Airlines around the world announced they were grounding planes this week as the rollout of 5G technology was set to begin. Major providers AT&T and Verizon halted their 5G rollout plans amidst the airlines’ claims that the technology would render a large swath of their aircraft unusable.
Dr. Steven Holland, an associate professor at Milwaukee School of Engineering, helps sort out the validity of the airlines’ claims and explain why they are so concerned. Dr. Holland is an expert in electromagnetics, antennas and microwave/radio frequency circuits.
“5G wireless systems promise transformational increases in wireless internet speed and connectivity. A key to the higher network speeds is increased 5G radio frequency spectrum usage. While reduced speed 5G has been operational in parts of the US for several years, new 5G frequency spectrum was set to become operational in early December 2021 and offer significantly higher network speeds.
“However, rollout was delayed one month when the FAA raised warnings that 5G towers operating in this new spectrum could interfere with airplane radar altimeters, which operate at frequencies just above this new 5G spectrum. Altimeters are critical instruments in modern aircraft that measure a plane’s altitude, and thus potential interference could be disastrous.
“While the altimeter and 5G frequency bands do not overlap, they are relatively close together, and the altimeter standards were set decades ago when the radio spectrum was far less crowded. As a result, the altimeter circuitry was not designed to operate in the vicinity of systems like the 5G towers that will transmit radio signals so close to the altimeter frequency range.
“Due to limited testing, the FAA and FCC were not able to determine conclusively if the interference concern is warranted before the month-long delay expired in early January, and so an additional two-week delay was instituted. This brings us to today, January 19th – and still no conclusion has been reached by the FCC and FAA. To avoid further rollout delays, today several wireless carriers deployed the new 5G operating band on their networks except for those towers near airports. More extensive testing is needed to determine whether 5G interference is truly a risk to the altimeter systems.”
Dr. Holland is available to speak with media about 5G technology and how it can impact aircraft. Simply click on his icon below to arrange an interview today.
Education, Licensure and Certification
Ph.D.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Massachusetts Amherst
2011
M.S.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Massachusetts Amherst
2008
B.S.
Electrical Engineering
Milwaukee School of Engineering
2006
Biography
Dr. Steve Holland is a professor, the department vice-chair, and the electrical engineering program director in the Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering department and has been a faculty member at MSOE since 2013. He serves as program director for the Electrical Engineering program. His specialties include RF/microwave engineering, antennas, electromagnetics, analog circuit design, and engineering education. Before joining the faculty at MSOE, Holland worked as a senior sensors engineer for MITRE Corp. and as a microwave engineer for the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Areas of Expertise
Antennas
Electromagnetics
RF/Microwave Engineering
Analog Electronics
Engineering Education
Accomplishments
MSOE Falk Engineering Educator Award Finalist
2015, 2016, and 2017
Honorable Mention Award in Student Paper Contest
Awarded for the Paper S. S. Holland and M. N. Vouvakis, “Design and Fabrication of low-cost PUMA arrays," IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium, pp. 1976-1979, 4-8 July 2011
Student Paper Contest Winner
Awarded for the presentation and content of the paper, “A Fully Planar Ultrawideband Array", Antenna Applications Symposium, Monticello, IL, 2010
Alumni Association Student Achievement Award
MSOE, 2006
Best Paper Award (Third Place) for the New Engineering Educator (NEE) Division of the American Society for Engineering Education Society
Awarded for the Paper "Using Shadowing to Improve New Faculty Acclimation", ASEE 2014 Annual Conference and Exposition, Indianapolis, IN, June 16-18, 2014
Affiliations
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) : Senior Member
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) : Member
Social
Event and Speaking Appearances
An Interactive Workshop: Using the Digilent Analog Discovery Board in upper-division electrical engineering courses
American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition Salt Lake City, UT
2018-06-24
HF Antennas and Propagation
Microwave Seminar Series Marquette University
2017-11-10
An Interactive Workshop: Using the Digilent Analog Discovery Board in upper-division electrical engineering courses
American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition Columbus, OH
2017-06-28
Control of scanblindnesses in printed dipole antenna arrays using PBG structures
Microwave Seminar Series Marquette University
2017-04-07
Radar Fundamentals and Emerging Applications
EECE Graduate Colloquium Marquette University
2015-11-10
Coffee Can FMCW Radar System
Microwave Seminar Series Marquette University
2015-09-18
Research Interests
Antennas
Interests include electrically small antennas, UWB antenna arrays, and HF antennas.
Engineering Education
Investigating approaches to incorporate mobile studio learning to electrical engineering classes.
Patents
Modular wideband antenna array
US9000996B2
2015
A modular wideband antenna element for connection to a feed network. There is a ground plane, and first and second flared fins above the ground plane. The fins each define a connection location that is relatively close to the ground plane and tapering to a free end located farther from the ground plane. The connection location of the first fin is electrically coupled to the feed network and the connection location of the second fin is electrically coupled to the ground plane. There are one or more additional first traces electrically connecting the first fin to the ground plane and one or more additional second traces electrically connecting the second fin to the ground plane.
A planar ultrawideband modular antenna for connection to a feed network. The antenna has a ground plane, and an array of antenna elements spaced from the ground plane, each antenna element comprising a pair of arms. A first fed arm is electrically coupled to the feed network. The grounded arm is directly electrically coupled to the ground plane. There are one or more conductors such as conductive vias electrically connecting the fed arm to the ground plane, and optionally there are one or more additional conductors electrically connecting the grounded arm to the ground plane.
Electromagnetics and Transmission Lines: Essentials for Electrical Engineering, 2nd Edition
Wiley
R.A. Strangeway, S.S. Holland, J.E. Richie
2022
Electromagnetics and Transmission Lines provides coverage of what every electrical engineer (not just the electromagnetic specialist) should know about electromagnetic fields and transmission lines. This work examines several fundamental electrical engineering concepts and components from an electromagnetic fields viewpoint, such as electric circuit laws, resistance, capacitance, and self and mutual inductances. The approach to transmission lines (T-lines), Smith charts, and scattering parameters establishes the underlying concepts of vector network analyzer (VNA) measurements. System-level antenna parameters, basic wireless links, and signal integrity are examined in the final chapters.
An Effective Sequence of VNA Experiments for a Junior-Level Electromagnetics Course
IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation
S. S. Holland, D. E. Brocker, R. A. Strangeway
2022
There is a need for incorporating practical high-frequency measurement experiences into an undergraduate electrical engineering (EE) program. This paper presents a sequence of experiments that develops student capabilities in vector network analyzer (VNA) measurements and component specifications formation. Students have demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach by constructing a datasheet for an unspecified RF/microwave filter as a summative experience.
Investigation of Multiperiodic Dielectric PBGs for Scan Blindness Mitigation in Printed Antenna Arrays
Proceedings of the Allerton Antenna Applications Symposium
Kipfer, L.J., Holland, S.S.
2019
Modeling of photonic bandgap effects on scan blindnesses in printed dipole arrays
2017 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation & USNC/URSI National Radio Science Meeting
Holland, S.S.
2017
An analysis of scanblindness onset angles in printed dipole arrays with perforated dielectric substrates is presented. The periodic grid of air holes in these arrays is shown to produce a photonic bandgap (PBG), which is identified as the root cause of previously observed anomalous behavior in H-plane scans. A basic transmission line unit cell model is developed that incorporates PBG effects, and this updated model is shown to accurately predict scanblindnesseses even in cases where traditional analysis fails. This new model lays the groundwork for investigations into E-plane blindness mitigation using the PBG behavior of perforated dielectric substrates.
Planar Ultrawideband Modular Antenna (PUMA) arrays are low-cost, wide-scan, and low-cross polarization dual-polarized UWB arrays that combine excellent electrical performance with convenient and practical feeding/fabrication processes. Each member of the PUMA array family consists of tightly coupled horizontal dipoles over a ground plane with novel feeding schemes that enable simple PCB fabrication. This feeding eliminates the need for baluns, “cable organizers,” and other external support mechanisms to produce stand-alone, high-efficiency radiators. Additionally, all PUMA arrays consist of dual-offset dual-polarized lattice arrangements for modular, tile-based assembly. This paper will review the basic operation principles of the PUMA arrays followed by the technological evolution of the PUMA array family. Fabricated PUMA arrays and full-wave simulations of structures that can be manufactured with standard fabrication technologies will be shown along with results.
A 7–21 GHz Dual-Polarized Planar Ultrawideband Modular Antenna (PUMA) Array
IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation
Holland, S.S., Schaubert, D.H., Vouvakis, M.N.
2012
The design, fabrication, and measurement of a 16 × 16 dual-polarized planar ultrawideband modular antenna (PUMA) array operating over 7-21 GHz (3:1 bandwidth) are presented. The array is comprised of tightly coupled dipoles printed on a grounded dielectric substrate and are excited by an unbalanced feeding scheme that eliminates external wideband baluns and feed organizers. The array can be assembled modularly, where each low-profile, fully planar, low-cost tile is fabricated using standard multilayer microwave PCB techniques. A unique solderless, modular interconnect mates the array to a dilation fixture that facilitates measurements using standard surface-mount assembly (SMA) connectors and terminations. After presenting the most critical design trends, simulation results of the final array in infinite, infinite × finite, and finite × finite models are compared with measurements. This prototype array exhibits a measured active VSWR.
The Planar Ultrawideband Modular Antenna (PUMA) Array
IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation
S.S. Holland, M.N. Vouvakis
2012
A fully planar ultrawideband phased array with wide scan and low cross-polarization performance is introduced. The array is based on Munk's implementation of the current sheet concept, but it employs a novel feeding scheme for the tightly coupled horizontal dipoles that enables simple PCB fabrication. This feeding eliminates the need for “cable organizers” and external baluns, and when combined with dual-offset dual-polarized lattice arrangements the array can be implemented in a modular, tile-based fashion. Simple physical explanations and circuit models are derived to explain the array's operation and guide the design process. The theory and insights are subsequently used to design an exemplary dual-polarized infinite array with 5:1 bandwidth and VSWR
A new wideband, wide-scan array is introduced, called the Banyan Tree Antenna (BTA) array, that employs modular, low-profile, low-cost elements fed directly from standard unbalanced RF interfaces. The elements consist of vertically-integrated, flared metallic fins over a ground plane that are excited by a vertical two conductor unbalanced transmission line. The antenna resembles the bunny-ear or balanced antipodal Vivaldi antenna (BAVA) designs, but most importantly uses metallic shorting posts between the fins and the ground plane that suppress a mid-band catastrophic common-mode resonance that occurs in 2D arrays of balanced radiators fed with unbalanced feeds. This work introduces simple circuit models that describe key performance attributes of the BTA array, leading to unique physical insights and design guidelines. Simulations of infinite single- and dual-polarized BTA arrays have achieved approximately two octaves of bandwidth for VSWR.
