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Fractal
Antenna Systems Announces State-of-the-Art Computational
Capability in Genetic Optimizer PC-Cluster
BOSTON--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--June 26, 2002 --Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc., a
leading innovator of antenna and electronic innovation, today
announced the launch of its third generation ‘GO Cluster’
facility for solving problems in antenna and electronic
design. The new capability offers unprecedented access to
speedy solutions and embodies the power of fractals in
optimization, as initially applied to antenna and electronic
design.
Fractals are intricate patterns built up in repeated steps
from simple forms. Fractal antennas have, in the last two
years, become the most successful hardware example of the
power of fractal geometry in real world applications.
HOW
IT WORKS
The
firm’s GO Cluster is a hybrid of efficient hardware and
software. At the heart of the hardware is a PC-based
supercomputer similar to a ‘Beowulf’ PC-cluster. The GO
Cluster employs a dozen PCs (with the capability to add dozens
more) and proprietary software to divide the problem into
smaller parts that each PC attacks in parallel under master
computer control.
In
1994, scientist Dr. Randy Haupt introduced the use of genetic
algorithms (GA) to antenna and electromagnetic design. GAs
mimic natural selection, in algorithmic form, to find the best
solution to a defined problem. Although dramatically
successful as a tool, genetic algorithms are difficult to
apply to complex problems and slow to execute because of the
sheer number of parameters that need to be defined and
explored. Fractal’s CTO
Dr. Nathan Cohen, reported a way in 1997 to compress
the number of parameters substantially by using a method
called ‘fractal coding.’ This makes solving complex
optimization problems–whether in antenna design or in any
other field requiring optimization—tractable with a fewer
number of parameters. Cohen referred to the method as
‘fractal coded genetic optimization’ or FRAGO, and gave
examples of application to antenna problems.
In
the last few years, Fractal’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Robert
Hohlfeld, melded the FRAGO approach to efficient software
codes in antenna and electronic simulation. Along with the
cluster hardware, the combined GO Cluster now possesses unique
capabilities. “On the surface, it just looks like a rack of
PCs”, said Dr. Nathan Cohen. “But when you see that it is
solving problems in hours which, just a couple of years ago,
took half a year, it is a humbling tower of computational
power.”
POWER
TO SOLVE
The
GO Cluster has been primarily tasked with difficult antenna
problems. In a matter of a few weeks the GO cluster has
produced and assessed over 300,000 antenna designs to match
best performance with application. Not only does it perform as
a superlative design tool, it demonstrates real science, too.
Notes Fractal’s Dr. Hohlfeld: “Antenna engineering is
evolving towards more complex designs. But there are always a
few stalwarts who hold out against the odds, criticizing
fractal design. By using the GO Cluster, which starts with
simple non-fractal shapes, one can show that the better
antenna—the one that meets the real application
needs—incorporates fractal shapes. This is true for all but
the simplest requirements. Such an unbiased assessment is a
powerful verification of a new approach.”
Dr.
Hohlfeld also notes that the GO Cluster is a more universal
method to solve most optimization problems very rapidly, a
common goal of many applied science disciplines, such as
biotechnology, economics, and many others. The firm will also
be using the GO Cluster in-house to solve electronic design
problems, and will license the method and apparatus to
companies outside its areas of interest.
Fractal
Antenna Systems, Inc. has applied for patents on its GO
Cluster method and apparatus.
ABOUT
FRACTAL
Fractal
Antenna Systems, Inc. is a next-generation antenna and
electronics company that provides the Fractal Advantage(TM):
solutions, products and IP licensing to OEM manufacturers of
wireless products. The company was founded in 1995 and now
holds 3 U.S. patents (with 2 additional NOA's) as well as many
pending patents, including foreign patents pending, on fractal
antenna and electronics technology. The firm has seen high
growth as fractal antenna technology becomes more widely known
as the superior choice in the smaller-cheaper-multi/broadband
environment of wireless, telecom, RFID, and other fields. On
the web at http://www.fractenna.com .
CONTACT:
Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc.
David Moschella, 617-381-9595
SOURCE: FAS
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