Air force probes enhanced antennas.[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Air Force-funded research on holographic See holographic storage. impedance impedance, in electricity, measure in ohms of the degree to which an electric circuit resists the flow of electric current when a voltage is impressed across its terminals. surfaces is expected to yield advanced antennas that will give aircraft improved aerodynamics aerodynamics, study of gases in motion. As the principal application of aerodynamics is the design of aircraft, air is the gas with which the science is most concerned. . The cutting edge study is being performed by HRL HRL Hughes Research Laboratories HRL Harlingen, TX, USA (Airport Code) HRL Hunter River Lancers HRL Health Research Laboratory HRL Horizontal Reference Line HRL Home Run League (adult Wiffle ball league) Laboratories in Malibu, Calif., under an Air Force Office of Scientific Research contract. "We are using a design technique that is similar to how people make holograms. We can potentially make antennas that are completely flush with the surface of the air craft, but have the same or better performance as those that protrude pro·trude v. 1. To push or thrust outward. 2. To jut out; project. from the aircraft using today's techniques," said Daniel F. Sievenpiper, lead researcher at the lab. This technology also holds out the promise of eliminating on board radar interference. The Air Force's Arje Nachman said that the tail of an airplane could be covered with a "suitably crafted impedance surface in such a way that the antenna beam 'flows' around the tail as if weren't there." |
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