Ifana of University Illinois Chicago

Abstract: This talk highlights the next generation of wireless power transfer (WPT) network concept that is scalable, safe, and efficient and can be deployed in a UAS by incorporating waveform engineering, electromechanical beamforming, integrated phased-array antenna, and transmitter (TX)/receiver (RX) co-design. Although interest in radiative (far-field) WPT using beamforming has been growing rapidly because of its capability to energize a large number of autonomous devices, most of these works are still in the theoretical phase without any practical implementation. This talk presents the implementation of a distributed beamforming network using a bottom-up approach (from the antenna to the inter-connected network) that is highly important for addressing the challenges associated with a dynamically changing environment. Practical system-level implementation strategies and multi-scale and multi-technique approaches to building a resilient WPT network for UAVs will be discussed. First, the challenges associated with the dual approach of electrical beamforming and the mechanical steering of the TX antennas to maximize the RF-RF link efficiency will be discussed. Secondly, an investigation of the efficient rectifier circuitry designed on-chip as well as commercial off-the-shelf components (COTS) to maximize the power conversion efficiency RF-DC efficiency will be presented. Finally, future research directions on increasing the power transfer distance to scale up the amount of power delivered to the load for the proposed wireless power beaming network system will be highlighted.

Biography:

Dr. Ifana Mahbub is the director of the Integrated Biomedical Radiofrequency Circuits and Systems Laboratory (iBioRFCASL). Dr. Mahbub works on ultrawideband and mm-wave phased-array antenna systems for long-range power beaming applications and V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) communication for UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), focusing on the RF and microwave components and miniaturized antenna designs. Dr. Mahbub is the recipient of the NSF Career Award (2020), and DARPA Young Faculty Award (2021), and DARPA Director’s Fellowship (2023). She received a B.Sc. degree (2012) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, and a Ph.D. degree (2017) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is an Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Antenna and Propagation. She is a senior member of various IEEE societies and also serves as the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society’s Region 5 coordinator of the Membership and Geographic Activities (MGA) Committee. She also serves as the vice-chair for the URSI Commission K and is a full member of Commission B.

Email:

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