Inflatable antenna assemblies are provided, including an inflatable container having an inflated state and a deflated state, the inflatable container having an interior surface and an exterior surface, a flexible antenna extending along the interior surface or the exterior surface of the inflatable container, such that the antenna deploys to an operable, extended configuration upon inflation of the inflatable container to the inflated state, and a port configured for operable connection to an inflation mechanism to inflate the container to the inflated state. Safety device structures, such as life rafts, life preservers, life jackets, buoys, and emergency beacons, having inflatable antenna portions, are also provided.

The invention relates to a foldable/deployable structure (1) comprising: a mast (4) which can be deployed along a longitudinal deployment axis, the mast being designed to be placed either in a folded state requiring little axial installation space, or in a deployed state having a predetermined shape, a base (10) upon which the deployable mast (4) is rested, the structure (1, 2) further comprising a bracing device, the bracing device: having at least three points for attachment to the base (10) and at least three points for attachment to the mast (4), the bracing device connecting the base to the mast; being designed to limit the transverse movements of the mast relative to the base (10) at least when the mast (4) is in a deployed state, and; comprising at least one connecting member (22, 42, 60) chosen from the group formed by fabrics, non-woven fabrics and ties, the ties being chosen from the group formed by monofilaments, cables, bundles and strips; the structure (1, 2) being characterised in that it comprises a device (30) for tensioning each connecting member of the bracing device when the mast (4) is in the deployed state, the tensioning device (30) enabling a proximal end of the mast (4) to be maintained in the deployed state, at a distance from the base (10) greater than the distance separating the proximal end of the mast (4) from the base (10) when the mast is in the folded state.

An AMC antenna apparatus includes a ground plane and a flexible antenna element layer above the ground plane. The ground plane includes a conductive base surface, a plurality of flexible conductors, and a frequency selective surface (FSS) layer above the base surface, where the FSS layer includes a plurality of conductive patches separated from one another. Each of the flexible conductors electrically connects one of the conductive patches to the base surface. A latch mechanism is arranged between the base layer and the FSS layer. An inflatable bladder system between the base layer and the FSS layer is configured to receive a gas input during deployment of the antenna apparatus and inflate to produce force sufficient to cause the latch mechanism to transition from an unlatched state to a latched state in which the conductive base surface is fixedly separated from the FSS layer at a predetermined distance.

A lens and antenna assembly technique that includes a first bladder that is configured to be filled with a first fluid and the first fluid having a first index of refraction. The technique further includes a second bladder nested within the first bladder. The second bladder is configured to be filled with a second fluid and the second fluid has a second index of refraction. This technique is for deploying an inflatable lens that includes inflating a first bladder with a first fluid and inflating a second bladder with a second fluid. The second bladder is nested within the first bladder. The technique for deploying an inflatable lens further includes replacing the first fluid with a third fluid and replacing the second fluid with a fourth fluid.

A technique for a dielectric lens and an antenna assembly. The dielectric lens that includes a for a reference surface and a pattern of varying thicknesses made from a first dielectric. The pattern of varying thicknesses is situated on the reference surface. The thickness differences between adjacent formations of the pattern of varying thicknesses is less than an incident wavelength of electromagnetic energy. The antenna includes mounting fixture, the dielectric lens connected to the mounting fixture, and a transceiver operatively coupled to the mounting fixture. The transceiver is configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal directed to the dielectric lens.

Systems and methods described herein include collapsible and deployable antenna structures. The antenna structures may include any combination of shape memory composites, inflatable envelopes, and/or degradable materials.

A spherical reflector antenna, including a sphere with a reflective surface opposite a transparent surface, a feed system that receives electromagnetic waves that (pass through the transparent surface at a beam angle) and are reflected off the reflective surface at a beam angle and outputs electromagnetic waves that are reflected off the reflective surface (and pass through the transparent surface at a beam angle), and beam steering electronics that identify a position of the spherical reflector antenna, identify an orientation of the sphere, and adjust the beam angle of the feed system based on angle from the position of spherical reflector antenna to the target relative to the orientation of the sphere.

A space deployable antenna apparatus includes an inflatable antenna configurable between a deflated storage position and an inflated deployed position. The inflatable antenna includes collapsible tubular elements coupled together in fluid communication. The collapsible tubular elements in the deployed position include a longitudinally extending boom tubular element, at least one driven tubular conductive element transverse to the boom tubular element, at least one reflector tubular conductive element transverse to the boom tubular element, and at least one director tubular conductive element transverse to the boom tubular element. A foam dispenser is configured to inject a solidifiable foam into the inflatable antenna to configure to the inflated deployed position.

An AMC antenna apparatus includes a ground plane and a flexible antenna element layer above the ground plane. The ground plane includes a conductive base surface, a plurality of flexible conductors, and a frequency selective surface (FSS) layer above the base surface, where the FSS layer includes a plurality of conductive patches separated from one another. Each of the flexible conductors electrically connects one of the conductive patches to the base surface. A latch mechanism is arranged between the base layer and the FSS layer. An inflatable bladder system between the base layer and the FSS layer is configured to receive a gas input during deployment of the antenna apparatus and inflate to produce force sufficient to cause the latch mechanism to transition from an unlatched state to a latched state in which the conductive base surface is fixedly separated from the FSS layer at a predetermined distance.

A remotely deployable, unmanned, inflatable satellite antenna is provided with shock absorbing supports inside a body of the antenna. The shock absorbing supports operatively connect the satellite receiver to the body interior surface and support the satellite receiver inside the body interior while allowing limited movement of the satellite receiver relative to the body interior surface in response to a shock force exerted on the body exterior surface when the antenna is deployed by air drop and impacts with the ground.