SurFlow™- Secure wireless data transmission through composite structures without use of wire harness or fibre optics

SurFlow™ enables secure transmission of data through composite structures using electromagnetic (EM) surface waves without the use of any wiring harness or fibre optics. Surface waves were commonly encountered as ground waves, referring to the propagation of radio waves along the surface of the Earth, and following its curvature. Until TWI discovered how to design the composite in such a manner that EM surface waves can propagate, no other successful attempts have been made. SurFlow™ works on glass, carbon, aramid and natural fibre composites. In order for the technology to work, there are three main requirements; surface wave launching/transmitting transducer, surface wave receiving transducer, and surface wave propagation medium. The innovation has been to match the properties of the composite fibres, matrix and the stacking sequence to the signal transmission frequency in such a way to as enable the composite structure to become the medium for surface wave propagation. Furthermore, depending on the frequency, the composite requires a dielectric layer on one surface where the signal propagates and a conductive layer on the opposite surface. The conductive layer reflects any signal towards the composite-dielectric interface, where it trapped and then propagates through this interface as a surface wave. The frequency of the data that have been successfully transmitted so far are in the range of 2-6 GHz. Video signals at 5.8 GHz and 2.4 GHz control signals have been successfully transmitted through the composite. SurFlow™ can also be used for sensing, non-destructive testing (NDT), structural health monitoring (SHM), all in a fully secure application protected from EMI and EM jamming.