Origami-Inspired Shape-Changing Phased Array

In situ geometric reconfiguration of a phased array increases the diversity of radiation patterns that can be synthesized by the array. Such shape-changing phased arrays enable new applications by dynamically conforming their shapes to the geometry best suited for a given task. This work presents the design and demonstration of an origami-inspired shape-changing array built out of identical radiating tiles held in place by a mechanical backbone. The array is capable of shifting into planar, spherical, and cylindrical configurations. The benefits of such an array are analyzed by comparing the properties of different geometries and verified with measurements of the first origami-inspired shape-changing phased array.