Sir John O’Reilly, chair of the IET’s Selection Committee for the Prize, said: “We hope the Prize will become a springboard for propelling Professor Hao's research to even higher levels, while providing distinct economic benefits to his partners and society in general.”
Prof Hao’s research is focussed on developing a new generation of antennas with better aesthetics and fundamentally novel designs, which could allow them to be used in new ways, particularly in satellite communications and the aerospace industry.
One of the long-term aims for the research is to develop advances in communications that can deliver faster, cheaper mobile phone charging and widespread availability of mobile coverage whilst on board aircraft. His work is likely to result in streamlined antennas, which could be integrated into mobile phones, improving network coverage. They could also spell the end of satellite dishes, with the next generation of antennas instead being built into the smart homes of the future.
Prof Hao said: “The IET A F Harvey Engineering Research Prize will enable us to take our work a step further, out of the lab towards real engineering applications and industry.
“We want to make smarter but lower cost antennas, an engineering reality that can be enjoyed by everyone, from those working in satellite communications within the aerospace industry, to people who travel regularly by airplane and would like to be able to use their mobile phone seamlessly throughout their flight.”
