Advanced Helicopter Electromagnetics (AHE)

Prof. Constantine A. Balanis (Principal Investigator)

The AHE Program is a unique and signature program initiated at Arizona State University (ASU) on January 1, 1990, and lasted until December 31, 2017 (28 years), as a three-way partnership between industry-government-university. The program developed analytical methods, computational techniques, and computer codes for advanced helicopter applications. In addition, the AHE Program uses the Electromagnetic Anechoic Chamber (EMAC) at ASU for testing and analysis verification.
The research initiatives under the program are directed toward the analysis and modeling of antennas, scattering and penetration characteristics, and development of antenna technology related to helicopter airframes and other complex structures, and to integrate new and existing antenna elements with complex airframes, using numerical techniques, to gain insight into their effective placement. The goals are to support electromagnetic research on topics of mutual interest to the AHE membership and helicopter community, especially that of “dual-use” technology, develop standard practices for evaluation and comparison of metallic and nonmetallic airframes, facilitate the exchange of information and results on recent advances in helicopter electromagnetics, and collect and disseminate information on state-of-the-art helicopter scale model testing and evaluation.