Abstract: A shroud for an air moving device includes a shroud body configured to at least partially surround one or more blades. The shroud body defines an annular cavity and an annular opening. The annular opening faces the one or more blades. The shroud also includes a Helmholtz resonator defined by the annular cavity and the annular opening. The Helmholtz resonator is configured to reflect sound generated by the one or more blades out of the shroud body.

Abstract: A two piece adapter for extrusion of cylindrical core-shell structures using conventional biomedical needles includes first and second adapter pieces. The first adapter piece includes first and second (core and shell) inlet ports. The core inlet port leads directly to a male Luer fitting attachable to a core needle and surrounded by a threaded chamber. The shell inlet port is led, via a side chamber, into the side of the threaded chamber. The second adapter piece attaches to the bottom of the threaded chamber and is configured to attach to a shell needle, so that the shaft of the core needle sits inside the shaft of the shell needle.

Abstract: A virtual space experience system capable of preventing unintentional contact between players without inhibiting a sense of immersion is provided. A virtual space image determination unit 35 of a VR system S causes an image of a virtual space to be perceived by a second player to include an image in which a first avatar corresponding to a first player moves so as to generate a gap in a correspondence relationship between coordinates of the first player and coordinates of the first avatar when a trigger event is recognized, and causes the image of the virtual space to be perceived by the second player to include an image of a second avatar corresponding to the second player and a third avatar corresponding to the first player after the recognition. An avatar coordinate determination unit 34 determines coordinates of the third avatar based on the coordinates of the first player.

Abstract: An inflatable structure includes an inflatable membrane with an outer surface, and a skin with a textured space-filling Turing pattern disposed on the outer surface of the inflatable membrane. A variable stiffness filament is coupled to the inflatable structure and the variable stiffness filament has a first stiffness at a first temperature and a second stiffness different than the first stiffness at a second temperature different than the first temperature. An electrical energy source is included and in electrical communication with the variable stiffness filament, and the electrical energy source is configured to apply Joule heating to and increase a temperature of the variable stiffness filament from the first temperature to the second temperature such variable stiffness actively controls a stiffness of the inflatable structure.

Abstract: A method of designing an inflatable structure includes generating a finite element mesh defining a plurality of elements for an inflatable shape-morphing structure, calculating a topology optimization analysis for the inflatable shape-morphing structure having a final shape in an inflated state, wherein the topology optimization analysis determines a plurality of tensors for the plurality of elements of the finite element mesh, converting the plurality of tensors for the plurality of elements into a plurality of diffusion coefficients for the plurality of elements, and generating a space-filling Turing pattern for the inflatable shape-morphing structure as a function of the plurality of diffusion coefficients, wherein the space-filling Turing pattern defines a simulated textured surface for the inflatable shape-morphing structure.

Abstract: A fuel cell that includes one or more fuel cell bipolar plates having a bipolar plate body with an inlet region, an outlet region, a reaction region arranged between and fluidically connected to the inlet region and the outlet region, and one or more microchannel fluid flow networks extending from the inlet region to the outlet region. The microchannel fluid flow networks include a plurality of primary flow microchannels having one or more secondary flow microchannels branching therefrom to facilitate reaction uniformity and fluid flow resistance through the fuel cell.

Abstract: One or more methods of designing microchannel fluid flow networks in a fuel cell bipolar plate includes executing one or more programs on one or more computing devices having one or more processors to optimize the spatially varying orientations of homogenized anisotropic porous media by iteratively executing a gradient-based algorithm that incorporates objective functions of reaction uniformity and flow resistance, and then generate, in response to the homogenized anisotropic porous media optimization, one or more microchannel fluid flow networks by dehomogenizing the optimized anisotropic porous media.

Abstract: A bipolar plate with an enhanced fluid flow field design is provided for a fuel cell. The bipolar plate includes an inlet, an outlet, and a flow field having a pattern defining a plurality of microchannels configured to provide fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. The pattern is designed using an inverse permeability field, and is based on a reaction-diffusion algorithm to model channel spacing, thereby providing a variable pitch microchannel pattern to direct fluid from the inlet to the outlet. In various aspects, the reaction-diffusion algorithm utilize Gray-Scott reaction-diffusion equations, which may be used to obtain an anisotropic microchannel layout. The variable pitch microchannel pattern may include a channel spacing based on effective medium theory.

Abstract: Methods are provided for designing a microchannel layout for a flow field of a bipolar plate. The methods include defining a fluid flow optimization domain with boundary conditions and loads. Using a gradient-based algorithm together with computational fluid dynamics, the domain is then optimized for minimum flow resistance. The methods include setting the minimum inverse permeability to a non-zero value, and obtaining a grayscale design and fluid velocity field. Using Gray-Scott reaction diffusion equations with the grayscale design and fluid velocity field, the method includes obtaining a microchannel layout. The microchannel layout is then incorporated as a pattern for the flow field of the bipolar plate. In various aspects, anisotropic microchannels are provided; they may be formed using at least one of an additive manufacturing technique, a metal inverse opal electroplating technique, and a hybrid combination thereof.

Abstract: A virtual space experience system capable of preventing unintentional contact between players without inhibiting a sense of immersion is provided. A virtual space image determination unit 35 of a VR system S causes an image of a virtual space to be perceived by a second player to include an image in which a first avatar corresponding to a first player moves so as to generate a gap in a correspondence relationship between coordinates of the first player and coordinates of the first avatar when a trigger event is recognized, and causes the image of the virtual space to be perceived by the second player to include an image of a second avatar corresponding to the second player and a third avatar corresponding to the first player after the recognition. An avatar coordinate determination unit 34 determines coordinates of the third avatar based on the coordinates of the first player.

Abstract: Methods are provided for designing a structure with developable surfaces using a surface developability constraint. The surface developability constraint is developed based on the discovery of a sufficient condition for surface piecewise developability, namely surface normal directions lie on a small, finite number of planes. Automated methods and algorithms may include providing a design domain and a characteristic function of a material in the design domain to be optimized. The methods include defining a nodal density of the material, and determining surface normal directions of a plurality of planes. A density gradient that describes the surface normal directions is then determined. The methods include performing a topology optimization process on the design domain using a surface developability constraint that is based, at least in part, on the characteristic function. A geometric domain is then created for the structure using results from the topology optimization.

Abstract: An occupant protection device including a seat belt including a shoulder belt and a lap belt, a locking tongue that is detachably joined to a buckle, that allows the seat belt to pass therethrough, and that is capable of switching between an unlock state in which the seat belt is allowed to move with the locking tongue being between the shoulder belt and the lap belt and a lock state in which movement thereof is restricted, a shoulder-belt puller that is capable of pulling the shoulder belt to apply a tensile force thereto, a side-collision detector that detects a side collision or a precursor thereof, and a control unit that changes a state of the locking tongue into the lock state and causes the shoulder-belt puller to pull the shoulder belt when the side-collision detector detects the side collision that occurs opposite an occupant or the precursor thereof.

Abstract: Methods for multi-component topology optimization for composite structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of designing a structure by computer-implemented topology optimization includes establishing a plurality of design points within a design domain and establishing at least a first orientation field and a second orientation field. The method further includes assigning values for the one or more membership fields, the one or more density fields, the first orientation field and the second orientation field, and projecting the values onto a simulation model. The method includes achieving convergence of an objective function for a design variable by iteratively executing a topology optimization of the simulation model using the values. Each design point of the plurality of design points is a member of no component or a member of one of the first component and the second component.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein describe manifold microchannel heat sinks having a gridded microchannel assembly with free-form fin geometries for cooling heat-generating devices in the electronics modules. In an embodiment, a manifold microchannel heat sink includes a target surface and a gridded microchannel assembly comprising a plurality of microchannel cells. Each microchannel cell is surrounded by thermally-conductive sidewalls and includes a fluid inlet, a microchannel structure fluidly coupled to the fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The microchannel structure extends from the target surface and defines a microchannel extending in a normal direction with respect to the target surface. The microchannel structure includes a base plate disposed on the target surface and a three-dimensional fin structure disposed on the base plate. The three-dimensional fin structure has a shape optimized for thermal performance and fluid performance.

Abstract: Inflatable structures, or aeromorphs, are provided with reinforcing member shape controlling features. The inflatable structure includes a bladder formed of a programmable substrate and defining an outer perimeter. The bladder includes a plurality of seams and a plurality of foldable segments defined by the plurality of seams. At least one hinge is provided, located adjacent each foldable segment. The hinge is configured to permit a folding movement of the respective foldable segment. At least one reinforcing member is provided, secured to the bladder and configured to guide a directional movement of at least one of the plurality of foldable segments, control a shape of the inflatable structure, and determine a sequence of folding. In various aspects, the reinforcing member includes a thermoplastic polyurethane, and is secured to a surface of the bladder with additive manufacturing techniques, such as 3-D printing.

Abstract: A fuel cell that includes an air fuel cell bipolar plate and a hydrogen fuel cell bipolar plate respectively having a Turing-pattern microstructure configuration. The spatial arrangement of the air fuel cell bipolar plate and the hydrogen fuel cell bipolar plate is such that the air layer of the air fuel cell bipolar plate and the hydrogen layer of the hydrogen fuel cell bipolar plate are opposed to each other to define a microstructure configuration for a coolant layer.

Abstract: One or more methods of obtaining an optimal design of a fuel cell having fluid flow networks. In one or more methods, air, hydrogen, and coolant flow networks are simultaneously designed using porous media optimization and Turing pattern dehomogenization.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack for providing uniform fluid flow through a plurality of plates is provided. The fuel cell stack includes a plurality of plates that define a plurality of fuel cells stacked with each other, each plate having a fuel inlet hole for receiving fuel and a fuel outlet hole for discharging fuel. The fuel cell stack includes a fuel inlet insert extending into the fuel inlet hole of at least some of the plurality of plates. The fuel inlet insert has an upstream end and a downstream end relative to a direction of fuel flow through the fuel inlet holes. The upstream end of the fuel inlet insert has a porosity and permeability less than a porosity and permeability of the downstream end of the fuel inlet insert such that the fuel insert provides uniform fuel flow through the plurality of plates.

Abstract: A bipolar plate with an enhanced fluid flow field design is provided for improved flow uniformity. The bipolar plate includes an inlet, an outlet, and a flow field having a pattern defining a plurality of microchannels configured to provide fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. The pattern includes a plurality of channels with discrete areas of discontinuity to direct fluid from the inlet to the outlet. The pattern is designed using an inverse permeability field and is based on a reaction-diffusion algorithm to model channel spacing, thereby providing a variable pitch microchannel pattern. In various aspects, Gray-Scott reaction-diffusion equations may be used to obtain an anisotropic microchannel layout. Methods may include optimizing a porous media model domain for one of: a minimum flow resistance across the domain, a uniform velocity across a direction of the domain, and a minimum velocity across a direction of the domain.

Abstract: A method is disclosed and includes determining at least one of a height field and an orientation field of a fiber-reinforced structure. The fiber-reinforced structure includes a plurality of fiber portions and a polymer matrix. The method includes generating a reaction-diffusion representation of the fiber-reinforced structure. The reaction-diffusion representation indicates a concentration of at least one of the polymer matrix and the plurality of fiber portions. The method includes designating a reference fiber deposition path based on the reaction-diffusion representation. The method includes generating a continuous fiber deposition path based on the reference fiber deposition path. The method includes transmitting a signal representing the continuous fiber deposition path to a deposition device, the deposition device using the continuous fiber deposition path to deposit a fiber of the fiber-reinforced structure.