A global communication system includes a mobile portion; a phased-array antenna attached to the mobile portion; an antenna to face a satellite; a transceiver to communicate with the satellite; and a processor to optimize communication from the transceiver.

A global communication system includes a mobile portion; a phased-array antenna attached to the mobile portion; an actuator to move the antenna in one direction to face a satellite; a transceiver to communicate with the satellite; and a processor controlling the actuator to optimize communication from the transceiver.

There is provided a conductive hollow tube (3) which is brought into tight contact with the top surface of a grounding conductor (1a) at a position where a first end having an opening plane (4a) with an inner diameter matching a diameter of a hole (2a) formed on the grounding conductor (1) overlaps with the hole (2a), and which is bent so that an opening plane (4b) of a second end faces the top surface direction and that an intermediate portion between the first end and the second end is arranged parallel to the grounding conductor (1), and a conductive liquid supplied from the opening plane (4a) of the first end is passed through the conductive hollow tube (3) and discharged to the outside from the opening plane (4b) of the second end.

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.

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.

Systems and methods described herein include collapsible and deployable antenna structures including shape memory composite components. An example antenna structure includes a base structure comprising a shape memory component; a conductive component; and a support structure creating an inflatable sleeve. The support structure may be configured to support the conductive material and the base structure. The support structure and base structure may work together to deploy the deployable antenna from the collapsed configuration to the deployed configuration. An exemplary method of deploying an antenna structure may include storing the antenna structure in a stored configuration; inflating an inflatable sleeve with an inflation gas to transition the antenna structure from the stored configuration to a deployed configuration defining an antenna shape; and retaining the deployed configuration defining the antenna shape with the shape memory component.

An inflatable antenna structure composed of flexible, electrically conductive material is disclosed. When inflated, for example, with air or lighter-than-air gas, the structure assumes antenna geometries suitable for a wide range of RF transmission and reception requirements. Also, when inflated, the structure can be lofted and deployed hundreds or more feet into the sky, enabling extended communication capabilities. The structure includes at least one inflation-deflation port and at least one electrical-connectivity port. One or more embodiments include offering significant advantages over conventional antenna structures with respect to weight, size, portability, performance, and manufacturability.

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.

Systems and methods described herein include collapsible and deployable antenna structures including shape memory composite components.