A Substrate Integrated Adaptable Wearable Antenna for Enhancing IoT Communication

With the rapid proliferation of connected devices and the increasing complexity of Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystems, ensuring stable communication links and minimizing interference have become critical challenges. To address these issues, this paper introduces a substrate integrated adaptive wearable antenna designed to enhance communication performance in dynamic IoT environments. The proposed antenna features adaptable frequency with continuous tunability, as well as adaptable polarization across variable frequencies. It also features an innovative aperture-shared structure that integrates multiple modes into a single radiating patch and feed port, resulting in a highly compact structure. Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) analysis is conducted using an advanced 3D realistic human phantom to ensure user safety. Experimental evaluations, including communication link measurements and link budget analyses, validate the effectiveness in achieving reliable connectivity. The results demonstrate that the proposed design is a promising candidate for enhancing the reliability of IoT networks in applications ranging from smart health to Internet of Vehicles (IoV) and beyond. This substrate integrated antenna serves as an integral part of RF modules, enabling the integration of sensors, microcontroller units, and other electronic components into highly integrated wearable devices via conventional packaging processes.