Imagine a portable satellite antenna that is not only super lightweight, but can fold up like a sock: it is what they invented the brains at the American University of Beirut and Stanford. It's made of a special material that looks like fabric, and the great thing is that it adapts to different frequencies. It's like having a Swiss army knife for telecommunications, whether for chatting with someone on the other side of the world or sending signals into space.
Technology beyond conventional boundaries
Satellite communications have always represented an area of great interest and technological development. Most of us associate satellite antennas with large, static and bulky parabolic structures. Could it sustain this status in an era where portability and flexibility have become fundamental?
As if on purpose, a group of researchers has changed the game with this portable antenna, presented in a study in Nature (I link it here).
An ingenious design
The antenna created is a surprising example of applied engineering. Does it have anything resembling DNA? Well. You say it. It consists of two intertwined helices: one conductive and the other insulating. Its modular structure allows it to be extended up to approximately 30 centimetres, becoming omnidirectional. When not in use, it can be easily folded into a ring 12,7 centimeters in diameter and 2,54 centimeters high, weighing less than 57 grams.
Portable antenna: versatility and future applications
This portable antenna is not just an innovation for terrestrial communications. Its lightness and ability to be folded could also prove invaluable for future space missions. It is easy to imagine how this device could find application on satellites or other space equipment, where every gram saved can make a difference.
In summary, this innovative textile antenna further advances communications by making them increasingly accessible, efficient and versatile. As always, science continues to push the boundaries of what we thought was possible, opening the door to an increasingly connected tomorrow.
