Microwave power for smart membrane actuators

The concept of microwave-driven smart membrane actuators is envisioned as the best option to alleviate the complexity associated with hard-wired control circuitry. A large, ultra lightweight space structure, such as solar sails and Gossamer spacecrafts, requires a distributed power source to alleviate wire networks, unlike the localized on-board power infrastructures typically found in most small spacecrafts. A rectenna array based on a patch configuration for high voltage output was developed to drive membrane actuators. Networked patch rectenna array receives and converts microwave power into a DC power for an array of smart actuators. To use microwave power effectively, the concept of a power allocation and distribution (PAD) logic circuit is being adopted for networking a rectenna/actuator patch array. Use of thin-film patch rectennas adds a significant amount of rigidity to membrane flexibility. Therefore, dipole rectennas that offer flexibility and are lighter weight are being considered for thin-film membrane actuators. Preliminary design and fabrication of PAD circuitry that consists of a few nodal elements were made for laboratory testing. The networked actuators were tested to correlate the network coupling effect, power allocation and distribution, and response time.