ENSC-43 | Helical Antenna Array Feed Network

The ENSC-43 team worked with the Smart Antenna Radio Lab (SARL) on a hybrid electro-mechanical project to feed a multi-element helical antenna array to improve manufacturability and cost of such systems. The antenna array is comprised of two pairs of co-polarized helices with left-hand circular (LHC) and right-hand circular (RHC) polarization respectively. The feed network was designed, simulated, and optimized using Ansys HFSS on a double-layer PCB that connects to the helical antenna array. The team iteratively designed, prototyped, and tested in-house using the LPKF U4 Protolaser and the SARL full-anechoic chamber, ultimately submitting the design for out-of-house manufacturing. This dual-polarized array, when completed, will facilitate interference mitigation and covert communications by using polarization modulation.

» Christopher Chock, Electrical Eng.

» Joshua Sonn, Electrical Engineering

» Michael Erickson, Electrical Engineering

» Colin Guy, Mechanical Engineering

» Jared Marshall, Mechanical Engineering

ADVISOR: Bob Conley

DAB: Wayne Johnson

SPONSOR: Gonzaga SARL

LIAISON: Bob Conley, Steve Schennum