Advanced Microwave and Antenna Lab Inaugurated at Manipal Institute of Technology
Manipal, May 29, 2024: The Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) inaugurated its state-of-the-art Advanced Microwave and Antenna Lab today. This cutting-edge facility is set to become a central hub for groundbreaking research and innovation in microwave and antenna technologies.
The inauguration was attended by prominent dignitaries and key stakeholders from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and the industry. The Chief Guest, Lt Gen (Dr.) M D Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor of MAHE, officially opened the lab. Other notable attendees included Dr. Narayana Sabahit, Pro-Vice Chancellor of MAHE, and Dr. P. Giridhar Kini, Registrar of MAHE. The event was presided over by Dr. Somashekara Bhat, Joint Director of MIT, Manipal.
The ceremony began with the inauguration of the Advanced Microwave and Antenna Lab located in ECE Lab-12, AB5, Ground Floor, followed by a formal function at the ECE seminar hall, AB-5, MIT, Manipal. The lab focuses on a variety of design areas, such as planar antennas for cellular and wireless applications, MIMO antennas, metamaterial antennas, 5G and beyond 5G antennas, filters, power dividers and couplers, RF energy harvesting antennas, biomedical and nano antennas, RF MEMS switches and phase shifters, radar antennas and phased arrays, RF and microwave amplifier design, and radar absorption materials. Key testing facilities include an anechoic chamber (800 MHz to 40 GHz) and a vector network analyzer (300 KHz to 9 GHz), capable of measuring RF test parameters like S-parameters, gain, axial ratio, cross polarization, and 2D/3D radiation patterns.
Lt Gen (Dr.) M D Venkatesh, Vice Chancellor of MAHE, remarked, “This new laboratory marks a significant advancement for our institution. It is designed to become a hub for cutting-edge research, providing students and researchers with advanced tools and an optimal environment.”
Dr. Narayana Sabahit, Pro-Vice Chancellor of MAHE, added, “This facility is set to be a leading center for scientific exploration, significantly contributing to academic excellence and industry partnerships. We foresee strong collaborations with various research institutions and organizations.”
Dr. P. Giridhar Kini, Registrar of MAHE, emphasized, “The Advanced Microwave and Antenna Lab will provide students with hands-on experience, helping them develop critical thinking and practical skills essential for their future careers.”
Cdr. (Retd.) Dr. Anil K Rana expressed his best wishes for the success of the lab’s inaugural function, highlighting its potential to make significant contributions to the field of communication. He acknowledged the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in establishing this state-of-the-art facility.
Dr. Somashekara Bhat, Joint Director of MIT, noted, “The prospects for this laboratory are incredibly promising. We expect many exciting developments, new projects, and collaborations. This lab will also offer consultancy services to academia and the corporate world, generating revenue by providing measurement facilities for industry performance assessments.”
The event also saw attendance from Dr. Geetha Maiya, Director of Student Affairs, MAHE, Dr. U C Niranjan, Director of Research and Training at Manipal Dot Net Pvt Ltd., officials from Entuple Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, as well as Associate and Assistant Directors, Heads of Departments, faculty members, research scholars, and staff from the ECE department at MIT, Manipal.
The Advanced Microwave and Antenna Lab aims to establish itself as a Centre of Excellence, offering unparalleled research opportunities for students and researchers from MAHE and nearby colleges. It is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing microwave and antenna technologies, contributing significantly to both academic and industry advancements.
