Deployment Mechanisms for Satellites (Solar Arrays, Antennas & Instruments)
Arquimea
Hinge- and spring-based deployment mechanisms with integrated deployment detection for satellite solar arrays, antennas, and instruments, offered as off-the-shelf or custom solutions.
Technical specifications
- Reference application
- 1 × 1 m solar array release and deployment mechanism
- Overall system mass (reference config)
- 560 g (including screws and harness)
- Temperature range
- -40°C to +100°C
- Solar panel stowed separation
- 20 mm from spacecraft to panel
- Deployment detection
- Sensor detects start and end of deployment
- Motorization
- Spring-motorized hinges with latch on deployed position
- Safety tooling
- Included to avoid inadvertent deployment during integration
About
ARQUIMEA’s deployment mechanisms are spring-motorized hinge assemblies designed to perform controlled rotation and opening of solar panels or other deployable satellite structures. The system ensures safe, motorized deployment, guarantees adequate safety margins, and avoids rebound effects. Once fully deployed, the device latches the panel in the 90° position with a mechanical switch to detect both the start and end of deployment.
The reference off-the-shelf configuration is designed for a 1 × 1 m solar array release and deployment system, with an overall system mass of 560 g including screws and harness. Safety tooling prevents accidental deployment during ground integration and validation activities. The mechanisms are compatible with ARQUIMEA’s HDRM REACT actuators and cup-cone interface hardware, forming a complete and qualified deployment stack.
ARQUIMEA offers in-house manufacturing, integration, and testing within its own facilities, ensuring 100% ground-test success verification before launch. The complete system — HDRM, cup-cone, and spring-motorized hinge — has been validated in multiple ESA and commercial missions including ESAIL, μHETsat, Horizon 2020 IOD, and the PRE2POS gimbal H2020 program.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
