Wireless communication using metasurfaces for condition monitoring in motor

Abstract: Wireless sensors are used widely for condition monitoring in electric machines. The metal enclosure of an electric motor restricts the signal from sensors to radiate outside. The signal from the metal cavity needs to be guided to the only opening in the enclosure, through a narrow gap between the stator and the rotating rotor. Gap waveguide technology is proposed as a solution by texturing the stator surface with electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structures. Arrays of periodic holey structures are used to realize the metasurface waveguide. Two Bravais lattice structures – square and hexagonal, are explored for guiding waves along a desired path in a parallel plate waveguide. Simulations are carried out to study the influence of various dimensions of the unit cells. A waveguide with hexagonal hole-type unitcell is designed and manufactured for experimental verification. The possibility of extending the same technology to cylindrical surface is confirmed by simulations.