Exploration of intercell wireless millimeter-wave communication in the landscape of intelligent metasurfaces

Software-defined metasurfaces are electromagnetically ultra-thin, artificial components thatcan provide engineered and externally controllable functionalities. The control over these functionalities isenabled by the metasurface tunability, which is implemented by embedded electronic circuits that modifylocally the surface resistance and reactance. Integrating controllers within the metasurface able them tointercommunicate and adaptively reconfigure, thus imparting a desired electromagnetic operation, opens thepath towards the creation of an artificially intelligent (AI) fabric where each unit cell can have its own sensing,programmable computing, and actuation facilities. In this work we take a crucial step towards bringing theAI metasurface technology to emerging applications, in particular exploring the wireless mm-wave intercellcommunication capabilities in a software-defined HyperSurface designed for operation in the microwaveregime. We examine three different wireless communication channels within the landscape of the reflectivemetasurface: Firstly, in the layer where the control electronics of the HyperSurface lie, secondly inside adedicated layer enclosed between two metallic plates, and, thirdly, inside the metasurface itself. For each casewe examine the physical implementation of the mm-wave transceiver nodes, we quantify communicationchannel metrics, and we identify complexity vs. performance trade-offs.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Electrical and Computer Engineering Annual Report 2015

Faculty Directory Faculty Awards Google ATAP—Michigan Tech MURA The Sound Beneath the Surface Advancing Microgrid Deployment Clearing the Air Power in Their Hands Faculty Publications Graduate Student Highlights Staff Profile—Chito Kendrick New ECE Concentrations SLAM Systems Senior Design and Enterprise External Advisory Committee Contracts and Grants Departmental Statistics Lind Memorial Endowed Fellowshiphttps://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/ece-annualreports/1003/thumbnail.jp

Electrical and Computer Engineering Annual Report 2015

Faculty Directory Faculty Awards Google ATAP—Michigan Tech MURA The Sound Beneath the Surface Advancing Microgrid Deployment Clearing the Air Power in Their Hands Faculty Publications Graduate Student Highlights Staff Profile—Chito Kendrick New ECE Concentrations SLAM Systems Senior Design and Enterprise External Advisory Committee Contracts and Grants Departmental Statistics Lind Memorial Endowed Fellowshiphttps://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/ece-annualreports/1003/thumbnail.jp

Design Optimization of Three-Layered Metamaterial Acoustic Absorbers Based on PVC Reused Membrane and Metal Washers

Waste management represents a critical issue that industrialized countries must necessarily deal with. Sustainable architecture involves the reuse of materials with the aim of significantly reducing the amount of waste produced. In this study, a new layered membrane metamaterial was developed based on three layers of a reused PVC membrane and reused metal washers attached. The membranes were fixed to a rigid support, leaving a cavity between the stacked layers. The samples were used to measure the sound absorption coefficient with an impedance tube. Different configurations were analyzed, changing the number of masses attached to each layer and the geometry of their position. These measurements were subsequently used to train a model based on artificial neural networks for the prediction of the sound absorption coefficient. This model was then used to identify the metamaterial configuration that returns the best absorption performance. The designed metamaterial behaves like an acoustic absorber even at low frequencies

A comparison of processing techniques for producing prototype injection moulding inserts.

This project involves the investigation of processing techniques for producing low-cost moulding inserts used in the particulate injection moulding (PIM) process. Prototype moulds were made from both additive and subtractive processes as well as a combination of the two. The general motivation for this was to reduce the entry cost of users when considering PIM. PIM cavity inserts were first made by conventional machining from a polymer block using the pocket NC desktop mill. PIM cavity inserts were also made by fused filament deposition modelling using the Tiertime UP plus 3D printer. The injection moulding trials manifested in surface finish and part removal defects. The feedstock was a titanium metal blend which is brittle in comparison to commodity polymers. That in combination with the mesoscale features, small cross-sections and complex geometries were considered the main problems. For both processing methods, fixes were identified and made to test the theory. These consisted of a blended approach that saw a combination of both the additive and subtractive processes being used. The parts produced from the three processing methods are investigated and their respective merits and issues are discussed