Development of a dynamic human body phantom model for on-body electromagnetic wave propagation and antenna radiation study.

Abstract

Wireless body area network (WBAN) technology has many valuable applications including long-term, remote health monitoring for the general population, the military, and athletes. A key challenge for practical realization of WBAN promise is minimizing electrical power requirements for wireless transmission of data, which is complicated by the presence and motion of the human wearer’s body. Improving the understanding of how electromagnetic (EM) waves propagate on and around the human body is critical to guide design of power-efficient antennas for on-body wireless communication. In this dissertation an investigative approach is developed that combines experimental and computational approaches using human volunteers, a physical human phantom model, and a simulated virtual human computer model. The investigative approach incorporating the phantom model is shown to be an effective, modular tool for well-controlled parametric study of on-body EM wave propagation utilizing multiple antenna types.