Autonomous Deployment of a Solar Panel Using Elastic Origami and Distributed Shape-Memory-Polymer Actuators

Abstract

Deployable mechanical systems such as space solar panels rely on the intricate stowage of passive modules, and sophisticated deployment using a network of motorized actuators. As a result, a significant portion of the stowed mass and volume are occupied by these support systems. An autonomous solar panel array deployed using the inherent material behavior remains elusive. In this work, we develop an autonomous self-deploying solar panel array that is programmed to activate in response to changes in the surrounding temperature. We study an elastic "flasher" origami sheet embedded in a circle of scissor mechanisms, both printed with shape memory polymers. The scissor mechanisms are optimized to provide the maximum expansion ratio while delivering the necessary force for deployment. The origami sheet is also optimized to carry the maximum number of solar panels given space constraints. We show how the folding of the "flasher" origami exhibits a bifurcation behavior resulting in either a cone or disk shape both numerically and in experiments. A folding strategy is devised to avoid the undesired cone shape. The resulting design is entirely 3D printed, achieves an expansion ratio of 1000% in under 40 seconds, and shows excellent agreement with simulation prediction both in the stowed and deployed configurations.

A Review of Shape Memory Polymers and Composites: Mechanisms, Materials, and Applications

“…SMPCs are lightweight, low‐cost, and able to produce active deformation, which are essential characteristics for use in aerospace engineering, especially in deployable structures. [ 13,139 ] Typical examples include SMPCs hinges, gravity gradient booms, deployable panels, [ 140,141 ] ( Figure a) and reflector antennas. Unlike the traditional metallic hinges [ 142 ] that take up a lot of space and weight, SMPCs hinge reinforced with carbon fiber plain‐weave fabrics have been developed [ 143,144 ] (Figure 12b).…”

“…Reproduced under the terms of the CC‐ BY Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). [ 140 ] Copyright 2019, The Authors, published by American Physical Society. b) Model and dimension of the lenticular collapsible composite tube.…”

Materials as Machines

“…e) When heated (left), the panel fits into a cylindrical mold, then is cooled and released (right). b–e) Reproduced under the terms of the CC‐BY Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 420. Copyright 2019, The Authors, published by APS.…”

“…A recent review details SMPs and other active materials in the context of origami and kirigami approaches to shape programming 419. Origami design principles have been employed by Chen et al in the extraterrestrial and autonomous deployment of a solar panel enabled by SMPs (Figure 17b–e) 420. 3D printed origami structures have been prepared by Teoh et al with SMPs that enable reconfiguration 421.…”

Light-driven complex 3D shape morphing of glassy polymers by resolving spatio-temporal stress confliction

“…The light-triggered manipulation of local curvilinear strain with quantifiable stress provides a significant step toward design of complex, self-foldable, 3D architectures with coexisting curved, and linear geometric surface. The selective shape morphing, thereby, offers potential opportunities in shape-reconfigurable 32 and deployable 33 structures, tunable photonic devices 34 , 4D printing 35 , and soft robotics 34 .…”