DTU joint project uses PVD coatings and metasurfaces to alter drone radar signatures

DTU is collaborating with Aarhus University, the Danish Technological Institute, and companies including TICRA and Arctic Unmanned to use physical vapor deposition (PVD) to produce ultrathin coatings that enhance or reduce drone radar reflection signals. Initial tests on simple shapes such as rectangular plates and cylinders achieved significant attenuation of reflected signals. The next step will be to adapt the method to drones with more complex geometries and test its radar detection effects in real environments. Another route in the project is to develop tunable artificial metasurfaces, which are said to potentially cost less to manufacture than PVD processing.