Development of shape monitoring system using SMA dipole antenna on a deployable membrane structure

摘要

This paper proposes the use of a strip material with shape recovery function for removing the curl generated in the membrane in the folding pattern of mission devices in orbit, such as patch antenna, where directionality is important. Shape memory alloy (SMA) is adopted as the material in this study, and the distinction of wrinkles caused by its shape recovery is studied. Furthermore, by utilizing the SMA material for the radiating part of the antenna, a method of shape monitoring by evaluating the change in antenna gain due to the shape-change of the SMA is proposed. A dipole antenna with the simplest operation principle and structure was used in this research. A dipole antenna using the SMA material and a circuit board for data acquisition was developed to determine the change in received power caused by the shape change of the SMA. Further, the feasibility of realizing shape monitoring using a thin dipole antenna was investigated by obtaining the input characteristics and radiation pattern of the antenna. Finally, the possibility of employing this system in an actual satellite was summarized.