A pair of waveform disks for use in a disk-pack turbine used, for example, in systems and methods in at least one embodiment for separating fluids including liquids and gases into subcomponents by passing the fluid into an expansion chamber and then through at least a portion of a waveform pattern present between at least two disks. The disks having waveform patterns on at least one side.

A system for efficiently capturing the kinetic and/or potential energy of a moving vehicle includes an arc roller configured to move along an arcuate path upon impact by the moving vehicle, and a torsional spring configured to wind in response to the movement of the speed bump and, thereby, to store energy associated with the impact. The torsional spring may be configured to wind continually in response to the movement of another speed bump and, thereby, to store additional energy associated with the impact of the vehicle with the other speed bump. The system may include alternators or generators producing electricity from energy released from unwinding of the torsional spring. Electricity is further stored and utilized for onboard computing, traffic analytics, safety feature operating functions and communications.

Ocean thermal energy conversion plants can include: an operations center located onshore; a bottom-founded structure located offshore, the bottom-founded structure containing plant evaporators and plant condensers; and control cables extending between the operations center and plant machinery in the bottom-founded structure. Methods of providing electricity can include: transmitting signals from an operations center located onshore to an unmanned structure located offshore; and operating evaporators, condensers, and pumps located in the unmanned structure in response to the signals to generate between 0.5 megawatts and 15 megawatts of electricity in the unmanned structure.

An apparatus and method of manufacturing an apparatus that includes a rectangular frame, a first load bearing conductive support bisecting the rectangular frame lengthwise, and two artificial muscle actuators disposed on the same sides of the rectangular frame as the first load bearing conductive support on opposite sides of the first load bearing conductive support is disclosed. The apparatus includes a non-conductive platform, where the width of the frame is sufficiently wide to prevent the non-conductive platform from touching the sides of the frame when rotated about the axis of the load bearing support. The apparatus includes a device disposed in the center of the non-conductive platform. Individual actuation of the artificial muscle actuators rotates the non-conductive platform about the axis of the first load bearing conductive support.

An apparatus and method of manufacturing an apparatus that includes a rectangular frame, a first load bearing conductive support bisecting the rectangular frame lengthwise, and two artificial muscle actuators disposed on the same sides of the rectangular frame as the first load bearing conductive support on opposite sides of the first load bearing conductive support is disclosed. The apparatus includes a non-conductive platform, where the width of the frame is sufficiently wide to prevent the non-conductive platform from touching the sides of the frame when rotated about the axis of the load bearing support. The apparatus includes a device disposed in the center of the non-conductive platform. Individual actuation of the artificial muscle actuators rotates the non-conductive platform about the axis of the first load bearing conductive support.

An actuator and a manufacture method thereof, an operation method thereof, and a movable device. The actuator includes a photodeformation layer and a first driving unit, the first driving unit includes at least one first light emitting device, the first light emitting device is connected to a first side of the photodeformation layer, the first light emitting device is capable of emitting first light with a first wavelength to irradiate onto the photodeformation layer, and the photodeformation layer can generate a first deformation under irradiation of the first light.

A tunable photonic device and method of fabricating the same are provided. The tunable photonic device including a substrate and an actuator having a first end supported by the substrate and a second end in spaced relation to the substrate. A photonic structure is operatively connected to the actuator and a stimulus generator configured to selectively generate a stimulus to act on the actuator. The stimulus acting on the actuator causes deformation of the actuator and moves the photonic structure between first and second positions.

An artificial muscle that includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode, and an electrode insulator having one or more insulation layers. The electrode insulator is disposed on an inner electrode surface of the first electrode of the electrode pair. The second electrode includes a free inner electrode surface exposed to the dielectric fluid when the electrode pair is in a non-actuated state. The electrode pair is actuatable between the non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region.

An artificial muscle that includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode, and an electrode insulator having one or more insulation layers. The electrode insulator is disposed on an inner electrode surface of the first electrode of the electrode pair. The second electrode includes a free inner electrode surface exposed to the dielectric fluid when the electrode pair is in a non-actuated state. The electrode pair is actuatable between the non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region.

An actuator device comprises a stack formed from a plurality of photoresponsive layers, which deform in response to light, which are partitioned by respective deformable non-photoresponsive layers. The deformable non-photoresponsive layers guide light between and to the photoresponsive layers, and can follow the deformation of the photoresponsive layers.