Compactible Antenna for Satellite Communications
Systems and methods described herein include collapsible and deployable antenna structures including shape memory composite components.
1 . An antenna structure, comprising:
a shape memory component; and
a conductive component.
2 . The antenna structure of claim 1 , further comprising a support structure coupled to the shape memory component.
3 . The antenna structure of claim 2 , wherein the antenna structure has a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, and the shape memory component is non-structurally deformed in the stowed configuration.
4 . The antenna structure of claim 3 , wherein the conductive component is a conductive material on an exterior surface of the shape memory component.
5 . The antenna structure of claim 4 , wherein the support structure defines an inflation sleeve.
6 . The antenna structure of claim 5 , wherein the support structure comprises a gas impermeable material.
7 . The antenna structure of claim 6 , wherein the shape memory component comprises a plurality of shape memory components creating four helical curves to define a quadrifillar antenna.
8 . The antenna structure of claim 6 , wherein the shape memory component comprises a plurality of shape memory components defining a biconical antenna.
9 . A method of deploying an antenna structure, comprising:
storing the antenna structure having a shape memory composite component and a conductive component in a stored configuration;
deploying the antenna structure to a deployed configuration defining an antenna shape.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the antenna shape is configured to provide both circularly polarized waves and be omnidirectional.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising applying a deformation force to the antenna structure to non-structurally deform the shape memory composite component.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the antenna structure further comprises a support structure in a form of an inflation sleeve.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising inflating the inflation sleeve to transition the antenna structure from the stored configuration to the deployed configuration.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising breaking a failure device by the inflation of the inflation sleeve, wherein the failure device is coupled to a storage device that imposed a deformation force on the antenna structure to retain the antenna structure in the stored configuration.