Abstract: Composite materials include a non-ferrous metal matrix with reinforcing carbon fiber integrated into the matrix. The composite materials have substantially lower density than non-ferrous metal, and are expected to have appreciable strength. Methods for forming composite non-ferrous metal composites includes combining a reinforcing carbon fiber component, such as a woven polymer, with non-ferrous metal nanoparticles and sintering the non-ferrous metal nanoparticles in order to form a non-ferrous metal matrix with reinforcing carbon fiber integrated therein.

Abstract: An interface between two vehicle structures can be selectively sealed using an active seal. The active seal can include an outer casing and an actuator located within the outer casing. The actuator can include a bladder. The bladder can define a fluid chamber, which can contain a dielectric fluid. The actuator can include a first conductor and a second conductor operatively positioned on opposite portions of the bladder. The actuator can be activated and deactivated by selectively supplying electrical energy to the actuator. When electrical energy is supplied to the actuator, the actuator can have a reduced cross-sectional profile such that the interface is not sealed and movement of the second vehicle structure is not impeded by the seal. When electrical energy is not supplied to the actuator, the actuator can be in a non-activated condition in which the interface is substantially sealed.

Abstract: A mirror assembly can include a mirror and one or more actuators operatively positioned to cause the position and/or the orientation of the mirror to be adjusted. The one or more actuators include a bladder. The bladder can include a flexible casing. The bladder can define a fluid chamber. The fluid chamber can contain a dielectric fluid. The one or more actuators can include a first conductor and a second conductor operatively positioned on opposite portions of the bladder. The one or more actuators can be configured such that, when electrical energy is supplied to the first conductor and the second conductor, the first conductor and the second conductor can become oppositely charged. As a result, the first conductor and the second conductor are electrostatically attracted toward each other to cause at least a portion of the dielectric fluid to be displaced to an outer peripheral region of the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and a furniture module. The body defines a passenger compartment, and the furniture module includes a framing system mounted to the body in the passenger compartment and a surfacing system mounted to the framing system. The furniture module is operable to shift between a body-like form factor and a furniture form factor. In the body-like form factor, the furniture module is flattened along the body, with the framing system collapsed along the body, and the surfacing system spatially arranged along the body with the framing system. In the furniture form factor, the furniture module extends beyond the body to render on-demand furniture including a furniture frame and an overlying furniture surface, with the framing system expanded beyond the body to establish the furniture frame, and the surfacing system spatially arranged beyond the body to establish the overlying furniture surface.

Abstract: An interface between two vehicle structures can be selectively sealed using an active seal. The active seal can include an outer casing and an actuator located within the outer casing. The actuator can include a bladder. The bladder can define a fluid chamber, which can contain a dielectric fluid. The actuator can include a first conductor and a second conductor operatively positioned on opposite portions of the bladder. The actuator can be activated and deactivated by selectively supplying electrical energy to the actuator. When electrical energy is supplied to the actuator, the actuator can have a reduced cross-sectional profile such that the interface is not sealed and movement of the second vehicle structure is not impeded by the seal. When electrical energy is not supplied to the actuator, the actuator can be in a non-activated condition in which the interface is substantially sealed.

Abstract: A soft-bodied actuator can be configured to be in a pinched or contracted configuration when power is not supplied to the actuator. Thus, a supply of electrical energy is not needed to maintain the actuator in the pinched or contracted configuration. The actuator can include a central bladder. The central bladder can include a flexible casing that defines a central fluid chamber. The central fluid chamber can include a dielectric fluid. A first conductor and a second conductor can be operatively connected to opposite portions of the central bladder. The actuator can be configured such that, in the activated mode, the first and second conductors receive electrical energy from a power source such that they are like charged, causing the first and second conductors to repel each other. The central fluid chamber can include a particulate material to help maintain the central bladder in the pinched configuration.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to automatically adjusting a climate of a vehicle based on detecting the type of clothing a vehicle occupant is wearing. In one embodiment, the method includes, in response to acquiring an identifier from a reader, where the identifier being associated with a tag affixed to a wearable article in proximity of the reader, determining a type of the wearable article based on the identifier. The method includes controlling a climate control system based at least in part on the type of the wearable article.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a thermoelectric material having a plurality of grains and grain boundaries. The process includes determining a material composition to be investigated for the thermoelectric material and then determining a range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height obtainable for the material composition using current state of the art manufacturing techniques. Thereafter, a range of figure of merit values for the material composition is determined as a function of the range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height. And finally, a thermoelectric material having the determined material composition and an average grain size and grain boundary barrier height corresponding to the maximum range of figure of merit values is manufactured.

Abstract: The devices and systems described herein generally relate to magnetic field chambers and reversibly hardenable ferrofluids. The reversibly hardenable ferrofluid can include a magnetically responsive fluid and a reversible hardening agent. The reversibly hardenable ferrofluid can achieve a first shape using one or more magnetic fields, such as delivered from a magnetic field chamber. Once the first shape is achieved, the reversibly hardenable ferrofluid can be cured or otherwise hardened. The hardened reversibly hardenable ferrofluid can be used for the intended purpose and then returned to a liquid state once the task is completed, allowing for reuse. The steps of hardening and liquifying can be mediated by the magnetic field chamber, as described in embodiments herein.

Abstract: A headlight assembly can include a headlight and one or more actuators operatively positioned to cause the position and/or orientation of the headlight to be adjusted. The one or more actuators include a bladder. The bladder can include a flexible casing. The bladder can define a fluid chamber. The fluid chamber can contain a dielectric fluid. The one or more actuators can include a first conductor and a second conductor operatively positioned on opposite portions of the bladder. The one or more actuators can be configured such that, when electrical energy is supplied to the first conductor and the second conductor, the first conductor and the second conductor can become oppositely charged. As a result, the first conductor and the second conductor are electrostatically attracted toward each other to cause at least a portion of the dielectric fluid to be displaced to an outer peripheral region of the fluid chamber.

Abstract: Actuators having electroactive valves are described herein. The actuators can move from a first position to a second position and lock in the second position using an electroactive valve. The device can include an actuator having a fluid-impermeable membrane. The fluid-impermeable membrane can define a compartment, the compartment having a central region, an edge region extending from and fluidly connected with the central region, an electroactive valve between the central region and the edge region, and a dielectric fluid. When actuated, the actuators can force fluid through the electroactive valves and into the edge region. Once in the edge region, the electroactive valves can prevent return flow until receiving an actuation signal.

Abstract: Self-healing microvalves are described herein. The self-healing microvalve can move from a first position to a second position using an electrical input and use a soft hydraulic assembly to return from the second position to the first position. The electrical input can create an electrostatic attraction, causing the compression of the soft hydraulic assembly and movement of the valve gate to seal the microvalve. The elasticity of the soft hydraulic assembly can then return the self-healing microvalve to the original state, once the electrical input is removed.

Abstract: Actuators having reversible seals are described herein. The actuators can move from a first position to a second position and lock in the second position using a reversible seal. The device can include a soft hydraulic actuator having a fluid-impermeable membrane. The fluid-impermeable membrane can define a compartment, the compartment having a central region, an edge region extending from and fluidly connected with the central region, a reversible seal between the central region and the edge region, and a dielectric fluid. When actuated, the actuators can force fluid through the reversible seals and into the edge region. Once in the edge region, the reversible seals be actuated and controllably sealed to prevent return flow.

Abstract: A stiffness control and systems for the same are disclosed herein. A first plate and a second plate can be connected with rigid support, a hydraulic actuator and a high roughness surface. Upon actuation, the actuator can force the high roughness surface against the first plate, thus increasing rigidity through hydraulic pressure against the first plate and the second plate. Thus, the stiffness of the surface can be altered in a variable and reversible fashion.

Abstract: The soft bodied structures and systems for controlling such devices are described herein. The soft bodied structures can, through a series of soft hydraulic actuators, move from a first position to a second position by a somersaulting motion. The system can include connecting to a first contact point of the surface using a surface attachment. The rigidity of the controllably resistive material can then be increased. The medial hydraulic actuators can be actuated to expand the exterior medial surface, creating a bend. The device can then attach to a second contact point using the surface attachment and the end portion actuator of the unattached end portion. Then, the surface attachment of the first attached end portion can detach. The medial hydraulic actuators and the controllably resistive material can then relax, followed by detaching the surface attachment of the second attached end portion.

Abstract: The soft bodied structures and systems for controlling such devices are described herein. The soft bodied structures can move from a first position to a second position by an earthworm-like motion. The system can include connecting to a first contact point of the surface using a surface attachment. The medial region can include one or more spacer regions. The medial actuators can be actuated to expand the exterior medial surface at the spacer regions, thus moving the unattached end portion forward. The device can then attach to a second contact point using the surface attachment and the end portion actuator of the unattached end portion. Then, the surface attachment of the first attached end portion can detach. The medial actuators and the spacer regions can then relax, followed by detaching the surface attachment of the second attached end portion.

Abstract: A speaker assembly can include a speaker and one or more actuators operatively positioned to cause the position and/or the orientation of the speaker to be adjusted. The one or more actuators include a bladder. The bladder can include a flexible casing. The bladder can define a fluid chamber. The fluid chamber can contain a dielectric fluid. The one or more actuators can include a first conductor and a second conductor operatively positioned on opposite portions of the bladder. The one or more actuators can be configured such that, when electrical energy is supplied to the first conductor and the second conductor, the first conductor and the second conductor can become oppositely charged. As a result, the first conductor and the second conductor are electrostatically attracted toward each other to cause at least a portion of the dielectric fluid to be displaced to an outer peripheral region of the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body and a furniture module. The body defines a passenger compartment, and the furniture module includes a framing system mounted to the body in the passenger compartment and a surfacing system mounted to the framing system. The furniture module is operable to shift between a body-like form factor and a furniture form factor. In the body-like form factor, the furniture module is flattened along the body, with the framing system collapsed along the body, and the surfacing system spatially arranged along the body with the framing system. In the furniture form factor, the furniture module extends beyond the body to render on-demand furniture including a furniture frame and an overlying furniture surface, with the framing system expanded beyond the body to establish the furniture frame, and the surfacing system spatially arranged beyond the body to establish the overlying furniture surface.

Abstract: A co-catalyst system for the removal of NOx from an exhaust gas stream has a layered oxide and a spinel of formula Ni0.15Co0.85CoAlO4. The system converts to nitric oxide to nitrogen gas with high product specificity. The layered oxide is configured to convert NOx in the exhaust gas stream to an N2O intermediate, and the spinel is configured to convert the N2O intermediate to N2.

Abstract: The claimed invention provides a wet chemical method to prepare manganese bismuth nanoparticles having a particle diameter of 5 to 200 nm. When annealed at 550 to 600K in a field of 0 to 3 T the nanoparticles exhibit a coercivity of approximately 1 T and are suitable for utility as a permanent magnet material. A permanent magnet containing the annealed MnBi nanoparticles is also provided.