antennas

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX09CB67C
Agency Tracking Number: 070210
Amount: $599,950.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2009
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
2019 Georgetown Blvd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
United States
DUNS: 118732838
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Tayfun Ozdemir
 Principal Investigator
 (734) 734-4558
 online@virtualem.com
Business Contact
 Tayfun Ozdemir
Title: President
Phone: (734) 734-4558
Research Institution
 Purdue University
 
302 Wood Street, 7th Floor
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2040
United States

 (765) 494-1066
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

A prototype wearable smart reconfigurable antenna for the Suit will be built to be used during NASA's EVA operations on lunar surface. The design is based on the Self-Structuring Antenna (SSA) technology utilizing MEMS switches for configuration of the aperture. Electrothermally and electrostatically actuated MEMS were studied via modeling and experiments and electrostatically actuated switches were recommended for use in Phase II due to their low actuation power requirements. The proposed smart antenna offers both adaptive beam steering and MIMO options for increasing the signal to noise ratio (SNR) and extending range. The antenna provides enhanced RF link for surface-to-surface voice, data, and video communication while also supporting contingency voice communication with the Lunar Relay Satellites (LRS). The technology is expected to reach TRL of 6 at the end of Phase II.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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