MetaWrap is a general-purpose software tool that uses CAD-compatible solid models as inputs and outputs, and that can wrap any planar periodic structure over any surface while preserving the electromagnetic performance of the unit cells. This technology is critical for next-generation airborne platforms that make extensive use of planar periodic lattice structures to manipulate electromagnetic interactions with the vehicles’ surfaces.
Using naïve methods, wrapping inevitably alters a metamaterial lattice’s electromagnetic properties in an undesirable way. In MetaWrap, this effect is minimized or reversed with specialized algorithms that vary the lattice geometry in response to its new conformation. Furthermore, MetaWrap ensures that the final lattice is interoperable with key manufacturing and simulation software. MetaWrap has a modern user interface to wrap any planar periodic structure over any surface is desired and will enable large scale parallelization for computationally intensive jobs as the technology matures.
FTL’s MetaWrap system applies custom wrapping of array textures (a) based on wrapping algorithms to minimize spatial distortion (b) and enables real-time estimation of electromagnetic properties (c). The resulting spatially modified arrays can be cut and flattened for fabrication (d) with algorithms that automatically minimize distortion when wrapped. An example is a volleyball (e) with standard design (left) and a distortion minimized design (right).
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