Boom Deployer With Motorized Drum for In-Orbit Antenna Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellites with small structures require large antennas and sensors, which are too large to be implemented as fixed structures at launch, necessitating a deployable mechanism for in-orbit deployment.
Innovation Solution
A deployer mechanism that stows and deploys a boom with attached antennas and sensors, using a motorized drum system with a tensioning mechanism to control deployment and prevent blooming, featuring adjustable tension forces and integrated control electronics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large antennas and sensors are implemented as fixed structures on the satellite, then the mission requirements for radio communications are met, but the satellite size and launch complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is segmented into multiple elements that can be independently deployed along the boom. The boom itself is segmented into deployable sections that extend from the satellite body, allowing the antenna structure to be assembled in space rather than being manufactured as a single large fixed structure on the ground.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system transitions from a two-dimensional fixed structure on the satellite body to a three-dimensional deployable configuration extending outward along the boom. This dimensional transformation allows large antenna surfaces to be achieved without proportionally increasing the satellite's base footprint.
2Device complexity
If the antenna structure is made deployable using a boom mechanism, then the satellite size is reduced for launch, but the device complexity and reliability requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The boom and antenna elements are pre-assembled and pre-positioned on the satellite body in a compact stowed configuration before launch. The deployer mechanism is pre-configured with the boom attached, allowing for reliable automated deployment in orbit without requiring complex real-time assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployer mechanism utilizes the satellite's own power and control systems to autonomously deploy the boom and antenna elements. The system self-regulates the deployment process through integrated sensors and control electronics, eliminating the need for external intervention and enhancing reliability.
3Weight of moving object
If the boom is made compact and lightweight for small satellites, then the satellite mass is reduced, but the structural strength and stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The boom is constructed using composite materials that combine lightweight properties with high strength-to-weight ratio. This allows the boom to maintain sufficient structural integrity to support large antenna elements while minimizing the overall mass for launch constraints on small satellites.
Solution Approach 2:
The boom incorporates curved or tapered structural elements that optimize strength distribution. The curvature design allows for reduced material usage in certain areas while maintaining structural integrity through geometric reinforcement, achieving both lightweight construction and adequate strength.
4Reliability
If the antenna elements are deployed far from the satellite body, then the radio communication performance is improved, but the deployment distance and mechanical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The deployer mechanism provides adjustable deployment distances and configurable antenna element positions. The system can dynamically adjust the extended length of the boom and the positioning of antenna elements based on the specific mission requirements, allowing optimization of radio communication performance without always maximizing the deployment distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna elements are distributed along segmented sections of the boom at optimized intervals rather than requiring maximum extension. This segmentation allows for improved communication performance through better geometric arrangement of elements while reducing the total deployment distance required.
Data Source
AI summary
A deployer for storing and deploying a boom from a satellite, with antennas and sensors attached to the boom. The deployer includes a motor disposed within a drum and a motor shaft coupled to the drum for rotating the drum. The drum has a circular cross section and the boom, stowed in a stowed cross-sectional configuration, is wrapped around the drum with a first end of the boom attached to the drum. As the drum rotates, the boom is deployed. A tensioning mechanism applies radially inward directed forces on the folded and wrapped boom while the motor rotates the drum for deploying the boom. A microprocessor responsive to a plurality of sensors controls boom deployment.