Metamaterials for sensing conductive objects using time-domain reflectometry of magnetoinductive waves

Remote contactless sensing and position localisation of conducting objects has vast applications ranging from in-situ quality control in 3D printing to medical diagnostics. We employ a meta material array of coupled resonant meta-atoms and localise metallic objects using the time-domain reflectometry of slow magnetoinductive (MI) waves. An analytical model based on the evaluation of group velocity is verified by the experimental data. For the first time to our knowledge accurate single and multiple defect localisation is demonstrated, opening up possibilities for real-time contactless monitoring of inhomogeneous conductive environments.