Invited Speakers

Dirk Heberling

Biography: Dirk Heberling (born 15.08.1961) (M’03-SM’10) studied electrical engineering and graduated with a Dipl.-Ing. degree from RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany, in 1987. There, he also received the Dr.-Ing. degree in 1993 for his thesis on conformal microstrip antennas.

From 1987 to 1993, he was employed as a scientist at the Institute for RF-Technologies, RWTH Aachen University. In 1993, he joined IMST GmbH, Kamp-Lintfort, Germany, to establish a new Antenna Section, and from 1995 to 2003, he was head of the Antennas Department, which was reorganized into the Department of Antennas and EMC in 1998. From 2003 to 2008, he took over the Department of Information and Communication Systems of IMST GmbH, and in 2008, he moved to RWTH Aachen University in Germany, where he is Head of the Institute and holder of the chair for High Frequency Technology. In addition, in 2016, he became director of the Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques, FHR.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heberling is a member of VDE and from 1998 to 2017, he was a member of the ITG expert group 7.1 “Antennen”, which he directed as chairman from 2002 to 2003 and from 2014 to 2017 again. During this time, he was responsible as General Chairman and organizer of the international antenna conference INICA 2003, September 2003, Berlin, and the German Microwave Conference GeMiC 2014, March 2014, Aachen. Since 1998, he has been a member of the European competence projects for antennas COST 260, COST 284, IC0603, and IC1102. From 2002 to 2007, he was the German delegate of COST 284, and from 2011 to 2016, the German delegate and secretary of IC1102. From 2002 to 2003, he was co-organizer of the European network of excellence on antennas, ACE. He is a member of the steering committee and organizing committee for the European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP. From 2016 to 2019, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Antenna Measurement Techniques Association (AMTA) and became president in 2018, and a senior member since 2020. In 2016, he was elected for 4 years in the technical decision board (Fachkollegiat) of the German Research Foundation, DFG.

Application of Robotic Systems in Modern Antenna Measurements

Abstract: Industrial robots are increasingly being employed as positioning systems for antenna measurements in both industry and academia, due to their high flexibility, precision, and reliability. Mass-produced for automated production lines, these robotic platforms are available for a variety of device sizes and payloads, making them a cost-effective solution. They enable complex trajectories and support unconventional test setups, paving the way for innovative measurement approaches that are often unfeasible with traditional mechanical positioning systems. This versatility is particularly advantageous for near- field antenna measurements, where robots facilitate the efficient scanning of multiple geometries within a single system and can handle irregular distributions of sampling points. Another promising application lies in compressed sensing techniques, which can significantly reduce measurement time, an especially valuable benefit in production testing environments. Despite these advantages, several key challenges must be addressed to fully exploit the potential of robotic positioners in antenna measurements. Accurate alignment of the robot’s coordinate system with the device under test is critical for obtaining reliable results, and trajectory planning algorithms must consider collision avoidance, sampling density, and velocity limitations. Additionally, seamlessly integrating the radio frequency (RF) subsystem with the robotic positioner and minimizing the electromagnetic scattering from the robot itself requires a careful system design. This talk provides an overview of recent developments in robotic antenna measurements and demonstrates practical implementations using the robot-based antenna test facility at the Institute of High Frequency Technology, RWTH Aachen University. It also examines the technological hurdles, potential solutions, and opportunities offered by robotics in this field, showcasing how industrial robots are a key enabler for innovative antenna measurement techniques and multifunctional facilities.

Julien SARRAZIN

Biography: Julien SARRAZIN received his Master’s degree in electronic engineering and his Ph.D. degree in electronics and telecommunications from the University of Nantes, France, in 2005 and 2008 respectively. In 2009 and 2010, he was with BK Birla Institute of Technology of Pilani, India. In 2011 and 2012, he was a research engineer at Telecom ParisTech in Paris. Since September 2012, he has been with Sorbonne Université where he is currently a Full Professor. He is affiliated with the GeePs (Group of Electrical Engineering of Paris) research institute where he is responsible of the Wave and Propagation team. He is an IEEE Senior Member and serves as Associate Editor for the IEEE Access journal. His research interests include antenna design, propagation channel modeling, direction-of-arrival estimation, MIMO systems, and metamaterials.

Fast-scanning Leaky-Wave Antennas for mmWave Sensing

Abstract: Leaky-Wave Antennas (LWAs) are a class of traveling-wave antennas known for their inherent frequency-dependent beam scanning capability. Leveraging this unique property enables Direction-of-Arrival (DoA) estimation systems that offer both low complexity and real-time performance. Such systems hold significant promise for a wide range of sensing applications, including dynamic beam management in millimeter-wave (mmWave) communication networks. However, a key limitation of this approach is the broad frequency bandwidth required by LWAs to scan a desired field-of-view-often exceeding the constraints of current telecommunication standards. This talk will explore strategies to overcome this challenge to enable beam scanning with waveforms that are compatible with reference signaling in standards such as 5G and beyond. In doing so, dedicated antenna design methodologies will be presented that involve periodic structures and the excitation of multiple fast Floquet harmonics, alongside tailored signal processing techniques. These innovations aim to bridge the gap between the capabilities of LWA-based DoA estimation systems and the requirements of modern communication standards

Olga Borić – Lubecke

Biography: Olga Borić –Lubecke received the B.Sc. degree from the University of Belgrade in 1989, the M.S. degree from Caltech in 1990, and the Ph.D. degree from UCLA in 1995, all in electrical engineering. Since 2003, she has been with the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she is currently a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Prior to joining UH, she was with Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies where she pioneered research in biomedical applications of wireless systems. From 1996 to 1998 she was a visiting researcher at RIKEN, in Sendai, Japan. From 1995 to 1996 she was a resident research associate at NASA JPL. She has authored over 250 publications, two books, four book chapters, and three patents, and co-founded two start-up companies. Prof. Borić–Lubecke is an IEEE Fellow, a Fulbright Senior Scholar (Malaga, Spain), and a Foreign Member of the Academy of Engineering of Serbia.

Webpage: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-boric-lubecke-210212b0/

Victor M. Lubecke

Biography:Victor M. Lubecke is a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa, specializing in wireless sensing and integrated transducers. He was previously with Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, where his research focused on remote sensing and microelectromechanical systems for biomedical and industrial applications. Before that, he was with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and the Institute for Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), where his research involved terahertz and MEMS technologies for space remote sensing and communications. He has authored over 250 peer-reviewed publications, holds seven U.S. patents, and co-founded two start-up companies. He is an IEEE Fellow, a Fulbright Senior Scholar, and an emeritus Distinguished Microwave Lecturer (DML) of the IEEE MTT-S.

Webpage: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-lubecke-837214b0/

Mohammad Hossein Zarifi

Biography: Mohammad Hossein Zarifi (Ph.D. PEng, PRC Tier II, SMIEEE), is an Associate Professor and Tier II Principal’s Research Chair (PRC) in Sensors and Microelectronics at the University of British Columbia’s School of Engineering. He also directs the Okanagan MicroElectronics and Gigahertz Applications (OMEGA) Lab in Canada. Dr. Zarifi has published over 150 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers and holds six issued or pending patents. His research focuses on applied electromagnetics and circuits and systems for communication and sensing applications. He served as Chair and member of IEEE MTT-S Technical Committee 26 on RFID, Wireless Sensors, and IoT. He is currently an IEEE MTT-S Distinguished Microwave Lecturer (2024–2027). Dr. Zarifi received the Emerging Researcher Award in 2020 and the Best Teaching Award in 2021 from UBC’s School of Engineering.

Electromagnetic-Matter Interactions as an Exploratory Tool for Atomic-Scale Sensing and Communication

Abstract: The rapid advancement of technology, coupled with innovations in material processing, is driving the evolution of advanced sensor systems across a wide range of industries. At the same time, the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) is significantly fueling market growth. As essential components of IoT devices, sensors are in increasing demand, with billions of connected devices projected globally in the coming years. On the technology front, 5G is transforming IoT and sensor networks by enabling ultra-fast data transfer, low latency, and widespread connectivity, unlocking real-time responsiveness and greater efficiency across applications. Looking ahead, 6G is expected to push these boundaries even further, offering even lower latency, higher data rates, and greater reliability while integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and expanding extended reality (XR) capabilities. To support the sustainable growth of these technologies, the exploration of alternative materials such as biodegradable polymers, graphene, and nanomaterials is becoming increasingly vital. When paired with advancements in electromagnetic design techniques, these materials pave the way for more efficient, eco-friendly sensing and communication platforms. In this talk, recent progress in integrating novel materials into microwave structures for emerging sensing applications will be explored. Special attention will be given to materials such as MXene and conductive polymers as potential alternatives to traditional metal-based components.

Dirk Heberling

Julien Sarrazin

Olga Borić –Lubecke

Victor M. Lubecke

PH Rao

Shreyas Sen

Mohammad Hossein Zarifi