Abstract: Wearable actuator systems are disclosed herein. The wearable actuator system may include an active layer comprising a plurality of actuators, each actuator having a deformable shell that defines an enclosed internal cavity, a fluid dielectric contained within the enclosed internal cavity, a first electrode disposed over a first side of the enclosed internal cavity, and a second electrode disposed over a second side of the enclosed internal cavity. The system further includes an interface layer and a fastener, wherein the active layer and the fastener form an enclosed shape having an internal area, and wherein a size of the internal area of the enclosed shape is adjustable using the fastener.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a grip for coupling to a portable handheld device includes a base, a cap assembly, one or more flexure bearings connecting the base and the cap assembly, and a magnet assembly coupled to the base. The magnet assembly is coated with a non-conductive material, and the non-conductive material is configured to reduce power loss associated with the magnet assembly when the grip is attached to the portable handheld device during wireless charging.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless power transfer relay for coupling to a mobile electronic device is provided. The wireless power transfer relay includes a receiving platform having a relay receiver coil, a transmitting platform having a relay transmitter coil, and a conductor coupled between the receiving platform and the transmitting platform and electrically coupling the relay receiver coil and the relay transmitter coil. The relay receiver coil is configured in proximity to a primary transmitter coil of a wireless power transmitter to wirelessly receive power from the primary transmitter coil. The relay transmitter coil is configured in proximity to a primary receiver coil of the mobile electronic device to wirelessly transmit power to the primary receiver coil.

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic actuator includes a deformable shell defining an enclosed internal cavity and containing a liquid dielectric, first and second electrodes on first and second sides, respectively, of the enclosed internal cavity. An electrostatic force between the first and second electrodes upon application of a voltage to one of the electrodes draws the electrodes towards each other to displace the liquid dielectric within the enclosed internal cavity. The shell includes active and inactive areas such that the electrostatic forces between the first and second electrodes displaces the liquid dielectric within the enclosed internal cavity from the active area of the shell to the inactive area of the shell. The first and second electrodes, the deformable shell, and the liquid dielectric cooperate to form a self-healing capacitor, and the liquid dielectric is configured for automatically filling breaches in the liquid dielectric resulting from dielectric breakdown.

Abstract: An actuator system includes an actuator with a deformable shell defining a pouch, a fluid dielectric contained within the pouch, and first and second electrodes disposed over opposing sides of the pouch, each electrode having two long edges and two short edges. The system also includes a power source for providing a voltage between the electrodes. The electrodes cover 50 to 90% of the first and second sides, respectively, of the pouch, and a gap is defined between long edges of the pouch and the electrodes such that, upon application of the voltage at one of the short edges of the electrodes, respectively, the electrodes selectively zip together from the one of the short edges toward an opposing one of the short edges. The system may also include a support structure for enabling the actuator to maintain its shape regardless of the voltage provided by the power source.

Abstract: A seating system includes a seat, with structures for supporting a user thereon, and actuators. Each actuator includes a deformable shell with an enclosed internal cavity containing a fluid dielectric contained, a pair of electrodes disposed on opposing sides of the deformable shell. The actuators are integrated into the structures and configured for providing at least one function, such as haptic feedback, seat adjustment, alert notification, vibratory signal, user input receiving, and massage function. A portion of the plurality of actuators may be enclosed within an encapsulating shell to form an encapsulated sheet of actuators. Each actuator may be a part of a button-on-demand system, wherein the actuator is normally in a collapsed position such that a user-facing surface of the encapsulating shell is substantially flat and, when activated by a user, the actuator is configured to expand such that the encapsulating shell is raised to form a button.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an intermediate receiver of wireless power transfer for coupling to a mobile electronic device is provided. The intermediate receiver includes an intermediate receiver coil configured in proximity to a primary receiver coil of the mobile electronic device. The primary receiver coil is configured to receive a primary amount of wireless power from a primary transmitter coil of a wireless power transmitter. The intermediate receiver coil is configured to receive an amount of wireless power from the primary transmitter coil that is less than the primary amount of wireless power received by the primary receive coil.

Abstract: An actuator system includes a sleeve for accommodating an appendage of a user therein, actuators, and a power source. Each actuator includes a deformable shell defining a pouch including an enclosed internal cavity with a fluid dielectric contained therein, and first and second electrodes disposed over opposing sides of the pouch. The power source provides a voltage between the first and second electrodes. The sleeve includes features for distributing the actuators within the sleeve in a predetermined manner. Application of the voltage produces directional forces on the appendage. In embodiments, the first and second electrodes are disposed over the pouch such that, when the actuator is activated, the fluid dielectric is displaced in a length direction within the pouch, and the features in the sleeve may or may not align the actuators such that the length direction of the actuators are in alignment.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a grip for coupling to a portable handheld device includes a base, a cap assembly, and at least two flexure bearings connecting the base and the cap assembly. Each flexure bearing includes a cap attachment section, an upper arm section, a lower arm section, a base attachment section, an upper hinge, a middle hinge, and a lower hinge. The cap attachment section is attached to the cap assembly such that a distance dc is formed between the upper hinge and a centerline of the cap assembly. The base attachment section is attached to the base such that a distance ds is formed between the lower hinge and a centerline of the base. The distance dc is smaller than the distance ds, and a length Lc of the upper arm section is smaller than a length Ls of the lower arm section.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a grip for coupling to a portable handheld device includes a base having a first magnetic component, a cap assembly having a first plate, a second plate, and a second magnetic component, and at least two flexure bearings connecting the base and the cap assembly. At least a portion of each flexure bearing is held between the first plate and the second plate. The first magnetic component and the second magnetic component are configured to attract at a first threshold distance to magnetically couple the cap assembly and the base together, and to repel at a second threshold distance to push the cap assembly away from the base. Each of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component includes a plurality of poles, has a particular magnetic strength, and is configured to maintain inductive coupling between the portable handheld device and a wireless charger.

Abstract: An actuator system includes an actuator with a deformable shell defining a pouch, a fluid dielectric contained within the pouch, and first and second electrodes disposed over opposing sides of the pouch, each electrode having two long edges and two short edges. The system also includes a power source for providing a voltage between the electrodes. The electrodes cover 50 to 90% of the first and second sides, respectively, of the pouch, and a gap is defined between long edges of the pouch and the electrodes such that, upon application of the voltage at one of the short edges of the electrodes, respectively, the electrodes selectively zip together from the one of the short edges toward an opposing one of the short edges. The system may also include a support structure for enabling the actuator to maintain its shape regardless of the voltage provided by the power source.

Abstract: A method for operating an actuator system includes providing an actuator with a deformable shell defining an enclosed internal cavity, a fluid dielectric, and first and second electrodes disposed over opposing sides of the enclosed internal cavity, and providing a power source such that the actuator system exhibits a first operational performance. Further, the method includes modifying at least one of length, width, diameter, and shape of the deformable shell and/or the first and second electrodes, a volume of the fluid dielectric, permittivity, thickness, and material of the deformable shell, and a partition within the deformable shell such that the actuator so modified exhibits a second operational performance. The operational performance includes force as a function of stroke, actuator breakdown strength, direction of actuation, uniformity of deformation of the deformable shell, actuator flexibility, and stroke as a function of actuator system volume.

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic actuator includes a deformable shell defining an enclosed internal cavity and containing a liquid dielectric, first and second electrodes on first and second sides, respectively, of the enclosed internal cavity. An electrostatic force between the first and second electrodes upon application of a voltage to one of the electrodes draws the electrodes towards each other to displace the liquid dielectric within the enclosed internal cavity. The shell includes active and inactive areas such that the electrostatic forces between the first and second electrodes displaces the liquid dielectric within the enclosed internal cavity from the active area of the shell to the inactive area of the shell. The first and second electrodes, the deformable shell, and the liquid dielectric cooperate to form a self-healing capacitor, and the liquid dielectric is configured for automatically filling breaches in the liquid dielectric resulting from dielectric breakdown.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes new systems and methods for influencing the rotational speed of a roller or other conveying systems and for controlling the speed, orientation or position of objects on a conveyor through the use of hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) actuators. HASEL actuators for such systems provide distinct benefits over traditional braking systems including: electrical control, eliminated need for an external source of pressurized air or fluid to allow use in certain environments, analog control of force or displacement in order to provide variable control of speed of objects on the conveyor system, and feedback to infer information about the state of the actuators as well as the state of objects being conveyed and/or state of the conveyor rollers.

Abstract: Wearable actuator systems are disclosed herein. The wearable actuator system may include an active layer comprising a plurality of actuators, each actuator having a deformable shell that defines an enclosed internal cavity, a fluid dielectric contained within the enclosed internal cavity, a first electrode disposed over a first side of the enclosed internal cavity, and a second electrode disposed over a second side of the enclosed internal cavity.

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic actuator includes a deformable shell defining an enclosed internal cavity and containing a liquid dielectric, first and second electrodes on first and second sides, respectively, of the enclosed internal cavity. An electrostatic force between the first and second electrodes upon application of a voltage to one of the electrodes draws the electrodes towards each other to displace the liquid dielectric within the enclosed internal cavity. The shell includes active and inactive areas such that the electrostatic forces between the first and second electrodes displaces the liquid dielectric within the enclosed internal cavity from the active area of the shell to the inactive area of the shell. The first and second electrodes, the deformable shell, and the liquid dielectric cooperate to form a self-healing capacitor, and the liquid dielectric is configured for automatically filling breaches in the liquid dielectric resulting from dielectric breakdown.

Abstract: A seating system includes a seat, with structures for supporting a user thereon, and actuators. Each actuator includes a deformable shell with an enclosed internal cavity containing a fluid dielectric contained, a pair of electrodes disposed on opposing sides of the deformable shell. The actuators are integrated into the structures and configured for providing at least one function, such as haptic feedback, seat adjustment, alert notification, vibratory signal, user input receiving, and massage function. A portion of the plurality of actuators may be enclosed within an encapsulating shell to form an encapsulated sheet of actuators. Each actuator may be a part of a button-on-demand system, wherein the actuator is normally in a collapsed position such that a user-facing surface of the encapsulating shell is substantially flat and, when activated by a user, the actuator is configured to expand such that the encapsulating shell is raised to form a button.

Abstract: Systems and methods for grasping and manipulating objects are presented. The systems include a first actuator configured to either contract, expand, or rotate about a first axis. In some cases the actuator acts to deform a structure that is configured to grasp an object. In other cases the actuator directly interacts with an object to grasp the object or aid in the grasping of the object. The entire system may be connected to a robotic arm or other system to allow for picking and placing of objects. The first actuator includes a compliant shell defining an enclosed cavity, a dielectric fluid disposed within the enclosed cavity, a first electrode disposed on a first side of the compliant shell, and a second electrode disposed on a second side of the compliant shell opposite the first side.

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic actuator includes a deformable shell defining an enclosed internal cavity and containing a liquid dielectric, first and second electrodes on first and second sides, respectively, of the enclosed internal cavity. An electrostatic force between the first and second electrodes upon application of a voltage to one of the electrodes draws the electrodes towards each other to displace the liquid dielectric within the enclosed internal cavity. The shell includes active and inactive areas such that the electrostatic forces between the first and second electrodes displaces the liquid dielectric within the enclosed internal cavity from the active area of the shell to the inactive area of the shell. The first and second electrodes, the deformable shell, and the liquid dielectric cooperate to form a self-healing capacitor, and the liquid dielectric is configured for automatically filling breaches in the liquid dielectric resulting from dielectric breakdown.

Abstract: Hydraulically-amplified, self-healing, electrostatic transducers that harness electrostatic and hydraulic forces to achieve various actuation modes. Electrostatic forces between electrode pairs of the transducers generated upon application of a voltage to the electrode pairs draws the electrodes in each pair towards each other to displace a liquid dielectric contained within an enclosed internal cavity of the transducers to drive actuation in various manners. The electrodes and the liquid dielectric form a self-healing capacitor whereby the liquid dielectric automatically fills breaches in the liquid dielectric resulting from dielectric breakdown. Due to the resting shape of the cavity, a zipping-mechanism allows for selectively actuating the electrodes to a desired extent by controlling the voltage supplied.