Deployable Parabolic Antenna for SAR Satellite Mass Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current synthetic aperture radar satellite technology faces limitations due to high costs and resource tradeoffs, making it inefficient for applications where cost is a constraint, and it struggles to achieve high image quality without increasing satellite mass and launch costs.
Innovation Solution
A high efficiency synthetic aperture radar satellite design featuring a parabolic reflector antenna with movable ribs, a traveling wave tube amplifier, and a body-mounted steering system, which increases the power aperture factor and antenna aperture size to mass ratio, allowing for higher signal-to-noise ratio and reduced costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If large phased array radars are used to achieve high image quality, then image quality is improved, but cost and satellite mass increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a deployable parabolic reflector antenna that transitions from a compact stowed configuration during launch to a large operational configuration in space. This dynamic transformation allows the satellite to achieve a large antenna aperture (improving image quality) while maintaining a small launch mass (reducing satellite mass constraints).
Solution Approach 2:
The parabolic reflector antenna is designed with a nested structure where the antenna ribs and support mechanisms are folded or collapsed into a compact form that fits within the satellite bus during launch. Once in orbit, the structure deploys to its full operational size, effectively nesting the large antenna within the small launch vehicle constraints.
2Measurement precision
If large phased array radars are used to achieve high image quality, then image quality is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a simpler parabolic reflector antenna design compared to complex phased array radars. This design uses straightforward mechanical structures (ribs, panels, deployable mechanisms) that are less expensive to manufacture while achieving the same imaging function through synthetic aperture radar processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex electronic phased array system with a simpler mechanical parabolic reflector antenna. The imaging capability is achieved through the mechanical deployment of the antenna structure combined with digital signal processing, eliminating the need for expensive phased array electronics and reducing manufacturing costs.
3Reliability
If antenna aperture size is increased to improve signal-to-noise ratio, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but satellite mass increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deployable antenna structure allows the satellite to achieve a large antenna aperture (improving signal-to-noise ratio) only when needed during operational phase, while maintaining minimal mass during launch and deployment phases. The antenna transitions dynamically between compact and expanded states.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the mass-aperture tradeoff by transitioning from a three-dimensional mass constraint during launch to an effective two-dimensional aperture area in operational mode. The antenna achieves large aperture area without proportionally increasing the satellite's launch mass by utilizing the deployment dimension.
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 design achieves a power aperture factor to cost ratio of at least 0.50 kilowatt-square meters per dollar and an antenna aperture size to mass ratio of 10 square meters per kilogram, enabling higher efficiency and cost-effectiveness in satellite imaging.
Implementation Method 1
The radar may include a traveling wave tube amplifier configured to drive the parabolic reflector antenna
Implementation Method 2
a parabolic reflector antenna coupled to the satellite bus, in which the parabolic reflector antenna includes a central hub and a plurality of antenna ribs movable from a stowed position to an operational position
Implementation Method 3
The reflections of the pulses are digitally processed and combined to generate image data
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure provide high efficiency synthetic aperture radar satellite designs that achieve higher power efficiency and higher antenna aperture size to satellite mass ratios than the current state of the art. In various embodiments, a high efficiency synthetic aperture radar satellite includes a satellite bus and a parabolic reflector antenna coupled to the satellite bus. The satellite system may further include a traveling wave tube amplifier configured to drive the parabolic reflector antenna, and a body-mounted steering system configured to mechanically steer the satellite system to direct the parabolic reflector antenna. The satellite system may further include a processor configured to combine the pulse reflections and generate image data representing the region of interest, in which the image data is effectively obtained with a synthetic aperture greater than the actual antenna aperture.