Patent ID: 8496209

Claim:
A device for deploying and aiming structural elements designed to be placed in Earth orbit, comprising: an articulated arm linked to a payload of a space satellite via a root section, the articulated arm including an assembly of a plurality of structural elements linked together by articulations; the articulations including at least one pivoting connection whereby two consecutive structural elements pivot relative to one another; the root section including a pivoting connection that enables a first structural element to pivot relative to the payload; a locking/unlocking system including at least one locking device located on at least one of the articulations, such that the at least one locking device may lock the at least one pivoting connection; a coupling system coupled to at least two of the articulations, the coupling system causing each of the plurality of structural elements to pivot according to a predefined law of rotation when operated in a first coupling mode; and a motor to activate the coupling system, the motor being positioned on an articulation, called a driving articulation, wherein the locking/unlocking system is operable to deactivate the first coupling mode and to activate a second coupling mode, the second coupling mode retaining an unlocking of a pivoting connection of one of the articulations, called an aiming articulation, a rotation of the motor causing a rotation of the aiming articulation.