Development of a Passively Deployed Roll-Out Solar Array
Abstract
Advanced solar arrays capable of generating greater than 50 kW of total power, at power densities greater than 250 W/kg, are required for many future Air Force missions. The largest heritage systems are limited to less than 20 kW of total power, at roughly 80 W/kg. To meet the requirements of future Air Force missions, the Rollout And Passively Deployed ARray (RAPDAR(TradeMark)) has been developed. This innovative, patent-pending design takes full advantage of the latest advances in thin-film photovoltaic and TEMBO(registered) Elastic Memory Composite (EMC) deployment technologies. A key feature of the design is the use of solar energy to passively actuate the TEMBO EMC members and deploy the array. The present paper addresses the development and validation of detailed designs for the RAPDAR structural system. Specific focus is placed on comparing the performance projections of RAPDAR with other thin-film array systems, and the development and validation of the EMC longerons, which are the primary structural members for the RAPDAR system controlling packaging and deployment, and providing primary stiffness and strength to the deployed system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA463695
Entities
People
- Douglas M. Campbell
- Gregg Freebury
- Jamie Abbot
- Jeffry Welsh
- Larry Adams
- Mark R. Scherbarth
- Mark S. Lake
- Neal Beidleman
- Robert William Taylor
- Rory Barrett