Design and Preliminary Panel-Level Mechanical Validation of a Bistable SMA-Driven Module for CubeSat Reflector Applications

This paper presents the design and preliminary mechanical validation of a bistable switching module driven by shape memory alloy (SMA) springs for CubeSat reflector-panel applications. A pre-compressed curved compliant beam provides passive state retention, while two antagonistic SMA spring pairs trigger reversible switching. The module was sized for a 3U CubeSat reflector concept comprising nine panels and developed through finite-element analyses and staged prototyping. The numerical analyses supported preliminary geometry screening using the rise-to-thickness ratio and axial pre-compression. The actuator achieved a switching stroke slightly below 7 mm, and the integrated panel demonstrator reached an approximate edge displacement of 19 mm, compared with a simulated value of 21.3 mm, a difference of 10.8 percent. A ten-cycle sequence demonstrated short-term switching repeatability under the tested laboratory conditions. The results support actuator- and panel-level mechanical switching under laboratory conditions; they do not validate the surface accuracy or electromagnetic performance of a complete reflector.