Dynamically Reconfigurable and Packable Multifunctional Origami Antennas and Arrays

Abstract

Reconfigurable, tunable, multifunctional, deployable, and ultra wideband (UWB) high-performance antenna systems are expected to play a significant role in the next generation communication, reconnaissance, sensing and energy harvesting systems. For the much smaller airborne and spaceborne platforms, foldable and packable antennas, such as the Origami/Miura structures, have the unique ability to morph 2-D manifolds into a continuous range of 2-D or 3-D shapes with temporal control via deterministic mechanisms of rigid foldability. In this paper, we present different origami/miura approaches to realize a new class of foldable and packable ultrawideband antennas. In addition, we present a disruptive class of novel flexible antenna substrates that are practical for in-thefield fabrication methods.