Abstract: A compact water ski having a top surface, a bottom surface and a rocker with an overall length of less than 36 inches and a means to secure a foot to the top surface. The ski can be with or without a fin. The bottom surface of the water ski can be decorated with strakes and/or channels to allow for greater maneuverability and stability.

Abstract: A unimorph composite actuator (UCA) has a deformable substrate that has a lateral curvature relative to an axis or curve of the substrate and at least one shape memory material (SMM) attached to at least a portion of a face of the substrate. The curvature of the substrate assists the restoration of the original structure after being fixed in a deformed conformation. The SMM can be a shape memory polymer (SMP).

Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for providing a golf club shaft that has coupling between one or more bending modes and one or more twisting modes of deformation. In a specific embodiment, bending the shaft along a central longitudinal axis of the shaft in a plane of bending results in twisting of the shaft about the same central longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Abstract: An airfoil for a micro air vehicle that includes components enabling the airfoil to adjust the angle of attack (AOA) of the airfoil in response to wind gusts, thereby enabling the airfoil to provide smooth flight. The airfoil may include a first compliant region positioned between an inboard section and a first outboard section and may include a second compliant region between a second outboard section and the inboard section. The compliant regions enable the first and second outboard sections to bend about a leading edge section and move relative to an inboard section. This action creates smoother flight due to numerous aerodynamic advantages such as a change in the angle of attack and improved wind gust rejection due to adaptive washout as a result of the airfoil flexing, twisting and decambering.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring strain on a surface of a substrate utilizes a substrate surface coated with at least one coating layer. The coating layer provides both luminescence and photoelasticity. The coating layer is illuminated with excitation light, wherein longer wavelength light is emitted having a polarization dependent upon stress or strain in the coating. At least one characteristic of the emitted light is measured, and strain (if present) on the substrate is determined from the measured characteristic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring strain on a surface of a substrate utilizes a substrate surface coated with at least one coating layer. The coating layer provides both luminescence and photoelasticity. The coating layer is illuminated with excitation light, wherein longer wavelength light is emitted having a polarization dependent upon stress or strain in the coating. At least one characteristic of the emitted light is measured, and strain (if present) on the substrate is determined from the measured characteristic.