Adaptive 3D Printed Nitinol Antenna Opens Up Possibilities for Military and Space Research

Antennas are essential for wireless communications, navigation, radar, radio communication and science. Their main function is to receive or transmit electromagnetic waves. Until now, antennas were rigid and inflexible, something that is about to change thanks to a project by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Baltimore. The project began in 2019 and the goal was to develop 3D technologies and shape-memory alloys for antennas that can deform independently based on temperature. These 3D printed antennas could contribute to the future of military and space research.

The innovative 3D printed antenna is designed to dynamically adapt to a wider range of radio frequencies and replace traditional antennas thanks to its greater flexibility. The idea for the project came from Jennifer Hollenbeck, who was inspired by the science fiction series The Expanse. In this series, aliens use organic technology to change shape. She explains, “I have spent my career working with antennas and wrestling with the constraints imposed by their fixed shape. I knew APL had the expertise to create something different.”

Photo Credits: Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

The antenna was 3D printed from a nickel-titanium alloy, also known as Nitinol, one of the most popular shape memory alloys. This means that the alloy can recover its original shape after deformation when heated to a certain temperature, which is ideal for applications where materials must adapt to changing conditions. However, 3D printing posed some difficulties, such as printing the alloy in complex structures, as it deformed during fabrication and reacted to heat. Hollenbeck stressed, “It turned out to be a really complicated design, and it didn’t work as well as I would have liked.”