Bendable Rigid Rod Antenna Mount for Pedestrian Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a portable and easily deployable antenna mount that allows for convenient, quick, and stealthy operation for pedestrians in hostile environments, particularly for satellite-based communication systems, as existing solutions fail to provide adequate portability and ease of use while maintaining antenna stability.
Innovation Solution
A pedestrian transportable antenna system featuring a bendable rigid rod with a helically coiled interlocked configuration that is self-supporting yet flexible, allowing the antenna to be mounted on a vest or flak jacket, enabling hands-free operation and easy adjustment for deployment and retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid rod is used to support the antenna, then the antenna stability is improved, but the portability and ease of adjustment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rod transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic structure that can change its mechanical properties. The rod can be manually bent to different angles and positions, allowing it to adapt between a rigid support state during antenna operation and a flexible, compact state during transport or storage, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and portability
Solution Approach 2:
The rod's physical parameters (specifically its rigidity and angular orientation) are made changeable. By allowing the rod to be bent to different angles relative to the antenna mount, the system can optimize between maintaining vertical stability during use and achieving a compact configuration for movement, thereby balancing antenna stability with operational ease
2Strength
If the rod is made sufficiently rigid to support the antenna, then the antenna support stability is improved, but the flexibility to bend and retract deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rod is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to exhibit rigidity when needed for support and flexibility when needed for retraction. The rod can be manually manipulated to bend at specific angles while maintaining structural integrity, enabling it to provide adequate support strength during antenna operation while remaining adaptable for retraction and compact storage when not in use
3Ease of operation
If the antenna mount is made portable for pedestrian use, then the ease of deployment is improved, but the antenna stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The portable antenna mount incorporates a dynamically adjustable rod that can transition between compact and extended configurations. When deployed, the rod is positioned to provide stable support for the antenna; when not in use, it can be collapsed or bent to a compact position. This dynamic capability allows the system to maintain antenna stability during operation while preserving portability and ease of deployment
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
The system provides stable antenna support during use while allowing for easy retraction and secure storage, facilitating movement and reducing the risk of damage, thus enhancing operational convenience and stealth in hostile environments.
Implementation Method 1
The rod is advantageously sufficiently flexible and bendable so as to permit the system to be drawn closer into a user's body when the antenna is not deployed
Data Source
AI summary
Pedestrian transportable antenna systems can include an antenna mount and an antenna for satellite based or other communication mounted on a top face of the antenna mount. A bottom face of the antenna mount may be attached to a bendable rigid rod that is sufficiently rigid to provide support for the mounted antenna such that a user can walk around with the antenna deployed while the bendable rigid rod of the antenna system is mounted to the user's back (e.g., mounting into a back portion of a vest or flak jacket). The bendable rigid rod is sufficiently rigid to support the antenna without allowing the rod to “flop” over under the load of the antenna. At the same time, the rod is sufficiently bendable so as to permit the system to be drawn closer into a user's body when the antenna is not deployed (e.g., while stepping into a vehicle).