Abstract: Energy dissipation pads are described herein. In one aspect, a system can include an airdrop load; and at least one energy-dissipation assembly having a grid formed from a plurality of boards each including a plurality of slots sufficient to accommodate a thickness of others of the plurality of boards and form a plurality of joints; where at least one of the at least one energy-dissipation assemblies is positioned below or within the airdrop load such that the grid of the energy-dissipation assembly is at least partially perpendicular to an anticipated impact vector.

Abstract: A wind-energy conversion system includes an air intake and an air outlet. The air intake includes a substantially vertical converging nozzle, an object extending into the nozzle, a converging flow passage between the object and the nozzle, and fixed vanes extending between the substantially vertical converging nozzle. The object extends into the nozzle, and an air outlet from the air intake. The wind-energy conversion also includes at least one turbine in fluid communication with the air outlet from the air intake. The turbine includes a plurality of blades.

Abstract: A wind-energy conversion system includes an air intake, a receiver and an energy conversion unit. The air intake includes a first unidirectional intake portion, a second unidirectional intake portion. The first and second unidirectional intakes include a horizontal pipe portion, an elbow portion, and a vertical pipe portion. The receiver is in fluid communication with the first unidirectional intake portion and the second unidirectional portion. The receiver receives air from the first unidirectional intake and the second unidirectional intake. The receiver includes a converging flow passage, and an air outlet. The energy conversion unit is in fluid communication with the air outlet.

Abstract: A wind-energy conversion system includes an air intake, an air outlet from the air intake, and at least one turbine in fluid communication with the air outlet from the air intake. The turbine includes a plurality of blades. The wind-energy conversion system also includes an insert positioned proximate the turbine. The insert directs the airflow toward an outer portion of the plurality of turbine blades. The air intake includes a substantially vertical converging nozzle, an object extending into the nozzle, and a converging flow passage between the object and the nozzle.

Abstract: An embodiment of a building may include a wind-energy-conversion system with a duct that may be a substantially vertical converging nozzle. An energy extractor may be fluidly coupled to the duct. For some embodiments, a space within the building may be part of the wind-energy-conversion system and may be fluidly coupled to the energy extractor by the duct.

Abstract: An embodiment of a building may include a wind-energy-conversion system with a duct that may be a substantially vertical converging nozzle. An energy extractor may be fluidly coupled to the duct. For some embodiments, a space within the building may be part of the wind-energy-conversion system and may be fluidly coupled to the energy extractor by the duct.

Abstract: An intake assembly for a wind-energy conversion system has a substantially vertical converging nozzle, an object extending into the nozzle, and a converging flow passage between the object and the nozzle. For some embodiments, the object may be another nozzle. There may be vanes in one or both nozzles in further embodiments. The object may be configured to move in yet other embodiments.

Abstract: An intake assembly for a wind-energy conversion system has a substantially vertical converging nozzle, an object extending into the nozzle, and a converging flow passage between the object and the nozzle. For some embodiments, the object may be another nozzle. There may be vanes in one or both nozzles in further embodiments. The object may be configured to move in yet other embodiments.

Abstract: A wind-energy conversion system includes a wind-delivery system configured to accelerate wind, an energy extractor configured to output energy in response to receiving the accelerated wind from the wind-delivery system, and an air cleaner configured to clean the wind, e.g., so that cleaned wind exits the wind-energy conversion system.

Abstract: An embodiment of a building may include a wind-energy-conversion system with a duct that may be a substantially vertical converging nozzle. An energy extractor may be fluidly coupled to the duct. For some embodiments, a space within the building may be part of the wind-energy-conversion system and may be fluidly coupled to the energy extractor by the duct.

Abstract: A kinetic hydropower generation system has a turbine and a generator coupled to the turbine. An underwater intake nozzle assembly is fluidly coupled to the turbine. For one embodiment, an underwater tower nozzle may be fluidly coupled between the turbine and the underwater intake nozzle assembly. The underwater intake nozzle assembly may include a collector and a converging nozzle.

Abstract: An embodiment of a fluid power generation system has a generator comprising an electrical-charge-producing material and a pair of end boundary constraints. One of the end boundary constraints of the pair of end boundary constraints is physically coupled to the electrical-charge-producing material adjacent to an end of the electrical-charge-producing material and the other one of the pair of end boundary constraints is physically coupled to the electrical charge-producing material adjacent to an opposite end of the electrical-charge-producing material. For some embodiments, the end boundary constraints may be active or passive. For other embodiments, at least one of the end boundary constraints may be electrically coupled to a controller for adjusting vibration characteristics of the generator.

Abstract: An intake assembly for a wind-energy conversion system has a substantially vertical converging nozzle, an object extending into the nozzle, and a converging flow passage between the object and the nozzle. For some embodiments, the object may be another nozzle. There may be vanes in one or both nozzles in further embodiments. The object may be configured to move in yet other embodiments.

Abstract: An embodiment of a fluid power generation system has a generator comprising an electrical-charge-producing material and a pair of end boundary constraints. One of the end boundary constraints of the pair of end boundary constraints is physically coupled to the electrical-charge-producing material adjacent to an end of the electrical-charge-producing material and the other one of the pair of end boundary constraints is physically coupled to the electrical charge-producing material adjacent to an opposite end of the electrical-charge-producing material. For some embodiments, the end boundary constraints may be active or passive. For other embodiments, at least one of the end boundary constraints may be electrically coupled to a controller for adjusting vibration characteristics of the generator.

Abstract: A turbine-intake tower for delivering wind to a turbine has a hollow support column, an intake nozzle assembly rotatably coupled to the support column, and a tower nozzle disposed within the support column. The intake nozzle assembly is configured to receive and to accelerate wind. The tower nozzle is configured to receive the wind from the intake nozzle assembly and to further accelerate the wind received from the intake nozzle assembly for delivery to the turbine.

Abstract: A skin structure has a skin and a power generation system attached to the skin. The power generation system has a turbine, one or more tubes fluidly coupled to the turbine, and a generator configured to generate electrical power in response to motion of the turbine. The skin structure may form a portion of an outer covering of a stationary structure, such as a building, or an outer covering of a manned or unmanned vehicle, such as a ground or aerial motor vehicle or a marine or submarine motor vehicle.

Abstract: A kinetic hydropower generation system has a turbine and a generator coupled to the turbine. An underwater intake nozzle assembly is fluidly coupled to the turbine. For one embodiment, an underwater tower nozzle may be fluidly coupled between the turbine and the underwater intake nozzle assembly. The underwater intake nozzle assembly may include a collector and a converging nozzle.

Abstract: A turbine-intake tower for delivering wind to a turbine has a hollow support column, an intake nozzle assembly rotatably coupled to the support column, and a tower nozzle disposed within the support column. The intake nozzle assembly is configured to receive and to accelerate wind. The tower nozzle is configured to receive the wind from the intake nozzle assembly and to further accelerate the wind received from the intake nozzle assembly for delivery to the turbine.

Abstract: A skin structure has a skin and a power generation system attached to the skin. The power generation system has a turbine, one or more tubes fluidly coupled to the turbine, and a generator configured to generate electrical power in response to motion of the turbine. The skin structure may form a portion of an outer covering of a stationary structure, such as a building, or an outer covering of a manned or unmanned vehicle, such as a ground or aerial motor vehicle or a marine or submarine motor vehicle.

Abstract: A motor includes a resonator and a vibration source coupled to the resonator. The vibration source can be a piezoelectric vibration source. A drive shaft is coupled to the resonator via a linkage. The vibration source(s) impart a vibration along the resonator such that a lateral displacement of the resonator is focused at a location coupled to the linkage. The lateral displacement is coupled to the drive shaft to provide rotational motion of the drive shaft.