Abstract: A wireless energy transfer system includes wirelessly powered footwear. Device resonators in footwear may capture energy from source resonators. Captured energy may be used to generate thermal energy in the footwear. Wireless energy may be generated by wireless warming installations. Installations may be located in public locations and may activate when a user is near the installation. In some cases, the warming installations may include interactive displays and may require user input to activate energy transfer.

Abstract: A method for the direct measurement of large strains in ropes in situ using a plastic optical fiber, for example, perfluorocarbon or polymethyl methacrylate and Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer or other light time-of-flight measurement instrumentation. Protective sheaths and guides are incorporated to protect the plastic optical fiber. In one embodiment, a small rope is braided around the plastic optical fiber to impose lateral compressive forces to restrain the plastic optical fiber from slipping and thus experience the same strain as the rope. Methods are described for making reflective interfaces along the length of the plastic optical fiber and to provide the capability to measure strain within discrete segments of the rope. Interpretation of the data allows one to calculate the accumulated strain at any point in time and to determine if the rope has experienced local damage.