Structure derivative design, network, and kinematic analysis of a class of two-dimensional deployable mechanisms for aerospace platforms

Abstract

A systematic method is presented to deal with the structure design of two-dimensional truss-shaped deployable aerospace platforms. Firstly, the DOF, constraints, and singularities of a symmetrical 7R single-loop mechanism (SLM) are analyzed using screw theory. Based on these characteristics, a symmetric double-layer deployable module with one degree of freedom (DOF) is designed by connecting eight 7R SLMs. Taking this deployable module as the parent mechanism, seven homologous deployable modules are derived using the derivative design method. These modules are single DOF and have good symmetry and deployment performance. Then, the networking methods are proposed for planar deployable modules and spatial deployable modules. Using these networking methods, a class of 1-DOF large-scale truss-shaped deployable aerospace platforms with good symmetry and deployment performance are proposed, which verifies the rationality and feasibility of the networking method and design method. Finally, the kinematics and deployment performance of the deployable modules are analyzed. The research fills the gap in the design of deployable aerospace platforms and provides a reference for the derivative design and networking of the deployable mechanisms.