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Under the development trend of large-size antennas, the demand for modular expansion of synthetic aperture radar antennas is increasing, and the connection mechanism is an important part of the modular expansion. This paper designed and studied the connection mechanism between the basic units of the planar deployable antenna mechanism. Firstly, for the basic deployable units of a new type of planar deployable antenna spatial support mechanism proposed previously by the author, the connection mechanism between the basic units was synthesized, and a series of feasible planar deployable mechanism configurations were obtained. Meanwhile, a spatial support mechanism for planar deployable antennas with scissor was optimally constructed by analysis. Through finite element comparative analysis, it was found that the mechanism improves the stiffness and reduces the maximum deformation. Then, scale optimization was performed by using the control variable method. Finally, the prototype was developed, and experimental research was conducted to verify the feasibility of the mechanism. The spatial support mechanism of the planar deployable antenna with scissor proposed in this paper improves the reliability, stiffness, modal, and other related properties of the unfolding process. Therefore, it has broad application prospects in the field of aerospace deployable antennas. • Propose a method to design the connection mechanism between the basic deployable units. • Design a spatial support mechanism for planar deployable antenna without P joints. • Compare the stiffness of the new mechanism and the previous one. • Develop a prototype of the proposed support mechanism and validate the motion principle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel spatial support mechanism for planar deployable antennas is designed based on the motion principle of planar deployable antennas and the spatial mechanism theory. The composition principle of the novel mechanism and its geometric characteristics are analyzed, and its degrees of freedom are calculated based on the constraint topological diagram. Subsequently, kinematic analysis is conducted, and the angular velocity, linear velocity, and linear acceleration of each component in the mechanism are calculated. Then, numerical calculation and simulation are performed to verify the correctness of the theoretical analysis results. The performance analysis of the spatial support mechanism is completed. A prototype of the proposed support mechanism is developed and tested to validate the feasibility of the mechanism principle. The present work can provide reference for the design and engineering application of this type of mechanisms. • 1.Propose a novel support mechanism for planar deployable antennas. • 2.Analyze the DOFs, kinematics, dynamics based on the constraint topological diagram. • 3.Develop a prototype of the proposed support mechanism and validate the motion principle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]