To study the geometrical

kinematic characteristic and dynamic characteristic of Bennett unit array deployable mechanism

the decomposition method is used to disassemble a unit mechanism of the deployable mechanism into 4 spatial serial open-chain mechanisms

and according to its characteristic

the kinematic analysis model of Bennett unit array deployable mechanism is set up by the transformation of coordinates method combining with screw theory. And then

all spatial serial open-chain mechanisms are assembled by the virtual principle to build the dynamics analysis model by which the kinematic and dynamic of a 4×4 Bennett unit array deployable mechanism are studied

and simulations and experiments are carried out to testify the validity of this model. Results show that the deployable mechanism in the example can move smoothly and steady in their motion range. The farther the units on diagonal is away from the driving unit

the greater the variation range of angular velocity and acceleration of its driving angular will be. Since the generalized driving force moment changes gradually

it won’t cause a greater impact in the motion range. The simulation results

the experimental results and the model calculation results tend to be identical

and this proves that these kinematic and dynamic analysis models are accurate.