Abstract: The present invention will provide a device in which the gripping action is achieved by a compliant membrane manipulated by electromagnetic forces. The gripping force provided by the present invention is best suited for delicate objects, as it gently applies the gripping force necessary for displacement. This is accomplished through a chamber, a membrane, a plunger attached to the membrane, and a solenoid configured to manipulate the plunger, and thus, the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention will provide a device in which the gripping action is achieved by a compliant membrane manipulated by electromagnetic forces. The gripping force provided by the present invention is best suited for delicate objects, as it gently applies the gripping force necessary for displacement. This is accomplished through a chamber, a membrane, a plunger attached to the membrane, and a solenoid configured to manipulate the plunger, and thus, the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention will provide a suction device adapted to provide gripping and suction forces to pick up and move a wide variety of objects. This is accomplished through a suction compartment, a membrane compartment, deformable membrane sealing said membrane compartment, and at least one pressure mechanism. The at least one pressure mechanism is in fluid connection with the suction compartment and is configured to modify properties within the suction compartment to assist in providing gripping and attractive forces. The present invention will grasp an object by positioning the deformable membrane adjacent to said object, modifying the deformable membrane to conform to and create a seal with said object, and then depressurizing the suction compartment via the pressure mechanism, providing a suction force onto said object within that sealed area sufficient to grasp said object.

Abstract: The present invention will provide a suction device adapted to provide gripping and suction forces to pick up and move a wide variety of objects. This is accomplished through a suction compartment, a membrane compartment, deformable membrane sealing said membrane compartment, and at least one pressure mechanism. The at least one pressure mechanism is in fluid connection with the suction compartment and is configured to modify properties within the suction compartment to assist in providing gripping and attractive forces. The present invention will grasp an object by positioning the deformable membrane adjacent to said object, modifying the deformable membrane to conform to and create a seal with said object, and then depressurizing the suction compartment via the pressure mechanism, providing a suction force onto said object within that sealed area sufficient to grasp said object.

Abstract: The present invention will provide a device in which a movement-impairing episode, such as freezing of gait, is overcome by electrically monitoring and stimulating the individual as soon as the episode is anticipated. The device will be simple and effective when used by individuals suffering from diseases such as Parkinson's Disease without the side effects of oral treatments. This is accomplished through a signal sensing unit, a signal processing unit, a signal generating unit, and an actuation unit.

Abstract: The present invention will provide a device in which the gripping action is achieved by a compliant membrane manipulated by electromagnetic forces. The gripping force provided by the present invention is best suited for delicate objects, as it gently applies the gripping force necessary for displacement. This is accomplished through a chamber, a membrane, a plunger attached to the membrane, and a solenoid configured to manipulate the plunger, and thus, the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention will provide a measuring device embedded within an elastic garment that will provide detect bodily movement by deforming a conductive material and measuring the change in electrical quantities within the conductive material as it deforms. Furthermore, the present invention will provide a measuring device configured to incorporate machine learning algorithms to estimate physiological, kinematic, dynamic, psychological, physical, biological, or other health parameters based upon the variations in electrical quantities within the conductive material as it deforms. This is accomplished through an elastic textile, a conductive element embedded within the elastic textile, and an electronic device configured to measure electrical quantities of the conductive element. These elements work in conjunction to detect and monitor movement in the human body.

Abstract: A system and methods for base excitation of moderately high vibration of micro-cantilevers are disclosed. A micro-cantilever may be coupled to one or more actuators adjacent its base. The actuators may comprise bulk materials, bridges, or formed wires that expand and contract by application of electric currents, due to, for example, the effect of electro-thermal heating or piezoelectric effects. Single actuators or an array of actuators may be placed around the micro-cantilever to oscillate it and apply actuation pulses. The system and methods, and adjustments of the geometrical parameters, may be performed to yield a nominal natural frequency in the system. The excitation of actuators with signals corresponding to the natural frequency may induce resonance in the system and may result in high amplitude vibrations and displacement of the cantilever tip of the micro-cantilever.

Abstract: The present invention will provide a device in which the gripping action is achieved by a compliant membrane manipulated by electromagnetic forces. The gripping force provided by the present invention is best suited for delicate objects, as it gently applies the gripping force necessary for displacement. This is accomplished through a chamber, a membrane, a plunger attached to the membrane, and a solenoid configured to manipulate the plunger, and thus, the membrane.

Abstract: A motor control score is automatically generated for a subject based on electroencephalography (EEG) data represented as a plurality of EEG waveforms obtained from a plurality of EEG electrodes. Each waveform is separated into at least one window, containing a portion of the EEG waveform representative of neural activity corresponding to a movement performed by the subject. At least one or more frequency components and/or signal components are determined from the EEG data in the window, and a motor control score is determined based on these components. The frequency components may correspond to event-related desynchronization (ERD) response frequency band and event-related synchronization (ERS) response frequency band. In other embodiments, the frequency components correspond to a phase response and the signal components correspond to a signal power spectrum density of the window, which are provided to a primary neural network model to determine the motor control score.

Abstract: A fibre-based sensor for yarn senses strain or pressure and includes: (a) a fibre extending along a centerline with a first longitudinal portion thereof forming a first fibre member that is elastic and has a first stiffness, first hysteresis, and first electrical conductivity; and (b) a second fibre member selected as a second fibre or a second longitudinal portion of the fibre, the second fibre member being elastic, having a second stiffness, second hysteresis, and second conductivity, wherein the first and second fibre members are non-slidable relative to each other along the centerline, the first stiffness being greater than the second stiffness so sensor stiffness is dominated by the first stiffness, the first hysteresis being less than the second hysteresis so sensor hysteresis is dominated by the first hysteresis, the first conductivity being less than the second conductivity so sensor conductivity is dominated by the second electrical conductivity.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing an angular rate of rotation in the presence of linear movement includes: (a) an enclosure for containing a fluid; (b) a heater disposed within the enclosure in fluid communication with the fluid; and (c) a plurality of temperature detectors disposed within the enclosure in fluid communication with the heater and the fluid, the plurality of temperature detectors being arranged symmetrically about the heater such that a superposition of a plurality of differential-temperature indications produced by the plurality of temperature detectors is maximally sensitive to the rotation while being minimally sensitive to the linear movement. In some embodiments, the heater and the plurality of temperature detectors form a gyroscopic unit, and the apparatus includes a plurality of the gyroscopic units having an angular relationship. The angular relationship may have an angular-relationship value defined by a full-circle angle divided by a number of the gyroscopic units.

Abstract: A system and methods for base excitation of moderately high vibration of micro-cantilevers are disclosed. A micro-cantilever may be coupled to one or more actuators adjacent its base. The actuators may comprise bulk materials, bridges, or formed wires that expand and contract by application of electric currents, due to, for example, the effect of electro-thermal heating or piezoelectric effects. Single actuators or an array of actuators may be placed around the micro-cantilever to oscillate it and apply actuation pulses. The system and methods, and adjustments of the geometrical parameters, may be performed to yield a nominal natural frequency in the system. The excitation of actuators with signals corresponding to the natural frequency may induce resonance in the system and may result in high amplitude vibrations and displacement of the cantilever tip of the micro-cantilever.

Abstract: A dry adhesive structure and a method for manufacturing thereof is disclosed. In an embodiment, the dry adhesive structure comprises a base structure and a plurality of fiber structures is disclosed, wherein each of the plurality of fiber structures comprises a cap structure that substantially overhangs its corresponding fiber structure on at least one side. The method for manufacturing the dry adhesive structure comprises applying a photosensitive material to substrate comprising polymethyl acrylate, patterning and developing the photoresistive material to form a mask comprising the overhanging cap structure, exposing the mask to UV light, developing the substrate to form undercut fiber structures, molding an elastomer rubber materials to form an elastomer rubber negative mold, and molding a flexible polymer material in the elastomer rubber negative mold to form the dry adhesive structure.

Abstract: The present invention will provide a device in which a movement-impairing episode, such as freezing of gait, is overcome by electrically monitoring and stimulating the individual as soon as the episode is anticipated. The device will be simple and effective when used by individuals suffering from diseases such as Parkinson's Disease without the side effects of oral treatments. This is accomplished through a signal sensing unit, a signal processing unit, a signal generating unit, and an actuation unit.

Abstract: A device in which the gripping action is achieved by a compliant membrane that adapts itself to the object to be lifted and then maintains such shape throughout the displacement of the object. The gripping force provided by the present invention is best suited for delicate objects, as it gently applies the gripping force necessary for displacement. This is accomplished through a chamber, a deformable membrane delimiting the chamber partially or entirely, and a means for changing the volume or shape of the chamber determined by the deformation of the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention will provide adhesive technology adapted to adhere indefinitely to a surface without leaving a residue or sticky mess after removal. The self-preloading force provided by the electrostatic adhesion enables the present invention to be used in applications where directly applying a preload is not possible. Furthermore, the combination of electrostatic forces and Van der Waals forces allows electro-dry-adhesives to adhere to surfaces where traditional dry adhesives and electrostatic devices fail.

Abstract: A small, flexible fluidic actuator is presented which may be of millimeter scale in size and made of suitable flexible materials such as silicone. A manufacturing method and two analytical models for the device along with experimental test results are also disclosed. The flexible fluidic actuator devices disclosed include multidirectional fluidic actuator joints providing independently controllable multi-directional actuation movement. The dynamic behavior of the joints for various pressure loads was also characterized and described herein.

Abstract: The effectiveness of biomimetic dry adhesives at different ambient pressures is investigated. Biomimetic dry adhesives have great potential for space applications but there have been few studies on how these adhesives perform in low-pressure environments. Various geometrical configurations for cap and fiber structures of dry adhesive materials are disclosed. Various methods for manufacturing dry adhesive materials including a silicone rubber negative mold are disclosed. Various methods of manufacturing directly molded anisotropic dry adhesive structures with anisotropic peel strengths are also provided.

Abstract: The effectiveness of biomimetic dry adhesives at different ambient pressures is investigated. Biomimetic dry adhesives have great potential for space applications but there have been few studies on how these adhesives perform in low-pressure environments. Various geometrical configurations for cap and fiber structures of dry adhesive materials are disclosed. Various methods for manufacturing dry adhesive materials including a silicone rubber negative mold are disclosed. Various methods of manufacturing directly molded anisotropic dry adhesive structures with anisotropic peel strengths are also provided.