Deployable L-Band Yagi-Uda Antenna for a 3U CubeSat using a Pantograph Mechanism

Conor M Lambe; Geoff  Hilton; Andrew C M Austin

Deployable L-Band Yagi-Uda Antenna for a 3U CubeSat using a Pantograph Mechanism

Conor M Lambe, Geoff Hilton, Andrew C M Austin

Research output: Contribution to conference › Conference Paper › peer-review

Abstract

A deployable L-Band, 5-element Yagi-Uda antenna with a collapsible pantograph mechanism is proposed for a 3U CubeSat platform. A rapid prototyping approach is used to validate the efficacy of the mechanism and antenna performance prior to design optimization. The fabricated antenna operates at 1.9 GHz with a measured 340 MHz bandwidth (18% fractional bandwidth). A maximum directivity of 9.7 dBi is measured with side lobe levels of−13 dB and−8.4 dB, and beamwidths of 52.3◦ and 62.2◦ for the E- and H-plane respectively, which agree well with simulations. The possibility of extending the antenna beyond 5 elements is investigated through simulation, indicating that an increased directivity is possible with more directors and a larger structure.

Original language	English
Number of pages	4
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 12 Dec 2025
Event	European Conference on Antennas and Propagation - Dublin, Ireland Duration: 20 Apr 2026 → 24 Apr 2026

Conference

Conference	European Conference on Antennas and Propagation
Abbreviated title	EuCAP
Country/Territory	Ireland
Period	20/04/26 → 24/04/26

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title = "Deployable L-Band Yagi-Uda Antenna for a 3U CubeSat using a Pantograph Mechanism",

abstract = "A deployable L-Band, 5-element Yagi-Uda antenna with a collapsible pantograph mechanism is proposed for a 3U CubeSat platform. A rapid prototyping approach is used to validate the efficacy of the mechanism and antenna performance prior to design optimization. The fabricated antenna operates at 1.9 GHz with a measured 340 MHz bandwidth (18\% fractional bandwidth). A maximum directivity of 9.7 dBi is measured with side lobe levels of−13 dB and−8.4 dB, and beamwidths of 52.3◦ and 62.2◦ for the E- and H-plane respectively, which agree well with simulations. The possibility of extending the antenna beyond 5 elements is investigated through simulation, indicating that an increased directivity is possible with more directors and a larger structure.",

author = "Lambe, \{Conor M\} and Geoff Hilton and Austin, \{Andrew C M\}",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

day = "12",

language = "English",

note = "European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP ; Conference date: 20-04-2026 Through 24-04-2026",

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TY - CONF

T1 - Deployable L-Band Yagi-Uda Antenna for a 3U CubeSat using a Pantograph Mechanism

AU - Lambe, Conor M

AU - Hilton, Geoff

AU - Austin, Andrew C M

PY - 2025/12/12

Y1 - 2025/12/12

N2 - A deployable L-Band, 5-element Yagi-Uda antenna with a collapsible pantograph mechanism is proposed for a 3U CubeSat platform. A rapid prototyping approach is used to validate the efficacy of the mechanism and antenna performance prior to design optimization. The fabricated antenna operates at 1.9 GHz with a measured 340 MHz bandwidth (18% fractional bandwidth). A maximum directivity of 9.7 dBi is measured with side lobe levels of−13 dB and−8.4 dB, and beamwidths of 52.3◦ and 62.2◦ for the E- and H-plane respectively, which agree well with simulations. The possibility of extending the antenna beyond 5 elements is investigated through simulation, indicating that an increased directivity is possible with more directors and a larger structure.

AB - A deployable L-Band, 5-element Yagi-Uda antenna with a collapsible pantograph mechanism is proposed for a 3U CubeSat platform. A rapid prototyping approach is used to validate the efficacy of the mechanism and antenna performance prior to design optimization. The fabricated antenna operates at 1.9 GHz with a measured 340 MHz bandwidth (18% fractional bandwidth). A maximum directivity of 9.7 dBi is measured with side lobe levels of−13 dB and−8.4 dB, and beamwidths of 52.3◦ and 62.2◦ for the E- and H-plane respectively, which agree well with simulations. The possibility of extending the antenna beyond 5 elements is investigated through simulation, indicating that an increased directivity is possible with more directors and a larger structure.

M3 - Conference Paper

T2 - European Conference on Antennas and Propagation

Y2 - 20 April 2026 through 24 April 2026

ER -

Deployable L-Band Yagi-Uda Antenna for a 3U CubeSat using a Pantograph Mechanism

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