Textile Based Antennas

Abstract

The increasing desire to internet the soldier on the battlefield requires a new approach to outfit the soldier with communications systems capable of operating in multiple frequency domains as shown in Table 1. Outfitting the soldier with multiple unwieldy antennas often results in the equipment being left behind, used improperly or broken. The ultimate in unobtrusive antennas is one that conforms to the body and does not interfere with the normal degrees of freedom of the soldier's uniform. Conformal antennas mounted on the body must take into account the electrical properties of the body, particularly at frequencies above 30 MHz. In addition, integration into the textile structure requires that the antenna be isolated from effects of clothing usage including clothing movement, wet operation, washing, and mechanical abrasion.