Abstract: An upper-extremity prosthetic is adapted to engage with an athletic ball. The prosthetic includes one or more springs that provide energy return as a user is throwing the ball using the prosthetic. The springs can have a conductivity that changes in relation to an amount of strain or deformation of the spring. The change in conductivity can be used to provide haptic feedback to the user so the user can sense the amount of force being applied to throw the ball. In some embodiments, the springs are made by a multi-material 3D printing (additive manufacturing) process and include a first material that is electrically non-conductive and a second material that electrically conductive. In some embodiments, the prosthetic also includes one or more cantilevered springs that are also adapted to engage with the ball and to provide energy return while throwing the ball.

Abstract: Electrical input devices can be produced using a multi-material 3D-printing process. The electrical input devices can include a non-conductive material portion and a conductive material portion. The non-conductive and conductive material portions are integrally formed during a single 3D-printing process. Deformation of the electrical input devices cause an electrical variance of the conductive material portion that is responsive to the deformation. Some electrical input devices described provide digital responses, and some electrical input devices described provide analog responses. The described techniques can be used to manufacture complex finished devices in a single 3D-print run, and, in some examples, without the need for post-processing or assembly.

Abstract: Springs can provide energy return and have a conductivity that changes in relation to an amount of strain or deformation of the spring. An upper-extremity prosthetic device includes a first coil spring coupled to a first member and a first cantilever spring extending from the first member to a surface adapted to engage with an object. The first coil spring is arranged to absorb energy and to provide energy return in response to movement of the first member. The first coil spring includes a first conductive surface and a second conductive surface separate from the first conductive surface by non-conductive surfaces. The first cantilever spring includes a conductive trace with a plurality of conductive segments arranged on the conductive trace.

Abstract: This document described pressure-sensitive human machine interface (HMI) devices. In some aspects, a pressure-sensitive human-machine interface (HMI) device may include a surface element comprising an outer surface for receiving pressure inputs. The HMI device may also include multiple pressure-sensitive input regions that each include one or more positive electrodes and one or more return electrodes. The HMI device may also include a pressure-sensitive conductive sheet disposed adjacent to or between the one or more positive electrodes and one or more return electrodes of the multiple pressure-sensitive input regions.

Abstract: Springs can provide energy return and have a conductivity that changes in relation to an amount of strain or deformation of the spring. In some embodiments, the springs are made by multi-material 3D printing (additive manufacturing). Such springs made by multi-material 3D printing may include a first material that is electrically non-conductive and a second material that electrically conductive. The extent of deformation or strain of the spring may be determined or estimated by measuring the conductivity or resistivity of the electrically conductive material portion of the spring.

Abstract: Implementations are directed to a pressure-sensing device including a pressure-sensitive sheet, one or more pressure-sensitive input regions disposed along the pressure-sensitive sheet including a first conductive thread including a first length in contact with the pressure-sensitive sheet, and a second conductive thread including a second length in contact with the pressure-sensitive sheet. At least a first portion of the first length of the first conductive thread passes through the pressure-sensitive sheet through a first hole in the pressure-sensitive sheet at a first location and a second portion of the second length of the second conductive thread passes through the pressure-sensitive sheet through a second hole in the pressure-sensitive sheet at a second location.

Abstract: This document describes morphing objects that are created using hydrogels and techniques for creating and controlling the morphing objects. In one aspect, a method for creating a morphing object includes creating one or more heating elements on a substrate by applying one or more conductive traces onto at least one of a first surface of the substrate or a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface and forming a hydrogel pattern on the first surface of the substrate by applying a hydrogel ink to the first surface of the substrate based on a predefined pattern.

Abstract: Implementations are directed to a smart filter apparatus including an air filter, a sensor supported by the air filter and sensitive to a pathogen, and a control unit in data communication with the sensor and operable to perform operations including receiving, from the sensor, an indication of the pathogen present in air incident on the sensor, generating, by the control unit, a pathogen alert response, and providing, by the control unit, the pathogen alert response.

Abstract: Electrical input devices, conductive traces, and microcontroller interface devices can be created in a single print using a multi-material 3D printing process. The devices can include a non-conductive material portion and a conductive material portion. The non-conductive and conductive material portions are integrally formed during a single 3D printing process. For example, a fully functional QWERTY keyboard, ready to receive a microcontroller, can be multi-material 3D printed using the techniques described herein.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide an environmental probe configured to be at least partially inserted into the ground at a location and to provide defensible space monitoring and maintenance for a home or other structure. The environmental probe may include one or more environmental sensors configured to perform various environmental measurements to generate environmental measurement data. The environmental probe (e.g., a processor of the environmental probe) may compare the environmental measurement data to one or more thresholds to determine an alert state associated with the location. The environmental probe may include one or more wireless interfaces configured to enable communication with a remote device, such as a smart hub device or other environmental probes. The environmental probe may transmit an indicator of the alert state to the remote device to enable performance of one or more operations based on the alert state.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide an environmental probe configured to be at least partially inserted into the ground at a location and to provide defensible space monitoring and maintenance for a home or other structure. The environmental probe may include one or more environmental sensors configured to perform various environmental measurements to generate environmental measurement data. The environmental probe (e.g., a processor of the environmental probe) may compare the environmental measurement data to one or more thresholds to determine an alert state associated with the location. The environmental probe may include one or more wireless interfaces configured to enable communication with a remote device, such as a smart hub device or other environmental probes. The environmental probe may transmit an indicator of the alert state to the remote device to enable performance of one or more operations based on the alert state.

Abstract: In some implementations, a self-cleaning seat includes a cover layer with a photocatalyst; a light-emitting fiber layer including one or more light sources; a light-diffusing spacer configured to diffuse light emitted from the light-emitting fiber layer and positioned between the cover layer and the light-emitting fiber layer; and a triggering mechanism that activates a cleaning cycle by activating the one or more light sources.

Abstract: Implementations are directed to a pressure-sensing device including a pressure-sensitive sheet, one or more pressure-sensitive input regions disposed along the pressure-sensitive sheet including a first conductive thread including a first length in contact with the pressure-sensitive sheet, and a second conductive thread including a second length in contact with the pressure-sensitive sheet. At least a first portion of the first length of the first conductive thread passes through the pressure-sensitive sheet through a first hole in the pressure-sensitive sheet at a first location and a second portion of the second length of the second conductive thread passes through the pressure-sensitive sheet through a second hole in the pressure-sensitive sheet at a second location.

Abstract: Electrical input devices can be produced using a multi-material 3D-printing process. The electrical input devices can include a non-conductive material portion and a conductive material portion. The non-conductive and conductive material portions are integrally formed during a single 3D-printing process. Deformation of the electrical input devices cause an electrical variance of the conductive material portion that is responsive to the deformation. Some electrical input devices described provide digital responses, and some electrical input devices described provide analog responses. The described techniques can be used to manufacture complex finished devices in a single 3D-print run, and, in some examples, without the need for post-processing or assembly.

Abstract: This document describes morphing objects that are created using hydrogels and techniques for creating and controlling the morphing objects. In one aspect, a method for creating a morphing object includes creating one or more heating elements on a substrate by applying one or more conductive traces onto at least one of a first surface of the substrate or a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface and forming a hydrogel pattern on the first surface of the substrate by applying a hydrogel ink to the first surface of the substrate based on a predefined pattern.

Abstract: Springs can provide energy return and have a conductivity that changes in relation to an amount of strain or deformation of the spring. In some embodiments, the springs are made by multi-material 3D printing (additive manufacturing). Such springs made by multi-material 3D printing may include a first material that is electrically non-conductive and a second material that electrically conductive. The extent of deformation or strain of the spring may be determined or estimated by measuring the conductivity or resistivity of the electrically conductive material portion of the spring.

Abstract: An upper-extremity prosthetic is adapted to engage with an athletic ball. The prosthetic includes one or more springs that provide energy return as a user is throwing the ball using the prosthetic. The springs can have a conductivity that changes in relation to an amount of strain or deformation of the spring. The change in conductivity can be used to provide haptic feedback to the user so the user can sense the amount of force being applied to throw the ball. In some embodiments, the springs are made by a multi-material 3D printing (additive manufacturing) process and include a first material that is electrically non-conductive and a second material that electrically conductive. In some embodiments, the prosthetic also includes one or more cantilevered springs that are also adapted to engage with the ball and to provide energy return while throwing the ball.

Abstract: This document describes self-cleaning devices. In one aspect, a self-cleaning device includes a rigid or semi-rigid surface covered with a photocatalyst, one or more light sources disposed under or above the surface, and a triggering mechanism that activates a cleaning cycle by activating the one or more light sources.

Abstract: This document describes personal protective devices. In one aspect, a personal protective device includes a face cover arranged to cover at least a nose and mouth of a person. The face cover includes one or more airflow channels that provide a path for air to flow between an exterior side of the face cover and an internal side of the face cover, and one or more ultraviolet (UV) light sources arranged to emit UV light into the one or more airflow channels.

Abstract: Implementations are directed to a smart filter apparatus including an air filter, a sensor supported by the air filter and sensitive to a pathogen, and a control unit in data communication with the sensor and operable to perform operations including receiving, from the sensor, an indication of the pathogen present in air incident on the sensor, generating, by the control unit, a pathogen alert response, and providing, by the control unit, the pathogen alert response.