Scalable, Deployable, Flexible Phased Array Sheets

Large aperture flexible and deployable phased arrays will enable active RF fabric and deployable array structures for terrestrial and space applications. The flexible phased array design paradigm is enabled by small, multi-function radio frequency integrated circuits and low mass radiators, which avoid conventional dielectric materials. This paper presents a 256 element, 30 cm x 30 cm flexible phased array, operating at 10 GHz and focusing 0.8 W at 2 m distance. A novel beam-focusing algorithm is used to demonstrate 2-D beam-steering and deformation correction capabilities of the flexible phased array.