An extendable structure which may be used in space-based applications, for example forming the body of a telescope. The structure is movable between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, and comprises a plurality of walls arranged to give a polygonal cross-section in the extended con
An extendable structure which may be used in space-based applications, for example forming the body of a telescope. The structure is movable between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, and comprises a plurality of walls arranged to give a polygonal cross-section in the extended configuration. Each wall comprises a plurality of repeating units which are connected by a plurality of hinges. Each repeating unit itself comprises a plurality of sections connected by pluralities of first and second hinges, and in the extended configuration, each of the first hinges lies between two second hinges with the second hinges having axes which are inclined with respect to the first hinge axis.
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1. An extendable structure arranged for use in space-based applications, the structure being extendable along a central axis and being movable between a fully-collapsed configuration and a fully-extended configuration, the structure comprising: a plurality of walls each comprising a plurality of rep
1. An extendable structure arranged for use in space-based applications, the structure being extendable along a central axis and being movable between a fully-collapsed configuration and a fully-extended configuration, the structure comprising: a plurality of walls each comprising a plurality of repeating units, the walls being arranged such that in the fully-extended configuration, each wall is substantially planar and the structure has a polygonal cross-section, and each side of the polygonal cross-section is formed by one of the plurality of walls;wherein each repeating unit comprises a plurality of panels connected by a plurality of first hinges located along side edges of the panels, a gap formed between each adjacent connected panels;wherein repeating units within each wall are connected by a plurality of second hinges,wherein in the fully-extended configuration, each of the first hinges has a first hinge axis which is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal edge of the wall,wherein in both the fully-collapsed configuration and the fully-extended configuration, the plurality of walls are arranged around the central axis to form a tubular structure,wherein each of the first and second hinges comprise tape-spring hinges arranged on both sides of the panels attached to the respective first or second hinge, the tape springs on opposite sides having opposing curvatures, and the tape springs being arranged to store elastic strain energy in the stowed configuration such that the first and second hinges exert a force on the structure which urges the structure towards the extended configuration,wherein in both the fully-collapsed configuration and the fully-extended configuration each one of the plurality of walls is connected on both sides to adjacent walls, and is configured to remain directly connected to both of said adjacent walls as the structure is moved between the fully-collapsed configuration and the fully-extended configuration, andwherein the plurality of panels in each repeating unit are further connected by a plurality of third hinges, each of the first hinges lying between two third hinges and the third hinges having hinge axes which are inclined with respect to said first hinge axis. 2. The extendable structure according to claim 1, wherein in the extended configuration, the first and third hinges and the longitudinal edge define triangular regions on either side of each first hinge. 3. The extendable structure according to claim 1, wherein in the extended configuration, a corner of the structure is formed where longitudinal edges of two adjacent walls meet, and in the stowed configuration the structure is folded along the first, second and third hinges such that said longitudinal edges remain substantially contiguous. 4. The extendable structure according to claim 1, wherein in the extended configuration, the first and third hinges within a wall lie on a single plane, and in the stowed configuration, said first and third hinges are moved out of said plane. 5. The extendable structure according to claim 1, wherein the structure has a regular polygonal cross-section of N sides in the extended configuration, and an angle αbetween the first and third hinge axes is given by α=90°/N 6. The extendable structure according to claim 1, wherein each repeating unit of each wall is connected to an other repeating unit of an other wall adjacent along the central axis by a plurality of fourth hinges. 7. The extendable structure according to claim 6, wherein in the extended configuration each one of the fourth hinges is arranged to open to an internal angle of the polygon which forms the cross-section of the structure. 8. The extendable structure according to claim 6, wherein each one of the third hinges comprises tape springs arranged on both sides of the panels attached to said third hinge, the tape springs on opposite sides having opposing curvatures, and wherein each one of the fourth hinges comprises tape springs arranged on a single side of the panels attached to said fourth hinge. 9. The extendable structure according to claim 1, wherein each one of the first, second and third hinges is arranged to open to an angle of 180° in the extended configuration, such that the panels attached to the first, second and third hinges are coplanar. 10. The extendable structure according to claim 1, wherein the first and third hinges cooperate such that in the stowed configuration, a plurality of panels which form corners of the structure are folded back towards an interior of the structure. 11. The extendable structure according to claim 10, wherein in the stowed configuration, a point at which first and third hinges meet within a repeating unit is displaced away from an interior of the structure. 12. The extendable structure according to claim 1, wherein the extendable structure forms a body of a telescope, and further comprises a flexible shroud attached to at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the structure, the shroud being arranged to block transmission of light through the walls of the structure, and through the gaps. 13. The extendable structure according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of studs fixed to an internal and/or external surface of the structure, the plurality of studs being arranged to be aligned in the stowed configuration to provide a continuous load path from top to bottom of the structure. 14. The extendable structure according to claim 1, wherein the structure is linearly tapered from one end of the structure to the other, such that a cross-section at one end is smaller than a cross-section at the other end. 15. The extendable structure according to claim 1, wherein each repeating unit comprises a plurality of rigid panels. 16. The extendable structure according to claim 1, comprising: a hole formed at a center of each repeating unit. 17. The extendable structure of claim 1, wherein in the fully-collapsed configuration the panels within each wall are substantially parallel to each other and lie on top of one another.
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