Abstract: A lifting mechanism includes a load bearing structure, and a carrier. The carrier is configured for supporting a load. The carrier is moveable relative to the load bearing structure in a substantially vertical direction relative to a ground surface, along a vertical axis. A load carrying spring applies a spring force that biases the carrier relative to the load bearing structure in a direction along the vertical axis. A negative stiffness device interconnects the carrier and the load bearing structure. The negative stiffness device applies a device force that biases the carrier relative to the load bearing structure in a direction along the vertical axis. The device force opposes the spring force. The device force includes a magnitude that is substantially equal to the spring force in any of a plurality of different positions of the carrier relative to the load bearing structure along the vertical axis.

Abstract: A strut assembly for a suspension corner employed in a vehicle having a vehicle body and a road wheel includes a damper. The strut assembly also includes an elastic unit having at least one spring module acting in concert with the damper to suspend the vehicle body relative to the road wheel. Each spring module has a positive stiffness spring arranged in parallel with a negative stiffness spring. A vehicle that has a suspension corner employing the elastic unit and is configured to maintain contact between the road wheel and the road surface and provide isolation of vibration between the road wheel and the vehicle body is also contemplated.

Abstract: A spring-damper assembly for a suspension corner employed in a vehicle having a vehicle body and a road wheel includes a fluid spring configured to suspend the vehicle body relative to the road wheel. The spring-damper assembly also includes a damper configured to attenuate compression and rebound oscillations of the fluid spring. The spring-damper assembly additionally includes a spring-seat housing configured to retain the fluid spring and establish a position of the fluid spring relative to the damper. The spring-seat housing includes an inner surface defining a contour configured to guide the fluid spring upon compression thereof around the damper and define a non-linear stiffness of the fluid spring. A vehicle having such a spring-damper assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A vehicle braking system integrates information regarding relative distance and velocity of both a preceding vehicle/obstacle and a proceeding vehicle in order to execute a braking scheme that optimizes the operating distance between the host vehicle to both the preceding vehicle/obstacle and the proceeding vehicle.

Abstract: A lifting mechanism includes a load bearing structure, and a carrier. The carrier is configured for supporting a load. The carrier is moveable relative to the load bearing structure in a substantially vertical direction relative to a ground surface, along a vertical axis. A load carrying spring applies a spring force that biases the carrier relative to the load bearing structure in a direction along the vertical axis. A negative stiffness device interconnects the carrier and the load bearing structure. The negative stiffness device applies a device force that biases the carrier relative to the load bearing structure in a direction along the vertical axis. The device force opposes the spring force. The device force includes a magnitude that is substantially equal to the spring force in any of a plurality of different positions of the carrier relative to the load bearing structure along the vertical axis.

Abstract: A system for estimating a position associated with a pre-tensioned active material without using a position sensor. The system includes an active material being transformable between a first state and a second state in response to a pre-determined stimulus and pre-tensioned to at least a pre-determined threshold, yielding the pre-tensioned active material. The system also includes a processing unit configured to perform various operations. The operations include obtaining a value for electrical resistance of the pre-tensioned active material. The operations also include estimating, using the electrical resistance determined, the position associated with the pre-tensioned active material.

Abstract: Vehicular radiators and other heat exchangers containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are provided, as are methods for manufacturing nanotube heat exchangers. In one embodiment, the nanotube heat exchanger includes a coolant flow passage, an airflow path, a heat exchanger core bounding at least a portion of the coolant flow passage and the airflow path. The heat exchanger core contains a plurality of CNTs configured to enhance heat transfer from a coolant conducted through the coolant flow passage to airflow directed along the airflow path during operation of the nanotube heat exchanger. The CNTs can be, for example, single walled CNTs or other CNTs incorporated into one or more regions of the heat exchanger core by applying a nanotube coating to selected surfaces of the heat exchanger core or by producing the heat exchanger core to include one or more sintered, CNT-containing components.

Abstract: A suspension assembly between a sprung element and an unsprung element includes a load-carrying spring and a negative stiffness element between the sprung element and the unsprung element. The load-carrying spring element is configured with a positive spring rate to support a static load of the sprung element. The negative stiffness element is configured with a negative spring rate and is configured to exert a force opposing the spring rate of the spring, the negative spring rate has a magnitude that cancels the positive spring rate at a zero deflection point of the suspension assembly. The suspension assembly also includes an active trimming mechanism which is configured to move a plurality of pivot points of the negative stiffness element to achieve a trimmed position of the negative stiffness element.

Abstract: A negative stiffness apparatus includes a fluid filled bellows interposed between a first surface and a second surface wherein the bellows and the first and second surfaces have an orientation of substantial equilibrium between the first and second surfaces. The bellows and the first and second surfaces include other orientations wherein the first and second surfaces are displaced from the orientation of substantial equilibrium and the bellows exerts a displacement force to urge the first and second surfaces further away from the orientation of substantial equilibrium.

Abstract: A suspension assembly between a sprung element and an unsprung element includes a load-carrying spring and a negative stiffness element between the sprung element and the unsprung element. The load-carrying spring element is configured with a positive spring rate to support a static load of the sprung element. The negative stiffness element is configured with a negative spring rate and is configured to exert a force opposing the spring rate of the spring, the negative spring rate has a magnitude that cancels the positive spring rate at a zero deflection point of the suspension assembly. The suspension assembly also includes an active trimming mechanism which is configured to move a plurality of pivot points of the negative stiffness element to achieve a trimmed position of the negative stiffness element.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a beam pattern of a sensor array. The apparatus includes a plurality of sensors, wherein a distance is defined between at least two of the sensors. A shape memory alloy (“SMA”) is coupled to at least one of the sensors. The SMA is controllably deformable to vary the distance between the sensors.

Abstract: A suspension assembly between a sprung element and an unsprung element includes load-carrying spring arranged in parallel with a negative stiffness element between the sprung element and the unsprung element. The spring is configured with a positive spring rate to support a static load of the sprung element. The negative stiffness element is configured with a negative spring rate and to exert a force opposing the spring rate of the spring. The negative spring rate has a magnitude that cancels the positive spring rate at a zero deflection point of the suspension assembly.

Abstract: A suspension assembly between a sprung element and an unsprung element includes an active suspension system having a controllable load-carrying spring element arranged with a negative stiffness element between the sprung element and the unsprung element. The negative stiffness element has a negative stiffness constant that opposes a positive spring rate of the active suspension system to achieve a zero total spring stiffness of the suspension assembly under static conditions.

Abstract: A linear motion device includes a rod extending along a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of actuator units. Each of the plurality of actuator units includes at least one Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) element that is attached to a coupling mechanism. The at least one SMA element of each if the plurality of actuator units moves the coupling mechanism along the longitudinal axis, and into grasping engagement with the rod. Each actuator unit moves the rod a unit movement distance along the longitudinal axis in response to a control signal. The plurality of actuator units are actuated repeatedly in a cyclic order to move the rod in a continuous linear motion a distance greater than the unit movement distance of each of the plurality of actuator units.

Abstract: A negative stiffness apparatus includes a fluid filled bellows interposed between a first surface and a second surface wherein the bellows and the first and second surfaces have an orientation of substantial equilibrium between the first and second surfaces.

Abstract: A suspension assembly between a sprung element and an unsprung element includes a load-carrying spring element arranged in parallel with a negative stiffness element between the sprung element and the unsprung element. The negative stiffness element includes first and second opposed mutually-repelling elements.

Abstract: A suspension assembly between a sprung element and an unsprung element includes load-carrying spring arranged in parallel with a negative stiffness element between the sprung element and the unsprung element. The spring is configured with a positive spring rate to support a static load of the sprung element. The negative stiffness element is configured with a negative spring rate and to exert a force opposing the spring rate of the spring. The negative spring rate has a magnitude that cancels the positive spring rate at a zero deflection point of the suspension assembly.

Abstract: A suspension assembly between a sprung element and an unsprung element includes a load-carrying spring element arranged in parallel with a negative stiffness element between the sprung element and the unsprung element. The negative stiffness element includes first and second opposed mutually-repelling elements.

Abstract: A suspension assembly between a sprung element and an unsprung element includes an active suspension system having a controllable load-carrying spring element arranged with a negative stiffness element between the sprung element and the unsprung element. The negative stiffness element has a negative stiffness constant that opposes a positive spring rate of the active suspension system to achieve a zero total spring stiffness of the suspension assembly under static conditions.

Abstract: A system, for use in protecting an active-material actuator from overheating without using a temperature sensor. The system includes an active material being transformable between a first state and a second state in response to a pre-determined stimulus, and being pre-tensioned to at least a pre-determined threshold, yielding the pre-tensioned active material. The system also includes a processing unit configured to perform operations comprising obtaining a value for electrical resistance of the pre-tensioned active material, estimating, based on the electrical resistance obtained, an strain value for the active material, yielding an estimated strain value, and obtaining an actual strain value for the active material. The operations also include determining a difference between the estimated strain value estimated and the actual strain value and determining, based on the difference determined, whether an overheating condition exists for the active material.