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The satellite ‘HALCA’ was launched in February 1997 by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), Japan. HALCA is a scientific satellite with a large deployable antenna to make experiments on space VLBI. The deployable antenna, developed under the requirements of large aperture area and accurate reflector surface, is formed of complicated structures and lots of mechanisms. Though heat exchange in the antenna was complicated and difficult to evaluate, antenna thermal performance in orbit was within expectations and all mechanisms were adequately controlled until the antenna deployment. This paper describes thermal control design of the large deployable antenna, thermal design verification in the thermal balance test, and evaluation of performance in orbit.

We have many traffic accidents and related fatalities every year and safety issue is focused very much as well as environmental issue. As for frontal collision, some products of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) System and headway distance warning system have been developed and introduced to the market in Japan, U.S, and Europe. In the other hand, the systems to reduce side and rear collision, for example, which assist driver's maneuvers in lane change situation at high speed, are under development. And efforts to make restraint systems such as airbag and seat belt more effective is also needed in order to increase passive safety and reduce related fatalities, for example, smart airbag using additional sensors. Corresponding to these situations, we made a plan to develop short-range radars for these automotive applications, Blind Spot Detection System (BSD), Parking Aid System (PA), and Pre-crash Detection System (PC).

This paper relates to a distance detecting sensor, specifically a scan radar laser used for a vehicle distance warning system or an intelligent cruise control system. In developing the scan laser radar, we used a light-based scan-action system working via an electromagnetic actuator and ICs in place of the internal circuitry for substantial parts count reduction. The compact scan laser radar is smaller in size and lower in price with higher performance than its predecessors (1). This has made it possible to offer a lower-priced, compact, lightweight, and easy-to-install scan laser radar.