| Summary: | This thesis examines the viability of an umbrella like deployable antenna with an aperture of 1m, stowed in a volume of 1.5U or 2U. Some antenna basic theory is referenced and a literature survey on antenna deploying mechanisms is performed. Following this, a concept is proposed, based on an existing design with an enhancement to meet the desired deployed aperture.
To assess the stowage of the reflector in a given volume, simple tools are developed which are utilized during the design process. All the components from the reference design are considered of constant dimensions expect for the ribs which are the focus of the thesis. Through adjustments, the final three-stage rib design is reached.
Having completed the design, the deployment sequence is described. A single-rib kinematic analysis is performed to extract the ideal motion profiles of the deployment. A single-rib dynamic analysis is performed to be used as a reference to multi-rib analysis and to examine the real motion and the forces produced. Multi-rib dynamic analyses are performed to simulate the deployment of the mechanism from a holistic perspective. Finally, a simple analysis of the antenna’s electromagnetic pattern is performed.
Summarizing, it seems possible to deploy a 1m aperture antenna from a 2U stowage volume. The proposed mechanism can be studied in further detail and more analysis should be done, but the overall concept is viable.
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