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Flexible Graphene-Based S-Band Metasurface Conformal Array Antenna for UAV Platforms
Jinling Li1, Peng Li1, Meng Zeng1
1Hubei Engineering Research Center of RF-Microwave Technology and Application, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 12, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a flexible, lightweight graphene antenna for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The conformal metasurface array antenna offers beam control for stable communication, demonstrating a practical solution for airborne applications.
Area of Science:
- Electromagnetics and Applied Physics
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
Background:
- Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) require integrated antennas that are lightweight, low-profile, and conformal to wing surfaces.
- Existing antenna solutions often face challenges in meeting these demanding integration requirements for UAV platforms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate an S-band flexible conformal metasurface array antenna using graphene-assembled film (GAF) for UAV wing integration.
- To achieve effective beam control and stable directional radiation for enhanced UAV communication.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a flexible conformal antenna using highly conductive graphene-assembled film (GAF) as the conductor and a polyimide (PI) substrate.
- Integration of a dipole antenna with directive and reflective frequency selective surfaces (FSS) to control radiation patterns.
- Utilized full-wave simulations (CST Studio Suite) and experimental measurements for performance validation.
Main Results:
- The GAF conformal antenna operates over 2.19-2.65 GHz, achieving a gain of 4.65 dBi at 2.4 GHz.
- Measured reflection coefficients below -10 dB at 2.4 GHz and effective adjacent-element isolation were observed for the antenna and array.
- Simulated beam scanning capability within the ±40° range was confirmed for the GAF array antenna.
Conclusions:
- Graphene-assembled film (GAF) is a feasible material for high-efficiency radiators and frequency selective surface (FSS) beamforming structures in airborne antennas.
- The developed GAF conformal antenna and array offer a practical, lightweight, and low-profile solution for wing-integrated communication systems on UAVs.