An energy storage system includes a pneumatic vessel, a cable system attached to the vessel, a compressor for pressurizing the vessel, a generator attached to the cable system, a turboexpander generator for receiving compressed air from the vessel, and a control system. The system deflates and allows the vessel to sink in a body of water, inflates the vessel to store energy when an abundance of it exists, and allows the inflated vessel to resurface to release its buoyant energy to the generator via the cable system and to release compressed air to the turboexpander generator to generate electricity when electricity demand is high and/or electricity generation from other sources is low.

An actuator system includes an actuator with a deformable shell defining a pouch, a fluid dielectric contained within the pouch, and first and second electrodes disposed over opposing sides of the pouch, each electrode having two long edges and two short edges. The system also includes a power source for providing a voltage between the electrodes. The electrodes cover 50 to 90% of the first and second sides, respectively, of the pouch, and a gap is defined between long edges of the pouch and the electrodes such that, upon application of the voltage at one of the short edges of the electrodes, respectively, the electrodes selectively zip together from the one of the short edges toward an opposing one of the short edges. The system may also include a support structure for enabling the actuator to maintain its shape regardless of the voltage provided by the power source.

A fluid pressure actuator according to this disclosure is a fluid pressure actuator that expands and contracts by fluid pressure, including an attachment attached to the distal end side, wherein the attachment is a spatular portion including a holding surface at one side in the thickness direction, and the spatular portion includes: a thin-walled portion at the distal end side; and a bump thick-walled portion that is located at the proximal end side of the thin-walled portion and is thicker than the thin-walled portion by a bump portion that protrudes or is able to protrude on the holding surface.

A pop-up apparatus is provided. The pop-up apparatus includes a base unit arranged on a reference surface and having a hollow portion formed therein, a pop-up unit formed to surround the base unit and reciprocating with respect to the base unit, a connection unit arranged on an upper end of the pop-up unit, a holder unit connected to the pop-up unit by the connection unit and configured to hold an object, and a gas generation unit arranged inside the base unit and configured to generate gas, wherein internal pressure of the base unit may increase due to the gas generated from the gas generation unit and the pop-up unit may be lifted.

A thermochemical engine that includes a reaction chamber having a nitrite source inlet, an ammonium source inlet, and a gas outlet, and a gas-driven energy transducer coupled to the reaction chamber such that a gas produced in the reaction chamber moves the gas-driven energy transducer in a process of exiting the reaction chamber via the gas outlet. The thermochemical engine is configured to produce the gas under pressure by reacting in the reaction chamber a nitrite source comprising a nitrite ion and an ammonium source comprising an ammonium ion in the presence of water at a reaction temperature of 50 to 150 C.

A thermochemical engine that includes a reaction chamber having a nitrite source inlet, an ammonium source inlet, and a gas outlet, and a gas-driven energy transducer coupled to the reaction chamber such that a gas produced in the reaction chamber moves the gas-driven energy transducer in a process of exiting the reaction chamber via the gas outlet. The thermochemical engine is configured to produce the gas under pressure by reacting in the reaction chamber a nitrite source comprising a nitrite ion and an ammonium source comprising an ammonium ion in the presence of water at a reaction temperature of 50 to 150 C.

Technology disclosed herein provides a cannula TCP actuator comprising an annealed microtube assembly including a polymer microtube having inserted therein a resistive heating wire such that the resistive heating wire extends through the length of the polymer microtube, wherein the microtube assembly is arranged in a twisted and coiled tube. The cannula TCP actuator is fabricated by inserting a resistive heating wire into the polymer microtube, forming a microtube assembly by applying a longitudinal force to a first end of the polymer microtube in a direction parallel to a center axis of the polymer microtube and in an opposite direction relative to a second end of the polymer microtube, and applying a rotational force to the second end of the polymer microtube during application of the longitudinal force to cause the polymer microtube to twist and coil about the center axis, and annealing the microtube assembly.

An electro-hydrostatic actuator (EHA) assembly includes: a power line, and a one-piece, integral housing a hydraulic control block, a power control module, PCM, and a motor-pump assembly, the integral housing comprising a passage through which the power line passes.

A fluid pressure actuator according to this disclosure is a fluid pressure actuator that expands and contracts by fluid pressure, including an attachment attached to the distal end side, wherein the attachment is a spatular portion including a holding surface at one side in the thickness direction, and the spatular portion includes: a thin-walled portion at the distal end side; and a bump thick-walled portion that is located at the proximal end side of the thin-walled portion and is thicker than the thin-walled portion by a bump portion that protrudes or is able to protrude on the holding surface.

A thermochemical engine that includes a reaction chamber having a nitrite source inlet, an ammonium source inlet, and a gas outlet, and a gas-driven energy transducer coupled to the reaction chamber such that a gas produced in the reaction chamber moves the gas-driven energy transducer in a process of exiting the reaction chamber via the gas outlet. The thermochemical engine is configured to produce the gas under pressure by reacting in the reaction chamber a nitrite source comprising a nitrite ion and an ammonium source comprising an ammonium ion in the presence of water at a reaction temperature of 50 to 150 C.