Deployable Antenna Ribs Using Elastic Deformation for Accurate Parabolic Shape
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing deployable antennas for spacecraft require complex deployment mechanisms and suffer from stress and accuracy issues during the unfolding process, which complicates their use in space communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A reflector design featuring a hub with radially arranged ribs, each formed from two flat plates with restricting members, allowing for simple and efficient deployment by elastic deformation, where the ribs are wound around the hub and deploy into a parabolic shape using their inherent restoring force, eliminating the need for additional deployment mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If complex deployment mechanisms are used to ensure accurate deployment, then deployment accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rib structure utilizes its own elastic deformation characteristics to achieve deployment. The rib naturally transitions from a folded state to a deployed parabolic shape through elastic recovery, eliminating the need for external deployment mechanisms. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by achieving accurate deployment through the inherent properties of the rib rather than complex mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and shape parameters of the rib through elastic deformation. By designing the rib with specific elastic properties and geometric configurations, the structure automatically transitions between folded and deployed states. This parameter-based approach replaces complex mechanical deployment mechanisms with controlled elastic behavior, reducing device complexity while maintaining deployment accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If additional deployment mechanisms are added to control unfolding, then deployment control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rib structure performs its own deployment control through elastic recovery. The inherent elastic properties of the rib material and structure enable automatic transition from folded to deployed configuration without requiring external actuators or control mechanisms. This self-service deployment control eliminates additional mechanisms while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary deployment mechanisms from the system. By recognizing that the rib's elastic properties suffice for deployment control, the design removes complex mechanical deployment systems, retaining only the essential rib structure that self-regulates its configuration through elastic deformation.
3Manufacturing precision
If ribs are made rigid to maintain parabolic shape accuracy, then mirror accuracy is improved, but stress during folding increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rib structure transitions from a static rigid concept to a dynamic elastic system. The rib is designed with controlled flexibility that allows it to deform during folding and automatically recover its precise parabolic shape during deployment. This dynamic approach reduces folding stress compared to rigid structures while maintaining mirror accuracy through elastic recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the rigidity parameter of the rib by utilizing elastic materials and structures with controlled stiffness. The rib exhibits different effective rigidity during different phases: flexible during folding to reduce stress, and rigid enough during deployment to maintain parabolic shape accuracy. This parameter modulation resolves the contradiction between rigidity for accuracy and flexibility for stress reduction.
4Volume of moving object
If complex folding mechanisms are used to achieve compact storage, then storage compactness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rib structure performs its own folding and unfolding through elastic deformation. The rib naturally transitions to a compact folded configuration and automatically rebounds to its deployed parabolic shape without requiring external folding mechanisms. This self-service folding approach achieves compact storage while eliminating complex folding mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enables easy and accurate deployment of the antenna in space with minimized stress on the ribs, ensuring a stable and precise parabolic shape without requiring special folding or deployment mechanisms, thus simplifying the configuration and enhancing mirror accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
each of the plurality of ribs is configured to be deployed in a parabolic shape from a bottom end connected to the hub toward a tip end located opposite to the bottom end; Each rib is configured to be deployed using elastic deformation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
To provide a reflector deployable by a simpler method, and a deployable antenna and a spacecraft using the reflector. Provided is a reflector including: a hub having a cross section formed in a circular, elliptical or polygonal shape; a plurality of ribs, each of which has an inner side surface facing an outer peripheral side of the hub when folded, and an outer side surface that is a surface opposite to the inner side surface, the plurality of ribs being folded so as to be wound around an outer periphery of the hub such that the inner side surface of each rib and the outer side surface of its adjacent rib partially face each other or the outer side surface of each rib and the inner side surface of its adjacent rib partially face each other, each rib being deployed in a parabolic shape from a bottom end connected to the hub toward a tip end located opposite to the bottom end; and a sheet installed across each of the plurality of ribs and capable of reflecting radio waves.