A Novel One-Degree-of-Freedom Deployable Structure and Its Plate Form

Abstract Deployable structures are widely utilized in various fields due to their ability to switch between a deployed working state and a folded storage state. This paper presents a new method for achieving plate forms in deployable structures, allowing the formation of closed surfaces suitable for covering purposes. Initially, a novel one-degree-of-freedom (one-DOF) deployable network is proposed, employing Bennett linkages and Bennett-based 6R linkages. Subsequently, the shape of the links in the network is modified to obtain a plate form consisting of equilateral triangular panels. The paper also conducts kinematic analysis, motion property examination, and bifurcation condition discussion to demonstrate the folding properties of the proposed mechanism. Additionally, a modified scheme is proposed to enable the structure to form a closed surface, and physical prototypes are used to validate all the results. Overall, the proposed method presents new possibilities for developing practical and versatile deployable structures with broader applications.