Deployable Bistable Composite Helical Antennas for Small Satellite Applications

Abstract

An ultra-compact deployable helical antenna is presented, designed to enhance space-based reception of Automatic Identification System signals for maritime surveillance. The radio frequency performance (i.e. peak gain and directionality) is simulated at 162 MHz using ANSYS High Frequency Structure Simulator and evaluated over a range [0.5-8] of helical turns. Established and commercially available omnidirectional antennas suffer interference caused by the large number of incoming signals. A 7-turn helix with planar ground plane is proposed as a compact directional-antenna solution, which produces a peak gain of 11.21±0.14 dBi and half-power beam width of 46.5±0.5 degrees. Manufacturing the helical structure using bistable composite enables uniquely high packaging efficiencies. The helix has a deployed axial length of 3.22 m, a diameter of 58 cm, and a stowed (i.e. coiled) height and diameter of 5 cm-the stowed-to-deployed volume ratio is approximately 1:9,800 (0.01%). The use of ultra-thin and lightweight composite results in an estimated mass of 163 grams. The structural stability (i.e. natural vibration frequency) is also investigated to evaluate the risk an unstable deployed antenna may have on the radio frequency performance. The first vibration mode of the 7-turn helix is at 0.032 Hz indicating the need for additional stiffening.

Review of antenna technologies for very high frequency Data Exchange Systems

“…Bistable composite tape-springs have been considered to design an helix antenna for AIS applications. 29 In this case, further studies have been reported, achieving a high stowage efficiency with high antenna gain values around 10 dBi. The key advantages of this material are its robustness and stiffness, avoiding the need for an additional supporting structure to keep the helical shape.…”

“…Nevertheless, their reliability and feasibility are still under study. For instance, metallized kapton and bistable composite tape‐springs 29,44 are among the investigated alternatives. In the case of the kapton antenna, 26 the focus is on the further reduction of the payload mass.…”

“…A number of works are evaluating advanced folding concepts in combination with advanced materials to reduce volume and mass. Bistable composite tape‐springs have been considered to design an helix antenna for AIS applications 29 . In this case, further studies have been reported, achieving a high stowage efficiency with high antenna gain values around 10 dBi.…”

Design of a Deployable Helix Antenna at L-Band for a 1-Unit CubeSat: From Theoretical Analysis to Flight Model Results

“…There are also some studies on deployable antennas; in [ 25 ], a survey is performed on different types of antennas for CubeSats, and the equations and tools for the antenna design are provided. In addition, the design and testing on UHF [ 26 ] and VHF [ 27 , 28 ] antennas has been the object of research. In [ 29 ], there are also some large deployable antennas for CubeSats.…”

Deployment mechanism for a L-band helix antenna in 1-Unit Cubesat

“…There are also some studies on deployable antennas, [14], [15], [16], [17], but most of them are focused on the radiofrequency design, and performance of the antenna rather than in the deployment mechanism itself, which is a critical part. Other solutions, such as reflector antennas, reflect arrays and membrane antennas are proposed by Authors in [18], but these solutions are not suitable for the 3Cat-4 mission due to the space restriction of 0.3U.…”