Abstract: A textile assembly includes a knitted or woven textile panel of non-conductive fibers, and defines a first delimited area. A first conductive filament is knitted or woven into the textile panel in the first delimited area, and is arranged to form an electronic device, such as a sensor or a switch, in the first delimited area. The textile assembly may further include a third conductive filament that is knitted or woven into the textile panel in a second delimited area. The third conductive filament is arranged to form a second electronic device, such as a sensor or a switch, in the second delimited area. A controller may use a signal from the first electronic device and the second electronic device to execute a function, such as generate a pressure map of the textile panel.

Abstract: A fluid flow control device includes a resilient substrate translatable between a first flattened position and a second extended position, and an actuator attached to the resilient substrate. The actuator is configured for translating the resilient substrate from the first flattened position to the second extended position. The actuator is formed from a shape memory alloy transitionable between a first state and a second state in response to a change in temperature of the shape memory alloy. A fluid flow control system includes a rotor shield and the fluid flow control device attached to the rotor shield.

Abstract: A conditioned apparatus defines a chamber, and includes a frame defining a door opening providing access to the insulated chamber and a door movable relative to the frame. The door selectively blocks the door opening. A seal disposed between the frame and the door, and a shape memory alloy (SMA) element is associated with, and may be knitted directly into, the seal. A controller operatively connected to the SMA element. The controller selectively provides heat to the SMA element, such that the seal changes from spanning between the door and the frame, when the temperature of the SMA element is below a phase-change temperature, to contacting only one of the frame and the door, when the temperature of the SMA element is at least the phase-change temperature.

Abstract: A dielectric elastomer actuator includes an elastomeric film and an electrode material layer on opposing sides of the film. The elastomeric film includes a first section, a second section, and a transition section disposed between the first section and the second section. The electrode material layers are disposed on the transition section and the first and second sections. The first and second sections are restrained in a pre-stretched configuration in an axial and a lateral direction, while the transition section is not restrained in the axial direction. The transition section elongates in response to the application of a voltage to the electrode material layers, such that the first and second sections move apart, in the axial direction. Likewise, the transition section is configured to contract in an absence of a voltage applied to the electrode material layers, such that the first and second sections move apart, in the axial direction.

Abstract: A panel assembly includes a frame and a textile panel. The frame has a first member and a second member spaced apart from each other. The textile panel is attached to and extends between the first member and the second member. A tension controlling system is attached to the textile panel. The tension controlling system is reconfigurable between a first state for tensioning the textile panel to provide a first tensile force and a first maximum sag distance, and a second state for tensioning the textile panel to provide a second tensile force and a second maximum sag distance. The first tensile force is greater than the second tensile force, and the first maximum sag distance is less than the second maximum sag distance.

Abstract: A lockable latching device includes a body defining a cavity and having a central longitudinal axis, and a plunger disposed within the cavity. The plunger has a first end and a second end and is translatable along the axis between an open position and a closed position. The device includes an annular rotator disposed along the axis and configured for rotating the plunger about the axis. The device also includes an annular latch abutting the rotator that is transitionable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The device includes a first element operably connected to the latch and formed from a first shape memory alloy and a second element operably connected to the latch and formed from a second shape memory alloy.

Abstract: Products and methods are provided for inflatable structures. In various exemplary embodiments, an inflatable structure is provided with multiple variable chambers including a first variable chamber and a second variable chamber. A first boundary envelope defines the first variable chamber and a second boundary envelope defines the second variable chamber. The first and second boundary envelopes separate the first chamber from the second chamber. The first and second variable chambers are defined by an operative scale that may differ by an order of magnitude between the first and second variable chambers.

Abstract: A lockable latching device includes a body defining a cavity therein and having a central longitudinal axis, and a plunger disposed within the cavity. The plunger has a first end and a second end and is translatable with respect to the body along the axis between an open position and a closed position. The device also includes an annular rotator spaced apart from the body along the axis and configured for rotating the plunger about the axis. The device includes an annular latch abutting the rotator that is transitionable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The device also includes an element attached to the latch and formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to an activation signal to thereby transition the latch from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically maintaining cleanliness of an vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, at least one sensor signal from a sensor that monitors for particulates within an interior of a vehicle; determining, by the processor, a level of uncleanliness of the vehicle based on the sensor signal; and selectively generating, by the processor, at least one of a control signal to a cleaning element of the vehicle and a notification message based on the determining to achieve the level of cleanliness.

Abstract: A method includes assembling a first latching device and a second latching device. The first latching device includes a first support housing and a first sliding assembly. The first sliding assembly is selectively movable, relative to the first support housing, between a latched position and an unlatched position. The second latching device includes a second support housing, a second sliding assembly, and an actuating mechanism. The second support housing is substantially identical to the first support housing. The second sliding assembly is selectively movable, relative to the second support housing, between a latched position and an unlatched position. The actuating mechanism is operatively disposed in the second support housing and is configured to selectively maintain the sliding assembly in the latched position until the actuating mechanism is selectively actuated. The first latching device does not include the actuating mechanism.

Abstract: A latching device for engaging a striker includes a rotatable locking plate configured for receiving the striker. A linkage is configured to counterbalance the locking plate in a first, latched position. An active material actuator is interconnected with the linkage such that activating the active material actuator moves the linkage out of counterbalance with the locking plate and into a second, unlatched position.

Abstract: A method of testing a SMA element includes connecting the SMA element to a validation tool, and applying an electrical current to the SMA element over a test cycle. A resistance of the SMA element during the test cycle is measured, while the electrical current is being applied. The measured resistance of the SMA element during the test cycle is correlated to an estimated strain value of the SMA element during the test cycle. A temperature of the SMA element during the test cycle is estimated. A stress in the SMA element during the test cycle is estimated from a stress predicting grid, using the estimated strain value and the estimated temperature of the SMA element during the test cycle. The proper functionality of the SMA element may be determined based on the estimated stress in the SMA element.

Abstract: A device for haptically communicating to an individual includes a haptic unit that is operatively coupled to a remotely located actuator to effect a haptic pulse signal.

Abstract: A sealing assembly includes a door and a seal. The door includes a flexible body that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The seal is movable between an engaged position in which the seal is positioned in engagement with a portion of the flexible body when the flexible body is in the closed position and a disengaged position in which the seal moves away from the portion of the flexible body as the flexible body moves from the closed position to the open position such that the flexible body is spaced from the seal to minimize frictional engagement with the seal.

Abstract: A resettable sensor assembly includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and defining a cavity therein. The assembly includes a divider disposed within the cavity and in contact with the housing, at least one electrical contact disposed within the cavity and extending through the divider, and a pin reversibly translatable within the cavity along the axis. The assembly includes at least one actuator element disposed within the cavity and abutting the housing. The element is configured for translating the pin along the axis between a first position wherein the pin contacts the electrical contact and a second position wherein the pin is spaced apart from the electrical contact. The actuator element is formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to a thermal activation signal to thereby translate the pin between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A valve manifold includes a housing defining an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports. Each of the plurality of outlet ports defines a sealing face. The manifold also includes a plurality of poppets, wherein each of the plurality of poppets is disposed within a respective one of the plurality of outlet ports and is configured for translating towards and away from the sealing face. The manifold also includes a plurality of actuators each configured for translating a respective one of the plurality of poppets towards and away from the sealing face, wherein each of the plurality of actuators is formed from a shape memory alloy transitionable between a first state and a second state in response to a thermal activation signal. A washer system, a device, and a method of simultaneously controlling fluid flow to a first component and a second component of the device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A push-push latch includes a slider slidably disposed on a frame. A resilient element is to urge the slider toward an extended state. The slider or the frame defines a cam-track. A pin member is connected to the frame or the slider. The pin member selectably engages a closed course in the cam-track to cause the slider to alternate between a retracted state and the extended state in response to alternating application and removal of an actuating force on the slider. An interference member is on the frame to selectively prevent the pin member from engaging the closed course thereby locking the slider in the retracted state. A pivotable catch is rotatably on the slider to open in the extended state and to close in the retracted state. A shape memory alloy actuator selectively causes the interference member to selectively prevent the pin member from engaging the closed course.

Abstract: Self-cleaning optic apparatuses and automobiles with self-cleaning optic apparatuses are provided. An exemplary self-cleaning optic apparatus includes an optic device for transmitting or receiving light. The optic device is located in a chamber. The self-cleaning optic apparatus further includes a window for transmitting the light. Also, the self-cleaning optic apparatus includes a photocatalytic coating on a surface of the window. Energy emitted from within the chamber activates a photocatalytic reaction in the photocatalytic coating.

Abstract: A slack compensator includes a stator fixedly attachable to a base and a shuttle. The shuttle is selectably movable from a first position on the stator to a second position on the stator. The shuttle is selectably releasably attached to the stator in the first position. The shuttle is to be permanently captured upon reaching the second position. The slack compensator is attachable to an SMA wire for removing slack that develops in the SMA wire during a plurality of break-in cycles.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cleaning systems of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes: a floor mat; a vacuum system integrated with the floor mat, the vacuum system comprising a port, one or more ducts, and one or more openings integrated with the floor mat; and a control module that selectively activates suction of the vacuum system based on a detection of a level of uncleanliness of the vehicle.