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Shape Adaptable Multistable Helical Antennas for Portable Communications
Morphing multistable helices are promising for physically reconfigurable antennas with on-demand performance. They offer a solution that is lightweight, reconfigurable, and load carrying. This project will focus on actuation of these structures and their design for antennas.
Shape adaptable helical structures are promising for the realization of physically reconfigurable antennas with on-demand performance. This approach to changing antenna performance is promising to be more lightweight and power efficient than traditional techniques using large numbers of electrical switches. Such antennas are very promising for application in portable communications in areas with limited infrastructures. In this case, on-demand performance will allow for the antenna to adapt to its environment, in-stead of necessitating a custom, costly solution for each application.
However, realizing the required shape morphing presents several challenges: achieving simultaneously deformable and load-carrying structures, fabrication of complex shapes using lightweight stiff materials, such as fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, and the actuation of these structures. As such, solution are sought that are simultaneously, lightweight, portable, and has adaptable performance.
A solution to this problem using multistable helical lattices has been proposed at CMASLab. The key to this concept relies on the interplay between FRP composite constituent properties, layup, and helix geometry. In particular, a high mismatch between fiber and matrix properties is desired. Prototypes made from a custom thermoplastic composite have shown promising stability properties. However, the structure still suffers from high influence of boundary conditions, structural stiffness lower than desired, and lack of appropriate actuation and control strategies.
Shape adaptable helical structures are promising for the realization of physically reconfigurable antennas with on-demand performance. This approach to changing antenna performance is promising to be more lightweight and power efficient than traditional techniques using large numbers of electrical switches. Such antennas are very promising for application in portable communications in areas with limited infrastructures. In this case, on-demand performance will allow for the antenna to adapt to its environment, in-stead of necessitating a custom, costly solution for each application. However, realizing the required shape morphing presents several challenges: achieving simultaneously deformable and load-carrying structures, fabrication of complex shapes using lightweight stiff materials, such as fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, and the actuation of these structures. As such, solution are sought that are simultaneously, lightweight, portable, and has adaptable performance.
A solution to this problem using multistable helical lattices has been proposed at CMASLab. The key to this concept relies on the interplay between FRP composite constituent properties, layup, and helix geometry. In particular, a high mismatch between fiber and matrix properties is desired. Prototypes made from a custom thermoplastic composite have shown promising stability properties. However, the structure still suffers from high influence of boundary conditions, structural stiffness lower than desired, and lack of appropriate actuation and control strategies.
The goal of this thesis is to realize a shape adaptable helical antenna structure that is both deployable and reconfigurable. This thesis will focus on the mechanical aspects of the structure, while the antenna design and testing will be done by a project partner. The thesis tasks include:
- Literature review on actuation methods for shells and other lightweight structures, shape adaptability, multistability
- Prototyping of a multi-stable helical antenna structure meeting structural and electromagnetic requirements
- Design and prototyping of rig to improve behavior at boundaries
- Actuation schemes for selected concepts
- Finite element simulations and mechanical testing of selected concepts
The goal of this thesis is to realize a shape adaptable helical antenna structure that is both deployable and reconfigurable. This thesis will focus on the mechanical aspects of the structure, while the antenna design and testing will be done by a project partner. The thesis tasks include:
- Literature review on actuation methods for shells and other lightweight structures, shape adaptability, multistability - Prototyping of a multi-stable helical antenna structure meeting structural and electromagnetic requirements - Design and prototyping of rig to improve behavior at boundaries - Actuation schemes for selected concepts - Finite element simulations and mechanical testing of selected concepts
Dr. Maria Sakovsky (msakovsky@ethz.ch)
LEE O 204
Leonhardstrasse 21
8092 Zürich
Dr. Maria Sakovsky (msakovsky@ethz.ch) LEE O 204 Leonhardstrasse 21 8092 Zürich