There is a video of an antenna made from shape memory alloy. The video is given here: http://shelf3d.com/RGDufoVQ7hg#Chiral%20shape%20memory%20alloy%20antenna. The antenna is seen below:
Demonstrator deployable antenna with a chiral (auxetic) structure – it expands in all directions when pulled. The antenna is made with shape memory alloy ribbon and it activates with an air dryer.
This auxetic shape was achieved using shape memory polymer, as well. Jonathan Rossiter and collaborators at the University of Bristol, have created the chiral structure. An image below describes how the auxetic structure works:
Contraction of chiral structures; (a) expanded and (b) compressed triangular element, (c) a single structural element at maximum extension and (d) at maximum contraction (1)
The structured made from the shape memory polymer is given below:
(a) As-fabricated deployed state of laser cut SMP hexachiral auxetic, (b) compressed storage state, (c) deployed structure after shape recovery (1)
Incorporating a structure like this one might be useful for my purposes.
References:
1. Rossiter, J. et. al., Shape Memory Polymer Hexachiral Structures with Tunable Stiffness. Smart Materials and Structures. 23 (2014).
