A tape drive comprises a roll of a tape that can be extended from a rolled state to an extended state. The tape includes a rigid material that supports the tape and a pliable material disposed at least partially on one side of the tape. A compression roller is disposed on a side of the tape and is biased toward the tape. A drive roller is disposed on the other side of the tape. The drive roller comprises an uneven surface that mechanically engages the pliable material of the tape, without protruding through the tape, as a result of the bias of the compression roller forcing the tape toward the drive roller. A motor turns the drive roller to extend the tape from the roll as the protrusions of the uneven surface of the drive roller mechanically engage the pliable material of the tape as the drive roller turns.

There is disclosed a surveillance apparatus comprising:—a retractable support member the member having a first end and a second end; a housing; a spooling mechanism mounted at the housing, and being rotatable relative to the housing, and being attached to the second end of the retractable support member, the spooling mechanism being:

Operable to rotate in a first direction to convert the retractable support member from a coiled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the support member from the housing,

Operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first to convert the retractable support member from the extended condition to the coiled condition and thereby retract the support member into the housing;

A mount attached to the first end of the retractable support member; A surveillance device attached to the mount for receiving environmental signals, a human interface remote from the surveillance device; and an electrical connection operably connecting the surveillance device to the human interface, the electrical connection comprising an electrical rotary joint between the housing and the spooling mechanism, such that the surveillance device may be supported, remote from the human interface by paying out the member.

The present disclosure describes a method of deploying an extensible boom from a housing. Sheets supporting respective arrays of photovoltaic devices are deployed substantially simultaneously so that a first sheet is deployed in a first direction from the housing and a second sheet is deployed in an opposite direction from the housing. Angular momentum imparted by deploying the first sheet is canceled by angular momentum imparted by deploying the second sheet. The housing can be part of a space satellite, such that the first and second sheets are deployed without causing the satellite to move out of its orbit.

a surveillance apparatus comprising:—a retractable support member the member having a first end and a second end; a housing; a spooling mechanism mounted at the housing, and being rotatable relative to the housing, and being attached to the second end of the retractable support member, the spooling mechanism being: operable to rotate in a first direction to convert the retractable support member from a coiled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the support member from the housing, operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first to convert the retractable support member from the extended condition to the coiled condition and thereby retract the support member into the housing; a mount attached to the first end of the retractable support member; a surveillance device attached to the mount for receiving environmental signals, a human interface remote from the surveillance device; and a signal interface for relaying the signals received at the surveillance device to the human interface, such that the surveillance device may be supported, remote from the human interface by paying out the member, and wherein the signal interface comprises a transmitter at the surveillance device for sending an first electromagnetic signal; and the human interface comprises a receiver for receiving the first electromagnetic signal.

Exemplary embodiments described herein include innovative engagement devices. Exemplary engagement devices may include on or more tape spring systems. The tape spring system may include a continuous or segmented bi-stable tape spring. The tape spring can be stowed in a rolled up configuration, extended to a deployed configuration, and then triggered to return to a retracted configuration.

Exemplary embodiments described herein include innovative engagement devices. Exemplary engagement devices may include on or more tape spring systems. The tape spring system may include a continuous or segmented bi-stable tape spring. The tape spring can be stowed in a rolled up configuration, extended to a deployed configuration, and then triggered to return to a retracted configuration.

Exemplary embodiments described herein include innovative engagement devices. Exemplary engagement devices may include on or more tape spring systems. The tape spring system may include a continuous or segmented bi-stable tape spring. The tape spring can be stowed in a rolled up configuration, extended to a deployed configuration, and then triggered to return to a retracted configuration.

Exemplary embodiments described herein include innovative engagement devices. Exemplary engagement devices may include on or more tape spring systems. The tape spring system may include a continuous or segmented bi-stable tape spring. The tape spring can be stowed in a rolled up configuration, extended to a deployed configuration, and then triggered to return to a retracted configuration.

A deployable device includes a plurality of stowing rollers that can each move in rotation about a first axis Zi, a plurality of tape-springs, each capable of passing from a wound configuration in one of the stowing rollers to a deployed configuration along a second axis Xi substantially perpendicular to the first axis Zi of the associated stowing roller and having a substantially concave face, the concave faces of the tape-springs facing one another, the tape-springs being at least partially superposed in pairs over a contact surface. The deployable device comprises a reversible adherent link on the contact surface between at least two of the tape-springs in the deployed configuration.

Exemplary embodiments described herein include innovative engagement devices. Exemplary engagement devices may include on or more tape spring systems. The tape spring system may include a continuous or segmented bi-stable tape spring. The tape spring can be stowed in a rolled up configuration, extended to a deployed configuration, and then triggered to return to a retracted configuration.