Project Team
Student(s)
Sarabeth Brandt
Physics
Lawrence University
Mentor(s)
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Project Video
Project Abstract
The disappearance of insect pollinators is detrimental to the natural resources that we depend on. In order to better understand what causes this population decline, researchers want new tracking technology capable of detecting the flight and burrowing patterns of these insects. One approach is to track pollinators using radar remote sensing techniques with electromagnetic (EM) frequencies between 8-10GHz. When the EM energy travels through the insect, the body absorbs some of the EM power. This absorption is typically characterized by a specific absorption rate (SAR), which describes the power absorbed per unit mass of biological tissue. There is very limited research to determine how EM SAR affects the health and behavior of an insect, however, so we want to understand power levels permissible to operate a radar for tracking without harming the insects. In order to study the effects of EM exposure, we have created a model of an EM plane wave hitting the body of an insect. The insect body is characterized by equivalent electromagnetic parameters found in previous experiments, and the angle of incidence and power of the wave can be adjusted to study different effects on the body. This simulation takes place in the ANSYS Electronics Desktop environment, which allows for both electromagnetic and thermal analysis of the insect model. It can determine SAR throughout the body and make other useful calculations, like approximate change in temperature. This model provides a virtual environment to test the limits of exposure to electromagnetic power without harming the insects. The data collected from these simulations will inform the development and future testing of the newer radar technology that will enable simultaneous multi-tracking flight patterns on pollinators.
Project Poster
https://sites.psu.edu/climatedrawdown2020/files/formidable/6/Brandt_poster.pdf