Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that provides increased operational flight endurance and efficiency. The UAV includes a power generation system, which includes an internal combustion engine and one or more batteries (batteries). The power generation system is configured to generate power for propulsion of the UAV. The internal combustion engine is configured to power a lift propeller, generating vertical lift of the UAV, and the batteries are configured to power a micro-propeller assembly, propelling the UAV in a forward direction or multiple additional directions.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that provides increased operational flight endurance and efficiency. The UAV includes a power generation system, which includes an internal combustion engine and one or more batteries (batteries). The power generation system is configured to generate power for propulsion of the UAV. The internal combustion engine is configured to power a lift propeller, generating vertical lift of the UAV, and the batteries are configured to power a micro-propeller assembly, propelling the UAV in a forward direction or multiple additional directions.

Abstract: A solar collector including a linear receiver and an array of linear mirrors positioned to concentrate sunlight onto the linear receiver, with all of the mirrors in the array tracking solar motion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the receiver, a fraction of the mirrors tracking solar motion in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the receiver and a two-axis steering mechanism adapted to combine the linear images formed by each linear mirror into a single linear image that remains focused on the linear receiver as the mirrors rotate about the two axes, with the linear receiver incorporating a secondary concentrator, and concentrated sunlight heating an atmospheric-pressure gas-phase heat-transfer fluid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for avoiding problems due to over-pressurization in a closed microfluidic device when the contained fluid is heated, by providing a well-defined volume for expansion of the liquid contents during heating, such as in one embodiment filling the expansion volume with air, and in other embodiments, filling the expansion volume with vapor-phase fluid from the liquid in the microfluidic device before the device is sealed and in yet other embodiments providing structures to maintain uniform temperatures over the entire closed volume in the microfluidic device.

Abstract: A solar collector including a linear receiver and an array of linear mirrors positioned to concentrate sunlight onto the linear receiver, with all of the mirrors in the array tracking solar motion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the receiver, a fraction of the mirrors tracking solar motion in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the receiver and a two-axis steering mechanism adapted to combine the linear images formed by each linear mirror into a single linear image that remains focused on the linear receiver as the mirrors rotate about the two axes, with the linear receiver incorporating a secondary concentrator, and concentrated sunlight heating an atmospheric-pressure gas-phase heat-transfer fluid.

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic valve apparatus includes a flow channel, a hydraulic control channel defining an electro-hydraulic valve junction where the hydraulic control channel is adjacent to the flow channel, a flexible wall between the flow channel and the hydraulic control channel at the electro-hydraulic valve junction, and Peltier devices adjacent to the hydraulic control channel on opposite sides of the electro-hydraulic valve junction for controllably applying a hydraulic force against the flexible wall repositioning the flexible wall in relation to the flow channel to selectively close or open the electro-hydraulic valve apparatus.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a substrate including multiple electro-hydraulic valves and/or electro-hydraulic pumps that each include a flow channel and one or more hydraulic control channels, actuators for controlling the electro-hydraulic valves and/or electro-hydraulic pumps, and a hydraulic pressure source operatively connected to the hydraulic control channels.

Abstract: Embodiments of valve apparatuses are described.

Abstract: A fluid transport/containment apparatus includes a fluid-bearing module and an actuation module. The fluid-bearing module includes a substrate and fluid transport/containment elements distributed therein, with one or more of the fluid transport/containment elements having microfluidic dimensions. The actuation module is detachably secured to the fluid-bearing module such that the actuation elements are operatively interfaced with the fluid transport/containment elements.

Abstract: A valve apparatus includes a substrate, a main flow channel formed in the substrate, a control channel formed in the substrate such that the main flow channel and the control channel meet at a junction, a bi-phase material within the control channel, a heating element adjacent the control channel and the junction, the heating element being controllable to generate sufficient energy to cause the bi-phase material to transition from a solid phase to a liquid phase, and a pumping mechanism for forcing the bi-phase material either into or out of the junction when the bi-phase material is in the liquid phase.

Abstract: A valve apparatus includes a fluid-bearing module and an actuation module. The fluid-bearing module includes a substrate and a channel formed in the substrate, the channel having microfluidic dimensions. The actuation module is detachably secured to the fluid-bearing module and includes a heating/cooling element adjacent to the channel. The heating/cooling element is controllable to generate or absorb sufficient energy to cause the a material in the valve apparatus to transition from a solid phase to a liquid phase, or from a solid phase to a liquid phase, or to expand or contract, thereby providing a phase-change valve.