Indiana Tech’s new flexible antenna redirects energy away from the body, reducing simulated Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) by ~90% while performing across the 2.4 GHz Bluetooth/Wi‑Fi band.

March 5, 2026

Abstract: Indiana Tech Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering Dr. Said Abushamleh has engineered a flexible, low‑profile wearable antenna designed to keep people connected while improving comfort and safety. The design pairs a semicircular ring‑slot antenna with a thin “artificial magnetic conductor” backing the antenna to redirect signals away from the body, reducing simulated energy absorption (SAR) by about 90% versus a similar antenna without the backing. Operating across the 2.4 GHz ISM band commonly used by Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi, the prototype also delivers stronger, more efficient signals in a compact form suitable for clothing and accessories. The peer‑reviewed findings, published in Progress of Electromagnetics Research in on February 27, 2026, point to promising applications in continuous health monitoring, sports performance tracking, and next‑generation wearable technologies.