05Research Assistant, Mueller Lab

MIT CSAIL

On a project called Metantenna, I helped improve a microstrip patch antenna by reshaping its conducting patch using 2D and 3D auxetic metamaterial geometry.

01. Research

Study the geometry

Studied auxetic wallpaper patterns as a basis for tunable antenna geometry.

02. Fabricate

Laser-cut and print

Laser-cut 2D patterns into silicone rubber sheets in open and closed states, then modeled and 3D-printed compressible cylinders using Fusion 360, SolidWorks, and Illustrator.

03. Test

Ground testing

Ground-tested multiple pattern designs and orientations at MIT Lincoln Laboratory.

In detail

Auxetic wallpaper pattern laser-cut into a silicone rubber sheet, shown in its open state.

A second wallpaper pattern, cut with rigid inserts between cells to change how the sheet compresses.

From 2D to 3D: an FDM-printed compressible cylinder, circularly patterned (trial 3).

Outcome

−21.5 dB

Best-performing design at 1.585 GHz in the open orientation (−24.4 dB at 1.540 GHz closed), compared to −7.85 dB for the simplest grid pattern.