Surface Accuracy Measurement of a Novel Inflatable Antenna by Photogrammetry

Abstract

Surface accuracy measurement of a 1.5m-diameter novel inflatable antenna formed by 18 aluminum-coated Kapton® gores is investigated using digital photogrammetry. More than five hundred 3mm-diameter round retro-targets were glued on the surface of the antenna, and their 3D coordinates at different internal pressures of the antenna were obtained using V-STARS digital photogrammetric system. According to the measured data, the influence of internal pressure of the antenna on its surface accuracy was analyzed, and the deviation of gores’ center line and ribs on the surface were also studied. The results show that the internal pressure has significant influence on the surface accuracy of the antenna, especially near the antenna’s dome.