Stevens News / Research & Innovation

Yanghyo Kim Receives $999,699 DoD Grant to Address Interconnect Challenges

Interconnect technologies are critical in the design and function of unmanned aerial vehicles and satellites

Yanghyo “Rod” Kim, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, recently received an award of $999,699 from the Department of Defense (DoD) for his project “Energy-Efficient Millimeter-Wave Dielectric Fibers and Wireless Interconnects for Space Missions.”

Interconnect technologies including electrical connectors and wiring harnesses play a central role in advancing the DoD’s new system platforms such as small unmanned aerial vehicles and earth-orbiting satellites. Connectors and interconnects for DoD applications must provide bandwidth scalability and often withstand extreme temperature variations. Other critical mission requirements include temperature tolerance, payload (size and weight), and long-term reliability. Optical interconnects are lightweight and highly bandwidth scalable. However, their space-qualified assembly process is complicated, expensive, and sensitive to temperature variations necessitating additional thermal management units. To continue advancing the DoD’s missions, these technical interconnect challenges need to be addressed.

Kim’s research aims to remove traditional electrical connectors (such as USB) by engaging electronic subsystems wirelessly. Unlike mechanical connectors that are physically rigid and exposed to environmental hazards, his proposed wireless connectors will offer much greater tolerance to vibration, alignment, and signal integrity issues. He also envisions sending high-capacity digital information via commonly used plastic tubes (like plastic straws to drink water) by transmitting electromagnetic waves.

“I’m looking forward to exploring high-risk, high-reward ideas through this opportunity,” said Kim.

Learn more about academic programs and research in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering:

Related Stories

Four business professionals in suits collaborate around a conference table, reviewing documents and charts. They're gathered in a modern office with large windows showing a city view in the background.
September 18, 2025
Are CEO Characteristics Related to a Company’s Social Impact?
September 10, 2025
Hadi Safari Katesari is Developing Tools for Smarter Economic Predictions
September 09, 2025
Lei Wu Tapped by National Renewable Energy Laboratory as Part of $1.85-Million Project to Improve Nationwide Electricity Grid Operations
September 04, 2025
Pin-Kuang Lai Named a 2024 Top Scholar in Antibody Research
More Research & Innovation

Stevens News

Stevens Institute of Technology Receives Historic $21 Million Investment from A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation
September 09, 2025
Stevens Institute of Technology Receives Historic $21 Million Investment from A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation
September 09, 2025
Lei Wu Tapped by National Renewable Energy Laboratory as Part of $1.85-Million Project to Improve Nationwide Electricity Grid Operations
September 10, 2025
Stevens Named a ‘Dream School’ in Higher Education Expert Jeffrey Selingo’s New Book
September 11, 2025
Building Community Through Code
All Stevens News