Abstract: An aircraft can include a wing. The wing can include a tip. A winglet can be pivotably connected to the wing proximate the tip. A connecting member can be operatively connected to the wing and the winglet. The connecting member can include a flexible material with a super elastic material member operatively connected to the flexible material. Thus, the connecting member can allow passive movement of the winglet responsive to real-time operational forces acting upon the aircraft. In some arrangements, the flexible material can be a fabric, and the super elastic material member can be a wire. In some arrangements, the super elastic material member can be configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile. The non-linear stiffness profile can include a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The stiffness profile of the super elastic material member can be selectively varied, such as by controlling a temperature of the super elastic material member.

Abstract: A hybrid actuation device that includes a first plate coupled to a second plate, a shape memory alloy wire coupled to the first plate, and an artificial muscle positioned between the first plate and the second plate. The artificial muscle includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a first electrode and a second electrode each disposed in the electrode region of the housing and a dielectric fluid disposed within the housing. The expandable fluid region of the housing is positioned apart from a perimeter of the first plate and the second plate. A first alignment aid is positioned between the first plate and the first electrode, the first alignment aid having an inner surface facing the first plate and an outer surface facing the first electrode.

Abstract: A rotating machine system include a rotating machine. The rotating machine system can include a housing. The housing can include an inner surface. The housing can surround at least a portion of the rotating machine. The inner surface of the housing can be spaced from the rotating machine such that a space is defined therebetween. The rotating machine system can include a plurality of vibration isolators. The vibration isolators can be positioned in the space and can be operatively connected to the rotating machine and to the inner surface of the housing. The vibration isolators can be compression-type vibration isolators.

Abstract: An actuator that includes a shell, a ring structure within the shell, a shape-memory material wire fixed at opposite points of the ring structure to extend in a first direction across a width of the ring structure, and a cooling fluid provided within the shell and in fluid communication with the shape-memory material wire. When the shape-memory material wire is heated, the shape-memory material wire contracts in the first direction to reduce the width of the ring structure and increases a height of the ring structure extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A vehicle seat can be configured to provide support to a vehicle occupant in conditions when lateral acceleration is experienced. Shape memory material members can be operatively positioned with respect to a seat portion of the vehicle seat. The shape memory material members can be selectively activated by an activation input. When activated, the shape memory material members can engage a seat pan so as to cause the seat pan to tilt in a respective lateral direction. As a result, a seat cushion supported by the seat pan can also tilt in the respective lateral direction. The seat cushion can be tilted in a lateral direction that is opposite to the direction of the lateral acceleration. Thus, the effects of lateral acceleration felt by a seat occupant can be reduced. The shape memory material members can be selectively activated based on vehicle speed, steering angle, and/or lateral acceleration.

Abstract: A bicycle saddle system can include a saddle body. The system can include a vibration isolator including a stack of a plurality of conical springs. An intermediate structure can be operatively positioned between the saddle body and the vibration isolator. In some instances, the vibration isolator can be located within a portion of the bicycle frame. In some instances, the vibration isolator can be configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The system can be used to provide improved vibration isolation performance when using a bicycle saddle.

Abstract: A valve includes a substrate, a shape-memory wire, a conductive polymer, and a current source. The substrate defines an opening therethrough and includes at least one flap selectively extendable across the opening. The shape-memory wire is coupled to the at least one flap. The conductive polymer is coupled to the at least one flap. The current source is coupled to the shape-memory wire and the conductive polymer, such that electrical current from the current source selectively energizes the shape-memory wire and the conductive polymer thereby moving the at least one flap between a closed position and an open position.

Abstract: A system for using an electrostatic force to cause an object to adhere to a surface of a vehicle can include an electrode and a device. The electrode can be configured to be disposed within a structure of the vehicle. The structure can define the surface. A shape of the electrode can define a shape of a region of the surface. The device can be configured to connect the electrode to a voltage source so that, at a time at which the electrode is connected to the voltage source, an electric charge is produced on the electrode to produce the electrostatic force capable of causing the object to adhere to the surface. For example, the surface can include a dashboard, a dashboard vent frame, a sunglasses holder cover, or the like. For example, the object can include a mobile device, a cup, a pair of sunglasses, or the like.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat frame, a seat pan, and a plurality of vibration isolators interposed between the seat frame and the seat pan for limiting transmission of vibrations from the seat frame to the seat pan.

Abstract: An actuator that includes a shell, a ring structure within the shell, a shape-memory material wire fixed at opposite points of the ring structure to extend in a first direction across a width of the ring structure, and a cooling fluid provided within the shell and in fluid communication with the shape-memory material wire. When the shape-memory material wire is heated, the shape-memory material wire contracts in the first direction to reduce the width of the ring structure and increases a height of the ring structure extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A vibration isolator cartridge can be configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile. The non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The vibration isolator cartridge can include a housing. The vibration isolator cartridge can include a plunger. The plunger can be configured to be depressed toward a distal end portion of the housing. The vibration isolator cartridge can include a plurality of spring members operatively positioned within the housing between the plunger and the distal end portion of the housing. The plurality of spring elements can be arranged in a stack. The vibration isolator cartridge can be used to provide improved vibration isolation performance in various applications, such as a bicycle saddle.

Abstract: An actuator that includes a shell, a ring structure within the shell, a shape-memory material wire fixed at opposite points of the ring structure to extend in a first direction across a width of the ring structure, and a cooling fluid provided within the shell and in fluid communication with the shape-memory material wire. When the shape-memory material wire is heated, the shape-memory material wire contracts in the first direction to reduce the width of the ring structure and increases a height of the ring structure extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A chair can be configured for synchronized movement with visual content, such as a video game or movie, presented on a display. The chair can include a seat portion. A plurality of actuators can be operatively positioned to cause a movement of the seat portion. The actuators can include one or more shape memory material members. Each of the actuators being configured such that, when an activation input is provided to the one or more shape memory material members, the one or more shape memory material members change from a first configuration to a second configuration and cause the actuator to morph into an activated configuration. One or more processors operatively connected to selectively activate one or more of the actuators by causing the activation input to be provided to the one or more shape memory material members of at least one of the actuators.

Abstract: Frequency adjustable quarter-wavelength resonators have a movable end wall defined by a surface of a sphere that is moved within the resonator tube. The sphere can be ferromagnetic, enabling it to be moved by magnetic interactions with moving external magnetic elements, or by a variable external magnetic field, controlled by power modulation to external electromagnets. The resonators can optionally be helical or otherwise curved, and the spherical shape of the structure forming the end wall enables it to navigate curves in the resonator tube.

Abstract: An aircraft can include a wing. The wing can include a tip. A winglet can be pivotably connected to the wing proximate the tip. A connecting member can be operatively connected to the wing and the winglet. The connecting member can include a flexible material with a super elastic material member operatively connected to the flexible material. Thus, the connecting member can allow passive movement of the winglet responsive to real-time operational forces acting upon the aircraft. In some arrangements, the flexible material can be a fabric, and the super elastic material member can be a wire. In some arrangements, the super elastic material member can be configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile. The non-linear stiffness profile can include a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The stiffness profile of the super elastic material member can be selectively varied, such as by controlling a temperature of the super elastic material member.

Abstract: A vehicle seat can be configured to provide support to a vehicle occupant in conditions when lateral acceleration is experienced. Shape memory material members can be operatively positioned with respect to a seat portion of the vehicle seat. The shape memory material members can be selectively activated by an activation input. When activated, the shape memory material members can engage a seat pan so as to cause the seat pan to tilt in a respective lateral direction. As a result, a seat cushion supported by the seat pan can also tilt in the respective lateral direction. The seat cushion can be tilted in a lateral direction that is opposite to the direction of the lateral acceleration. Thus, the effects of lateral acceleration felt by a seat occupant can be reduced. The shape memory material members can be selectively activated based on vehicle speed, steering angle, and/or lateral acceleration.

Abstract: A saddle for a bicycle can be configured to provide improved vibration isolation performance. The saddle can include a saddle body. The saddle can include a plurality of isolators. The plurality of isolators can be operatively connected to the saddle body. Each of the plurality of isolators can include a stack of a plurality of conical springs. The stack of the plurality of conical springs does not include a central shaft.

Abstract: A soft actuator includes an inflation chamber. The inflation chamber has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The inflation chamber is inflatable during an inflation stage, in which the second end rotates toward the first end about a folding axis, and is operable to be loaded during an inflated stage, in which the inflation chamber is inflated. The soft actuator also includes a variable-stiffness hinge located between the first end and the second end along the folding axis. The variable-stiffness hinge has a decreased stiffness in the inflation stage and an increased stiffness in the inflated stage.

Abstract: A cargo organizer is constructed from one or more bi-stable strips with at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator per bi-stable strip. The cargo organizer can reside in the bi-stable strips elongated (flat) stable state and require little or no volume of the cargo compartment that it resides. Upon actuating a SMA actuator, the rapid conversion to the curved stable state can occur with the formation of a barrier to partition the cargo compartment into at least to portions. The transformation into the flat stable state removes the partition where the transformation can be via a second SMA actuator or manually. The cargo organizer can be incorporated into the cargo compartment in a manner that it translates from one site and orientation to one or more other sites or orientations by activation an actuator that can be an additional SMA actuator.

Abstract: A vibration isolator cartridge can be configured to exhibit a non-linear stiffness profile. The non-linear stiffness profile including a region of quasi-zero stiffness. The vibration isolator cartridge can include a housing. The vibration isolator cartridge can include a plunger. The plunger can be configured to be depressed toward a distal end portion of the housing. The vibration isolator cartridge can include a plurality of spring members operatively positioned within the housing between the plunger and the distal end portion of the housing. The plurality of spring elements can be arranged in a stack. The vibration isolator cartridge can be used to provide improved vibration isolation performance in various applications, such as a bicycle saddle.