Abstract: In some embodiments, an actuator assembly is provided which includes actuators, having a storage material, a volume changing material comprising a metal capable of changing volume in response to species insertion and removal, an ion transport material between the storage material and the volume changing material, and electrodes connected so as to be capable of providing an actuation voltage to the plurality of actuators. The actuators are configured such that the actuator assembly provides substantially anisotropic movement. In some embodiments, the actuator assembly includes actuators arranged in a stacked configuration. In some embodiments, the volume changing material includes spaced apart elongated structures which may be recessed within the storage material.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a solid state actuator is provided which includes a pair of electrodes and a solid state storage material having a plating material. A solid state ion transport material is adjacent the solid state storage material such that the solid state storage material is located between an anode of the pair of electrodes and the solid state ion transport material. The pair of electrodes are connected so as to be capable of providing an actuation voltage across the solid state storage material to provide transport of plating material cations through the solid state ion transport material between the solid state storage material and a cathode electrode of the pair of electrodes.

Abstract: A flow control valve for a fuel cell that has particular application for controlling the flow of cathode air through a cathode flow channel of the fuel cell. The valve includes an element that controls the flow through the flow channel in response to changes in the voltage potential of the fuel cell. The valve includes a shape memory alloy wire and a flow control element secured to both ends of the shape memory alloy wire. The ends of the wire are also coupled to the anode and cathode of the fuel cell. When no current is flowing through the wire, the flow control element holds the wire in a pre-strained condition. If the voltage generated by the fuel cell increases, the current passing through the wire will heat the wire and cause it to shrink or contract which forces the flow control element into the flow path.

Abstract: A thermal control coating derived from a sol-gel process includes a plurality of self-assembled mesopores (and/or mesotubes). The plurality of self-assembled mesopores are aligned with respect to a substrate and/or filled with a conductive material. The aligned and/or filled pores are used to provide thermal control for the substrate having a thermal characteristic.

Abstract: An apparatus may have a multilayered support base having a structural section made up of operating components and a function support section. The function support section may have transmission paths and components to supply thermal, power transmission, information and communication paths, along with other functions. At least some of the components may be heat generating and may have a thermal interface surface which may be in operating and heat conductive relationship with a heat conductive substrate/routing section which may have operative connections to the multilayered support base. Some of the components may transmit and receive with one another through the substrate/routing section.

Abstract: A hybrid active deformable material structure is presented. The hybrid active deformable material structure comprises a deformation unit. Each deformation unit includes a selectively deformable material structure and an actively deformable material structure in cooperation with the selectively deformable material structure. The selectively deformable structure may be caused to deform in response to a deformation of the actively deformable material structure and, when deformed, to retain a shape into which it was deformed. A plurality of deformation activation elements may be positioned about the structure to provide for multi-directional bending-type deformation, stretching-type deformation, and twisting-type deformation. The hybrid active deformable material structure may further comprise a passive material structure in cooperation with the selectively deformable material structure and the actively deformable material structure.

Abstract: A flow control valve for a fuel cell that has particular application for controlling the flow of cathode air through a cathode flow channel of the fuel cell. The valve includes an element that controls the flow through the flow channel in response to changes in the voltage potential of the fuel cell. The valve includes a shape memory alloy wire and a flow control element secured to both ends of the shape memory alloy wire. The ends of the wire are also coupled to the anode and cathode of the fuel cell. When no current is flowing through the wire, the flow control element holds the wire in a pre-strained condition. If the voltage generated by the fuel cell increases, the current passing through the wire will heat the wire and cause it to shrink or contract which forces the flow control element into the flow path.

Abstract: A releasable fastener system comprises a loop portion and a hook portion. The loop portion includes a support and a loop material disposed on one side thereof. The hook portion generally includes a support and a plurality of closely spaced upstanding hook elements extending from one side thereof, wherein the plurality of hook elements comprises or incorporates a shape memory polymer. When the hook portion and loop portion are pressed together they interlock to form a releasable engagement. The resulting joint created by the engagement is relatively resistant to shear and pull forces and weak in peel strength forces. Introducing a thermal activation signal to the plurality of hook elements causes a change in shape orientation and/or flexural modulus that effectively reduces the shear and/or pull off forces in the releasable engagement. In this manner, disengagement of the releasable fastener system provides separation of the hook portion from the loop portion under controlled conditions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a solid state actuator is provided having a solid state lithium storage material and a solid state volume changing material having a metal capable of changing volume in response to lithium insertion and removal. A solid state lithium ion transport material is located between the lithium storage material and the volume changing material. A pair of electrodes are connected so as to be capable of providing an actuation voltage across the lithium storage material and the volume changing material. In some embodiments, the volume changing material has active material particles comprised of metal contained in an inactive matrix. The active material particles may be aligned so that when the active material particles expand the volume changing material expands substantially in one direction. In some embodiments the volume changing material is a metal alloy and the lithium transport material is a high stiffness material. In some embodiments, multiple actuators are stacked, interleaved, or pillared.

Abstract: One nanostructured actuator embodiment includes an actuation region between electrical contacts. The actuation region includes an elastic matrix with embedded nanocomposite layered structures, which have inorganic material layers with pillared organic material structures between the inorganic material layers responsive to the surface acidity of the inorganic material layers. The elastic matrix allows transport of species for changing the surface acidity. A separator region is between the electrical contacts. A proton generation region capable of reversible electrochemical production and elimination of protons is provided, which may be a hydrogen storage material located on a side of the separator region opposite the actuation region, which may include metal hydride, or metal hydroxide. Alternatively, it may include an electrolytic solution and conductive particles within the elastic matrix for in situ electrochemical generation of an acid/base.

Abstract: A system for controlling fluid flow about a vehicle. The system comprises a fluid flow control device, an obstacle sensor for detecting obstacles, and a controller. The fluid flow control device has a body with at least one surface and an actuation means in operative communication with the surface. The actuation means is operative to alter at least one attribute of the fluid flow control device in response to a control signal. The controller has control logic for generating the control signal in response to the obstacle sensor.

Abstract: A releasable fastener system comprises a loop portion and a hook portion. The loop portion includes a support and a loop material disposed on one side thereof. The hook portion generally includes a support and a plurality of closely spaced upstanding hook elements extending from one side thereof, wherein the plurality of hook elements comprises or incorporates a shape memory alloy fiber. When the hook portion and loop portion are pressed together they interlock to form a releasable engagement. The resulting joint created by the engagement is relatively resistant to shear and pull forces and weak in peel strength forces. Introducing a thermal activation signal to the plurality of hook elements causes a change in shape orientation, flexural modulus property, or a combination thereof that effectively reduces the shear and/or pull off forces in the releasable engagement.

Abstract: A system for controlling fluid flow about a vehicle. The system comprises a fluid flow control device, an obstacle sensor for detecting obstacles, and a controller. The fluid flow control device has a body with at least one surface and an actuation means in operative communication with the surface. The actuation means is operative to alter at least one attribute of the fluid flow control device in response to a control signal. The controller has control logic for generating the control signal in response to the obstacle sensor.

Abstract: A releasable fastening system for retaining two surfaces at each other or disengaging the two surfaces from each other comprises a first electrode disposed at a first surface, a second electrode disposed at a second surface, and a polymer film disposed between the first and second electrode, and an electrolyte disposed in electrical communication with the first electrode, the polymer film, and the second electrode. A volume of the polymer film is controllably variable to cause the retention of the first surface at the second surface. A method of releasably fastening adjacently-positioned surfaces comprises disposing a first electrode at a first surface, disposing a second electrode at a second surface, and increasing the volume of an electrolyte disposed in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode to cause the retention of the first surface at the second surface.

Abstract: A releasable fastener system comprises a loop portion and a hook portion. The loop portion includes a support and a loop material disposed on one side thereof. The hook portion generally includes a support and a plurality of closely spaced upstanding hook elements extending from one side thereof. A selected one of the hook elements or the loop material is formed from a thermally and/or electrically conductive material. The other one is formed of a material adapted to melt, flow or volatize at a defined temperature. When the hook portion and loop portion are pressed together they interlock to form a releasable engagement. The resulting joint created by the engagement is relatively resistant to shear and pull forces and weak in peel strength forces. Introducing an activation signal to the thermally and/or electrically conductive hook elements or loop material, causes the opposing material to melt, flow, soften, or volatize upon contact therewith.

Abstract: A releasable fastening system comprises a knob portion comprising a knob element, a cavity portion comprising a cavity configured to receive the knob element, and an ionic polymer metal composite actuator disposed at the knob element. The ionic polymer metal composite actuator is operable to mechanically interlock the knob element with the cavity. A method of operating a releasable fastening system comprises contacting a knob portion with a cavity portion to form a releasable engagement, wherein the knob portion comprises a knob element disposed on a first support, and wherein the cavity portion comprises a cavity disposed at a second support; maintaining constant shear forces and constant pull-off forces between the knob portion and the cavity portion; and activating an ionic polymer metal composite actuator at the knob portion to facilitate the interlocking of the knob portion and the cavity portion.

Abstract: Processes for providing rapid release of a hook and loop type releasable fastener system comprise preconditioning the releasable fastener system to effect rapid release. In this manner, minimal energy and time is required for disengagement of the releasable fastener system.

Abstract: Processes for providing rapid release of a hook and loop type releasable fastener system comprise preconditioning the releasable fastener system to effect rapid release. In this manner, minimal energy and time is required for disengagement of the releasable fastener system.

Abstract: A releasable fastener system comprises a male portion and a female portion. The male portion comprises a support and at least one protrusion element fixedly attached to the support. The female portion comprises a support and at least two parallel actuator strips projecting from a surface of the support. The at least two parallel actuator strips are spaced apart to form an opening equal to or less than a lateral dimension of the protrusion element. Each one of the at least two parallel actuator strips comprise a flexible strip and a piezoelectric material disposed on portions of the actuator strip. An activation device is coupled to the at least two actuator strips, the activation device being operable to selectively provide an activation signal to the piezoelectric material. In this manner, the shape of the actuator strips can be changed to provide a mechanical engagement of a frictional engagement of the male and female portions.

Abstract: A releasable fastener system comprises a loop portion and a hook portion. The loop portion includes a support and a loop material disposed on one side thereof. The hook portion generally includes a support and a plurality of closely spaced upstanding hook elements extending from one side thereof, wherein the plurality of hook elements comprises or incorporates a shape memory polymer. When the hook portion and loop portion are pressed together they interlock to form a releasable engagement. The resulting joint created by the engagement is relatively resistant to shear and pull forces and weak in peel strength forces. Introducing a thermal activation signal to the plurality of hook elements causes a change in shape orientation and/or flexural modulus that effectively reduces the shear and/or pull off forces in the releasable engagement. In this manner, disengagement of the releasable fastener system provides separation of the hook portion from the loop portion under controlled conditions.