Origami Antenna Design

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive introduction to the design process of origami antennas. These antennas are designed using the same principles as conventional structures but with an added focus on robustness and deployability. To create a functional origami antenna, conductive and dielectric materials are required, along with careful material and design selection to meet specific application requirements. The origami design process involves the transformation of a flat surface into a three-dimensional structure, enabling it to cover more surface area and increase its performance. Early origami antenna designs relied on manual deployment, which was not practical for real-world systems due to the increased complexity and performance limitations associated with folding and unfolding. To address these issues, self-deployment methods using actuators were investigated to reduce design complexity and to improve the overall antenna performance. The employment of origami-based structures has opened new possibilities for developing antennas with improved functionality and portability. By utilizing the folding and unfolding capabilities of origami, antennas can be manufactured to occupy minimum space during transportation and storage and deployed with ease when required. Moreover, origami antennas offer a cost-effective solution for a range of applications, including space exploration, communication systems, and military operations. These antennas can be easily folded and transported to remote locations, making them ideal for emergency communication and disaster response efforts. In this chapter, we outline the design process of origami antennas and how it combines traditional antenna design principles with careful material and design selection to achieve robustness and deployability.