Reconfigurable Deployable Umbrella Canopies

The kinematic design of reconfigurable deployable canopy mechanisms with radially distributed limbs are presented in this study. The mechanisms allow a compact form and are reconfigurable with several alternative deployed forms which can be in the form of a tent, a canopy or a form in between. Each limb of the canopy possesses at least two assembly modes which enables reconfigurability. The conditions for deployment and reconfiguration of the mechanism are derived. These conditions impose equality and inequality constraints for the link lengths of the mechanism. A parametric model of the mechanism is constructed in Excel for design and simulation purposes. Solid models and a prototype are presented as examples.