A heat/acoustic wave conversion component includes a partition wall that defines a plurality of cells extending from a first end face to a second end face, and has a cell hydraulic diameter HD of 0.4 mm or less, an end face open frontal area of 60% or more and 93% or less, and heat capacity per unit length in the extending direction that tends to decrease with distance from the first end face. A first end portion on the first end face side that accounts for a region of 10% of a total length of the heat/acoustic wave conversion component has 1.1 times or more the heat capacity of that of a second end portion on the second end face side that accounts for a region of 10% of the total length.

A first weight system for storing energy comprises a support platform with a lifting station having a plurality of vertically extending shafts, a cable and a motor located at ground level. This weight system hoists a heavily weighted device upwardly along the vertically extending shafts; holds it in a raised position and then lowers it along these same shafts to turn the motors and generate energy. The weighted device can include one or more flat rectangular containers or a weighted box. A second system employs a pair of containers connected to one another on an inclined track by a cable that can be moved about a guide wheel at a top of the track. The track further includes a media collection area, container filling area and means for conveying media from the bottom to the top of the inclined track. A third system pulls a plurality of large heavy wheels up an inclined track with wind power for subsequent lowering to turn a motor and generate energy.

A first weight system for storing energy comprises a support platform with a lifting station having a plurality of vertically extending shafts, a cable and a motor located at ground level. This weight system hoists a heavily weighted device upwardly along the vertically extending shafts; holds it in a raised position and then lowers it along these same shafts to turn the motors and generate energy. The weighted device can include one or more flat rectangular containers or a weighted box. A second system employs a pair of containers connected to one another on an inclined track by a cable that can be moved about a guide wheel at a top of the track. The track further includes a media collection area, container filling area and means for conveying media from the bottom to the top of the inclined track. A third system pulls a plurality of large heavy wheels up an inclined track with wind power for subsequent lowering to turn a motor and generate energy.

The various embodiments disclosed herein provide a generalized system for extracting gravitational energy from the planet and provide for a general, pollution free, mass lifting and energy conversion system in which the laws of fluid flow, and in particular buoyancy and gravity are utilized to lift an arbitrary mass to a higher gravitational potential energy, where upon the increased potential energy can be converted to other forms of energy. Novel and non-obvious features of the fluid interface device, used to insert the buoyant object into the buoyant fluid, insure that the insertion energy is less than the potential energy gained by the object. The net increase in potential energy can be converted to other forms of energy such as electrical power or mechanical energy. It is shown in that energy gain is effectively extracted from the gravitational field of the planet without breaking the laws of conservation of energy.

The various embodiments disclosed herein provide a generalized system for extracting gravitational energy from the planet and provide for a general, pollution free, mass lifting and energy conversion system in which the laws of fluid flow, and in particular buoyancy and gravity are utilized to lift an arbitrary mass to a higher gravitational potential energy, where upon the increased potential energy can be converted to other forms of energy. Novel and non-obvious features of the fluid interface device, used to insert the buoyant object into the buoyant fluid, insure that the insertion energy is less than the potential energy gained by the object. The net increase in potential energy can be converted to other forms of energy such as electrical power or mechanical energy. It is shown in that energy gain is effectively extracted from the gravitational field of the planet without breaking the laws of conservation of energy.

A spherical modular autonomous robotic traveler (SMART) is provided for rolling along a surface from a first position to a second position. The SMART includes an outer spherical shell; an inner spherical chamber disposed within the outer shell; a plurality of weight-shifters arranged within the inner chamber; and a controller therein. The chamber maintains its orientation relative to the surface by a gyroscopically homing stabilizer. Each weight-shifter includes a mass disposed in a default position, and movable to an active position in response to activation. The controller selectively activates a weight-shifter among the plurality to shift the mass from the default position to the active position. The outer shell rolls in a direction that corresponds to the weight-shifter activated by the controller. The weight-shifters for the SMART employ pneumatic actuation as a spherical pneumatic actuated robotic commuter (SPARC). Each weight-shifter in the SPARC includes a conduit containing a liquid armature and a pressure source with valves activated by the controller, with the conduits arranged in a cruciform configuration.

A spherical modular autonomous robotic traveler (SMART) is provided for rolling along a surface from a first position to a second position. The SMART includes an outer spherical shell; an inner spherical chamber disposed within the outer shell; a plurality of weight-shifters arranged within the inner chamber; and a controller therein. The chamber maintains its orientation relative to the surface by a gyroscopically homing stabilizer. Each weight-shifter includes a mass disposed in a default position, and movable to an active position in response to activation. The controller selectively activates a weight-shifter among the plurality to shift the mass from the default position to the active position. The outer shell rolls in a direction that corresponds to the weight-shifter activated by the controller. The weight-shifters for the SMART employ pneumatic actuation as a spherical pneumatic actuated robotic commuter (SPARC). Each weight-shifter in the SPARC includes a conduit containing a liquid armature and a pressure source with valves activated by the controller, with the conduits arranged in a cruciform configuration.

A method and apparatus for a gimbal propulsion system includes at least one pair of gimbals having counter rotating platters and counter rotating spinning weights to produce a net acceleration vector along a desired direction. A second and third pair of gimbals are added having gimbal arms that are spatially offset from each other by 2π/3 radians to produce a smooth acceleration vector along the desired direction.

A method and apparatus for a gimbal propulsion system includes at least one pair of gimbals having counter rotating platters and counter rotating spinning weights to produce a net acceleration vector along a desired direction. A second and third pair of gimbals are added having gimbal arms that are spatially offset from each other by 2π/3 radians to produce a smooth acceleration vector along the desired direction.

An engine has two pressure vessels arranged as a diametrically opposed pair. Each pressure vessel has an operating pressure sufficient to hold gas at a pre-defined pressure. At least one gas compressor is in communication with each pressure vessel, and the gas compressor is capable of compressing a gas in each pressure vessel to the pre-defined pressure. A pressure relief mechanism is in communication with each pressure vessel. The pressure relief mechanism is capable of returning the gas in each vessel to atmospheric pressure.