Flexible antenna for unmanned underwater vehicles
AssigneeBAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
InventorsAlexander D. Johnson, Jean L. Kubwimana, Benjamin G. McMahon, Ronald Carvalho
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An antenna assembly includes a flexible substrate configured to be extended from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration and retracted from the deployed configuration to the retracted configuration. The antenna assembly further includes a ground plane element disposed on the substrate and a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the substrate. In the deployed configuration, the antenna assembly extends vertically away from a hull of an underwater vehicle. In the retracted configuration, the antenna assembly is retracted into the hull and/or conforms to a shape of the hull. The substrate can be attached to the underwater vehicle.
Claims16
An antenna assembly comprising:
- a flexible substrate comprising a bi-stable composite material configured to be extended from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration, and retracted from the deployed configuration to the retracted configuration, wherein the bi-stable composite material includes a fiber-reinforced polymer matrix with prestressed fibers embedded therein and configured to transition between states, and wherein the substrate is further configured to resist deformation under hydrostatic pressure when deployed;
- a ground plane element disposed on the substrate;
- and
- a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the flexible substrate;
- wherein, in the deployed configuration, the antenna assembly extends vertically away from a hull of an underwater vehicle such that the antenna assembly is substantially planar, wherein when one end of the bi-stable composite material is pulled away from the remainder of the bi-stable composite material, the bi-stable composite material forms a rigid, elongated, and planar shape;
- and
- wherein, in the retracted configuration, the substrate rolls onto itself and is wound around a spool within the hull such that the antenna assembly is retracted into the hull and/or conforms to a shape of the hull.
An underwater vehicle comprising:
- a hull;
- and
- an antenna assembly coupled to the hull, the antenna assembly including
- a flexible substrate comprising a bi-stable composite material configured to be extended vertically away from the hull when deployed such that the antenna assembly is substantially planar, and wherein the antenna assembly is extended from within the hull, and wherein, once one end of the substrate is pulled away from the remainder of the substrate, the bi-stable composite material exhibits a second state where it forms a rigid, elongated, and planar shape, and wherein at least a portion of the antenna assembly extends above the water surface while at least a portion of an underwater vehicle remains submerged below a water surface, and wherein the substrate rolls onto itself and is wound around a spool within the hull when the antenna assembly is retracted into the hull,
- a ground plane element disposed on the substrate, and
- a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.