Researchers at Liaoning University of Technology (China) have just announced a remarkable step forward in the field of military information, with the successful development of a flexible 5G antenna made from photo paper, according to SCMP.
According to the research group, this technology can reduce material costs by more than 95%, thereby removing one of the biggest barriers to the deployment of large-scale 5G networks on warships.
The research team has designed a flexible multi-input - multi-output (MIMO) antenna system, specifically optimized for the 5G communication environment on ships. This solution can "realize millimeter-wave communication antennas suitable for the complex environment of ships".
5G millimeter-wave antennas need to be deployed and installed with high density, especially in specialized environments such as warships with many barriers affecting transmission speed.
The breakthrough lies in the replacement of expensive, hard and commonly used basic materials in high-end electronic devices with commercial photo paper, with a thickness of less than 0.3mm. This material is combined with a conductive copper ink layer printed using grid printing technology, creating an antenna structure that is both light, flexible, and cost-effective.
According to the research group, the new design not only helps significantly reduce costs compared to traditional materials, but also has environmentally friendly advantages due to its biodegradability.
More importantly, the simple structure and low cost make this antenna suitable for widespread deployment, acting as a "final-stage connection" solution in the 5G information system at sea.
This development takes place in the context that many navies around the world are seeking to integrate 5G into combat and logistics operations. With high bandwidth, low latency and the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously, 5G is expected to support real-time data transmission, unmanned device control and enhance command capabilities at sea.
Researchers believe that if completed and implemented in practice, paper antennas can become the foundation for 5G universalization in the naval environment, where factors such as durability, cost and scalability play a decisive role. At the same time, this is also evidence of the trend of seeking "good enough but low-cost" technology solutions, instead of just focusing on expensive and complex systems.
In the context of increasing technological competition, such initiatives can contribute to shaping how naval forces access new generation information infrastructure, especially in scenarios that need to be deployed quickly and on a large scale.
