SLS Ultra Wideband Antenna
SLS Ultra wideband Antennas for Military Applications
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an advanced manufacturing process by which parts are "grown" layer by layer out of raw material, so that complex and challenging shapes can be produced in a rugged and lightweight manner. Selective Laser Sintering has traditionally been used in a number of industries, but the use of SLS in manufacturing antennas, particularly ultra wideband antennas, is new.
SLS ultra wideband antennas are a leading edge technology for military tactical communications and information warfare. Time non-dispersive SLS ultra wideband antennas can transmit and receive ultra wideband (impulse type) signals. This makes SLS ultra wideband antennas future-proof against emerging signal technologies. Furthermore, SLS ultra wideband antennas can transmit or receive across the full spectrum of narrowband frequencies of interest, such that the entire frequency range can be covered via a single SLS ultra wideband antenna.
This enables minimizing the space and weight required on the platform, simplifies system integration/upgrade/maintenance, and reduces the platform’s visual and radar signature.
SLS ultra wideband antennas can be highly advantageous for weight sensitive platforms and applications, such as man-portable, team-transportable and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Although in the past antennas have been a limiting factor for system performance, that is no longer the case with today’s SLS ultra wideband antennas, which enable high-performance transmit and receive of a wide variety of signals.
Selecting an SLS ultra wideband antenna is primarily based on the available space (height and diameter) and maximum weight. A well designed SLS ultra wideband antenna can achieve the maximum possible frequency range coverage within a given volume and weight. The low end of the frequency range is typically determined by the antenna height and the high end is typically determined by the connector type. The antenna’s frequency range is defined by the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) being < 3. With an SLS ultra wideband antenna, the ratio of the high end frequency to the low end frequency is 10:1 or greater.
Other areas to select are the polarization type (vertical linear polarization is typical for military antennas, particularly SLS ultra wideband antennas for tactical communications) and the radiation pattern type (omnidirectional or directional).
Further information that may be of relevance in selecting an SLS ultra wideband antenna includes the boresite gain at the minimum or maximum frequency, the minimum and/or maximum beamwidth, and the maximum VSWR requirement (if any). It may also be helpful to determine whether the antenna can be customized towards particular mounting/install requirements.
The selection of an appropriate SLS ultra wideband antenna for information warfare or military tactical communications is based on a number of parameters, derived from the end user’s operational requirements. Selecting the right SLS ultra wideband antenna can significantly improve performance for a variety of platforms and applications.
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