Designing Flexible Antenna Substrates with 3D-Printed Compliant Structures

The development of flexible and conformable electromagnetic devices is crucial for applications in wearable technology, healthcare, and automotive systems. This work explores different strategies to achieve flexibility, focusing on a method based on lamina emergent torsion structures. A flexible patch antenna is designed and manufactured using additive manufacturing. The substrate is 3D printed, while the radiating element is shaped from an adhesive conductive fabric. The prototype is tested under different bending conditions, showing stable impedance matching with a predictable resonance shift in the two bending configuration due to structural deformation. These results demonstrate the potential of structurally engineered flexibility for electromagnetic applications, providing a scalable approach for integrating flexible antennas in next-generation communication systems.