Shape-Memory Membrane RF Antenna for Compact Stow and Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antennas for spacecraft are large and require significant space and weight, limiting miniaturization efforts, while maintaining sensitivity and resolution, and existing compactable designs either require additional components or complex mechanisms for deployment.
Innovation Solution
The use of shape memory composite materials in a support structure for a compactable RF antenna that can collapse under external force and deploy to a larger configuration, utilizing a flexible membrane reflector with a support structure made of carbon fabric, Vectran, or Kevlar, and a matrix of silicone or epoxy, allowing for a stowed configuration with reduced volume and a deployed configuration with increased volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional rigid antenna structures are used, then the antenna maintains structural stability and reflective quality, but the antenna occupies large space and weight on the spacecraft
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna structure is divided into multiple deployable segments or struts that can be collapsed together for compact storage and deployed to form the full parabolic reflector shape. This segmentation allows the large-area reflective surface to be broken into manageable sections that reduce storage volume while maintaining the overall structural integrity and reflective quality when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna components are designed to nest within each other during stowed configuration, with smaller elements fitting inside larger ones. This nesting arrangement minimizes the volume occupied by the antenna during launch while allowing full deployment of the parabolic reflector structure in space, thereby resolving the contradiction between compact storage and maintained reflective surface quality.
2Device complexity
If inflatable structures are used, then the antenna does not require pre-formed rigid shapes, but additional components and weight are required for inflation gas storage and deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the inflation gas storage and deployment components from the antenna system, replacing them with a self-contained deployable structure that does not require external inflation mechanisms. This extraction eliminates the additional weight and complexity associated with inflation systems while maintaining the ability to transition from compact to deployed configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna structure is designed to deploy automatically using its own inherent mechanical properties, such as elastic memory materials or spring-loaded mechanisms, without requiring external inflation gas or additional deployment components. The structure serves itself by utilizing built-in energy storage elements that enable autonomous deployment, thereby reducing both weight and complexity.
3Ease of operation
If electro-mechanical motors or actuators are used for deployment, then precise control is achieved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex electro-mechanical motors and actuators with simpler mechanical deployment mechanisms that rely on elastic energy storage and release. The deployable structure uses pre-stressed elastic materials or spring mechanisms that automatically unfold or expand to the desired configuration, eliminating the need for powered actuators while maintaining adequate deployment control.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployment mechanism is pre-configured with stored elastic energy or pre-tensioned elements during manufacturing. When deployment is initiated, these pre-loaded mechanical elements automatically drive the antenna to its deployed configuration without requiring real-time control inputs or powered actuators. This preliminary action approach simplifies the deployment system while achieving the required precision through the inherent mechanical design.
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
Enables compact storage and deployment of large area antennas with maintained parabolic reflective quality, reducing weight and complexity, and allowing for efficient RF signal collection.
Implementation Method 1
an antenna including a support structure and a flexible membrane reflector, wherein the support structure comprises a shape memory composite material
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Exemplary embodiments are described herein for compactable antennas and methods of making such an antenna. Exemplary compactable antennas include a support structure and a reflector surface. The support structure may directly or indirectly define the reflector shape. Exemplary embodiments comprise deployable support structures to permit the compactable antenna to have a smaller volume stowed configuration and a larger volume deployed configuration.