MMLPA: Multilayered Metamaterial Low Profile Antenna for IoT Applications

Abstract

Nowadays, within the concept of Internet of Things (IoT), smart homes, smart factory, intelligent transportation, smart agriculture networks among others, are infrastructure systems that connect our world to the Internet. However, wireless communications technology, such as wireless cellular networks, wireless area networks, wireless sensor networks, and vehicular communications among others, are considerably constrained by complicated structures, and lossy media in complex environments. Fundamental limitations on the transmission range have been treated to connect IoT devices in complex environments. In order to extend the transmission range in complex environments, Magnetic Induction (MI) communication has been proved to be an efficient solution. In this thesis, Multilayered Metamaterial Low Profile Antennas (MMLPA) using Magnetic Induction communication scheme are designed and prototyped for IoT applications. The channel model of the MMLPA system is analyzed. Then four models of MMLPA system are designed by using circular loop antennas backed with isotropic metamaterial which is considered as Defected Ground Structure (DGS) as well as with anisotropic metamaterial for the purpose of dielectric uniaxial metamaterial. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that investigates the performance of a magnetic loop antenna coil backed with multiple layers of isotropic and anisotropic metamaterials for IoT applications in environment that are hostile, RF challenged, and especially in the vicinity of metal. By using a full-wave finite-element method, the proposed analysis is supported with simulation results where good agreement is achieved compared to the measurement results after realizing four prototypes of the MMLPA antennas. The effect of the presence of metal in the vicinity of the transceivers is also analyzed. A MMLPA-IoT system is developed for IoT applications.