(2) Manufacturing of composite materials for inflatable-rigidizable phased array antenna.

We propose to develop a compact, highly portable, rapidly deployable technology for inflatable array structures. It combines an inexpensive, inflatable, and rigidizable structural framework with a reusable transducer array. Post mission, the transducer array dismounts from the rigidized structure and is stowed or remounted onsite on a new unrigidized framework, and the old framework is discarded. We provide results from a preliminary laboratory experiment to validate our approach. Advantages it has over existing technologies are as follows: First, compared to solely inflatable solutions, we offer the superior structural properties and geometric accuracy of glass fiber composites, and eliminate the requirement for powered equipment to maintain inflation pressure. Second, the technology can provide a linear compaction ratio greater than 10. Finally, it uses a lightweight, combustion-based curing system to achieve full rigidization in minutes. Technical tasks will focus on adapting our technology to Navy specifications on compactness ratio, weight and strength, developing a manufacturing protocol and transitioning from the laboratory environment to a fieldable demonstration model.