Design and Prototype Verification of Multi-fold Rib Deployable Antenna Mechanism

In response to the demand for new deployable antennas with large aperture and the problems of low utilization rate and poor stowage rate of traditional deployable antenna, a new multi-fold rib deployable antenna with mesh surface is proposed. Firstly, the idea of “from complex to simple” is used to describes the overall scheme of the mechanism, the component modules, rope arrangement and drive locking method, etc. Secondly, based on the idea of equal envelope circle and the theory of the rotating coordinate transformation, the mathematical parameters of rib unit angle are calculated. Finally, the deployed and stowed function of the antenna mechanism is tested and analyzed by prototype developed, as well as related technical indicators. The results show that the antenna mechanism can achieve the desired deploying action and that the deploying principle is feasible and the mechanism design is reasonable; Meanwhile, the new deployable antenna proposed in this paper has the characteristics of lightweight and high utilization compared to traditional deployable antennas. It provides a feasible solution for the development of a large deployable antenna mechanism.