Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2025
08:25
Construction of a Wireless-Enabled Endoscopically Implantable Sensor for pH Monitoring with Zero-Bias Schottky Diode-based Receiver
Published on: August 27, 2021
2.7K
Stainless-Steel Antenna on Conductive Substrate for an SHM Sensor System with High Power Demand.
Sarah Bornemann1, Jan Niklas Haus2, Michael Sinapius3
1Institute for Microsensors, Actuators and Systems, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 10, 2021
Summary
This study introduces a novel planar coil antenna integrated into fiber metal laminates (FMLs) for structural health monitoring (SHM). The developed antenna effectively harvests wireless power for self-sustained sensor nodes within composite materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
Background:
- Structural health monitoring (SHM) requires integrated, self-sustained sensor nodes within composite materials.
- Existing antenna solutions face challenges with inhomogeneous conductive substrates like carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP).
- Antenna performance is often dependent on the specific layer configuration of composite materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and investigate a novel planar coil antenna integrated into the outermost stainless-steel layer of fiber metal laminates (FMLs).
- To ensure the antenna functions effectively on inhomogeneous conductive substrates (e.g., CFRP) irrespective of layer configuration.
- To create a wireless, self-sustained sensor node for embedded SHM systems.
Main Methods:
- Investigated antenna performance on various FML and CFRP stack-ups.
- Developed strategies to mitigate substrate influences on antenna characteristics.
- Conducted mechanical investigations for antenna shape optimization to minimize material damage.
- Performed electrical investigations to validate the on-conductor optimization concept.
- Introduced a fabrication process for the integrated antennas.
Main Results:
- The novel antenna design functions effectively on inhomogeneous conductive substrates.
- Demonstrated strategies to overcome configuration-dependent performance variations.
- Identified antenna shapes minimizing mechanical impact on the FML material.
- A prototype antenna structure successfully delivered up to 11 mW of wireless power to an embedded sensor node.
Conclusions:
- The integrated planar coil antenna is a viable solution for wireless power transfer in embedded SHM systems.
- The antenna design overcomes substrate inhomogeneity challenges in composite materials.
- The developed system enables self-sustained sensor nodes within FML components for structural monitoring.
