Characterization of a geometrically constrained tripolar antenna under M2M channel conditions

Historically, antenna designs have been dictated by specific performance requirements for gain, beamwidth, return loss, etc. without consideration of the environment the antenna is being deployed in. Herein, we consider an over-the-air (OTA) approach for characterizing antenna performance for a wireless device arbitrarily deployed in a cluttered environment, e.g., a machine-to-machine (M2M) installation. We then explore antenna system geometries that can be cofabricated with the device's enclosure using 3D printing technologies. Based on a channel characterization study and fabrication constraints, we propose a tripolar antenna design that is readily integrated with, for example, a wireless sensor.