Actuation methods for deployable scissor structures

Abstract

The use of techniques to automate the deployment process of deployable structures has always been of prominent interest for architects, engineers and designers of these mechanical systems. The fact of being “deployable” in itself implies a simple way of assembling the structure and this assembly is even more promising if it can be achieved by pressing a button. The first part of this scientific paper is focused on a brief description of the different techniques already used by other authors to automate the deployment of structures. After that, 4 techniques to deploy a structure are proposed where each one is analysed and applied to a deployable structure with straight rods and a cylindrical shape. Finally, some of these applications are built and their behaviour with respect to the theoretical model is checked.