PDMS-Based U-Slotted Patch and Meander Line Antennas for Search and Rescue Applications

Abstract

This study focuses on the development of a low-profile meander line-based antenna as well as a U-slotted patch antenna that was built specifically for the requirements of search and rescue operations. Both of these antennas serve as the primary focus of this investigation. Both the meander line antenna and the U-slotted patch antenna that are being considered are planned to be constructed on a substrate that is made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). PDMS is selected because of its desired features, which include its durability, flexibility, resistance to water, and adaptability for deployment in demanding environmental circumstances. The usage of the search and rescue application necessitates the operation at a relatively lower frequency of 406 MHz, which in turn necessitates the utilization of antennas that have a longer electrical length. As a consequence of this, these antennas have a propensity to have larger physical dimensions. In order to circumvent the problem, it is possible to make use of U-Slotted Patch and Meander Line Antennas, which will result in a smaller dimension. This was proved by the results of the simulation, which showed that the antenna functioned at a central frequency of 406 MHz, displaying a bandwidth of 40.5 MHz for the U-slotted patch antenna and 67.49 MHz for the meander line antenna, respectively. Concerning the two antennas, these bandwidths were equivalent to a fractional bandwidth percentage of 9.9% and 16.55%, respectively, when evaluated at -10 dB of the reflection coefficient.