Design and analysis of a hoop truss deployable antenna mechanism based on convex pentagon polyhedron unit

Abstract

Hoop truss deployable mechanism is widely applied in large aperture space antennas. In this paper, an integrated assembling concept is proposed for large aperture hoop antennas. First, a new deployable unit with height difference between inner and outer layer is proposed to combine a novel hoop truss deployable mechanism, and the optimization calculation method of the components are conducted based on the reflective cable mesh profile. Second, the degree-of-freedom (DOF) of the deployable unit and the whole mechanism are calculated based on screw theory, the result showed that they all have only one DOF. Then, the kinematic model is established through Lie bracket operation and screw theory, and the actuation allocation of the mechanism is analyzed. Finally, a prototype of the proposed hoop truss deployable mechanism is constructed, and a deployment test is conducted, which demonstrated the mobility and deployment performance of the whole mechanism. The mechanism proposed in this paper provides a theoretical reference for the integrated assembling of the deployable mechanism and reflective cable mesh, which is potentially valuable in the application of large aperture deployable antennas.