An apparatus includes a sub-surface safety valve (SSSV) to be positioned in a wellbore. The SSSV is configurable to move between a closed position and an open position. While in the closed position, the SSSV prevents downhole fluid in the wellbore to flow to a surface of the wellbore. While in the open position, the SSSV allows the downhole fluid in the wellbore to flow to the surface of the wellbore. The apparatus further includes an electrostatic motor to be positioned in the wellbore and to be coupled to the SSSV. The electrostatic motor is to be selectively powered to move the SSSV between the closed position and the open position.

An ion pulse generator (100) includes a triboelectric generator (110), an ion emitter (132) and a conductive surface (134). The triboelectric generator (110) includes a first electrode (114), a spaced apart second electrode (120) and a first triboelectric layer (116). The triboelectric generator (110) generates a predetermined amount of charge as a result of relative movement of the first triboelectric layer (116). The ion emitter (132) is electrically coupled to the first electrode (114). The conductive surface (134) is electrically coupled to the second electrode (120) and is spaced apart from the ion emitter (132) at a predetermined distance. Generation of the predetermined amount of charge causes formation of ions between the ion emitter (132) and the conductive surface (134).

An actuatable device includes a first ionoelastomer membrane disposed over and locally spaced away from a second ionoelastomer membrane, the first and second ionoelastomer membranes defining a dielectric fluid-containing reservoir therebetween, a primary electrode overlying a portion of the first ionoelastomer membrane, and a secondary electrode overlying a portion of the second ionoelastomer membrane.

An electrostatic machine includes a drive electrode and a stator electrode. The drive electrode and the stator electrode are separated by a gap and form a capacitor. The drive electrode is configured to move with respect to the stator electrode. The electrostatic machine further includes a housing configured to enclose the drive electrode and the stator electrode. The stator electrode is fixed to the housing. The electrostatic machine also includes a dielectric fluid that fills a void defined by the housing, the drive electrode, and the stator electrode. The dielectric fluid includes an ester.

Artificial muscles comprising a body of dielectric elastomer, wherein the body contains a pair of microfluidic networks are presented. Each microfluidic network includes a plurality of channels fluidically coupled via a manifold. The channels of the microfluidic networks are interdigitated and filled with conductive fluid such that each set of adjacent channels functions as the electrodes of an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator. By using the manifolds as compliant wiring to energize the electrodes, artificial muscles in accordance with the present disclosure mitigate some or all of the reliability problems associated with prior-art artificial muscles.

MEMS devices include fluid confinement structures on either a fixed part of a substrate and/or on a suspended element. The fluid confinement structures may be configured to confine a viscoelastic fluid in a limited part of a gap between one or more vertical sidewalls of both the fixed part of the substrate and either the suspended element or the drive beam or both the suspended element and drive beam such that one part of the gap is bridged by the fluid and another part of the gap is not, The structures may be configured to prevent flow of the fluid to other parts of the gap.

A gear includes at least one gear tooth and an electrode mounted to the at least one gear tooth along a contact face of the at least one gear tooth. A flowable dielectric material is positioned on the contact face of the at least one gear tooth. The dielectric material is structured to be movable along the contact face of the at least one gear tooth responsive to a gravity force.

A method may include measuring an electrical parameter of an electromagnetic load having a moving mass during the absence of a driving signal actively driving the electromagnetic load, measuring a mechanical parameter of mechanical motion of a host device comprising the electromagnetic load, correlating a relationship between the mechanical parameter and the electrical parameter, and calibrating the electromagnetic load across a plurality of mechanical motion conditions based on the relationship.

A flexible actuator for curved surfaces and a control method thereof is used for curved surfaces and generates high vibration using a relatively low voltage.

An actuator assembly includes (i) a first actuator stack having a first primary electrode, a first secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the first primary electrode, and a first electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the first primary electrode and the first secondary electrode, (ii) a second actuator stack having a second primary electrode, a second secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the second primary electrode, and a second electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the second primary electrode and the second secondary electrode; and (iii) a bonding layer disposed between the first actuator stack and the second actuator stack.