A method for execution by a computing entity includes interpreting an electric response from a set of electric field sensors to produce a piston velocity and a piston position of a piston associated with a head unit device. The head unit device includes a chamber filled with a shear thickening fluid (STF) that includes a multitude of piezoelectric nanoparticles. The method further includes determining a shear force based on the piston velocity and the piston position. The method further includes determining a desired response for the STF based on the shear force, the piston velocity, and the piston position. The method further includes generating an electric activation based on the desired response for the STF and outputting the electric activation to a set of electric field emitters positioned proximal to the chamber.

The invention relates to a bellows accumulator, in particular a pulsation damper, comprising a bellows (3), which, arranged in an accumulator housing (1), separates two media chambers (27, 28) from each other and the bellows folds (19) of which can be moved at least partially along the inner wall (35) of the accumulator housing (1). Said bellows accumulator is characterized in that the outside diameter of the bellows folds (19) is selected to be slightly smaller than the associable diameter of the inner wall (35) of the accumulator housing (1) in such a way that spaces (37, 41) are formed, which together form a hydraulic damping means for at least one medium.

An energy absorbing apparatus includes particles with nanopores in a liquid. A further aspect employs a reusable energy absorbing apparatus including gas-liquid interactions in nanopores. Another aspect of the present apparatus uses oversolubility of gas in a solution to enhance bubble nucleation in hydrophobic nanopores or nanochannels, which suppresses gas outflow while promoting liquid outflow from particles. Still another aspect includes anions within an aqueous electrolytic solution, containing nanoporous material therein.

A linear motion assembly having a static coefficient of friction, S, as measured between an inner component and an outer component, and a dynamic coefficient of friction, .sub.D, as measured between the inner component and the outer component, wherein .sub.S/.sub.D is less than 2.0, such as less than 1.9, less than 1.8, less than 1.7, or even less than 1.6.

The invention relates to a method for operating a ground-coupling arrangement for a vehicle comprising a ground receiving element for receiving a grounding object, wherein the ground receiving element is at least partially filled with a fluid which contacts the grounding object; at least one coupling means which is designed for coupling the grounding object to the ground receiving element by means of the fluid and thus to a vehicle structure that is rigidly connected to the vehicle, and/or for at least partially decoupling of the ground receiving element from the vehicle structure; and a hydraulic line which connects the coupling means to the fluid, wherein the grounding object compresses the fluid in the case of a crash and the coupling means directs the fluid out of the ground receiving element or reroutes the fluid in the ground receiving element.

Disclosed herein is a process suitable for constructing the multiple stage air shock. The multiple stage air shock is unique among shocks in that the multiple stage design possesses qualities not available to other shock absorbers. The process includes a means for determining the compressed and extended lengths of the air shock based on the lengths of the parts for each stage. This means refers to one methodology and offers the air shock an extended length that is greater than twice its compressed length, an optimized extended length, and a construction capability based on adding stages. In particular, the extended length-compressed length relationship is a quality inherently unobtainable by current shock absorbers. The process also includes a means of determining the spring rate. This means refers to a second methodology and offers the capability to both set-up the air shock with a relatively linear spring rate and make the relatively linear spring rate more linear.

Provided is an energy storage structure, comprising a housing and a piston. An accommodating cavity and a piston cylinder part communicating with each other are arranged within the housing. The piston is slidably and sealingly arranged within the piston cylinder part for transferring impact energy. A self-pressure of an energy storage medium, arranged within the accommodating cavity and the piston cylinder part, acts on the piston, tending to push the piston to move. An energy storage structure provided by the present invention has a simple structure, is convenient for use, and can ensure that a thrust or impact force remains unchanged or slightly changes during operation, to achieve stable release of potential energy. Moreover, the adjustment of the thrust or impact force can be achieved by changing the temperature of the energy storage medium in the accommodating cavity, thereby achieving change in total impact energy of the energy storage structure.

A head unit system for controlling motion of an object includes a secondary object sensor, shear thickening fluid (STF), and a chamber configured to contain a portion of the STF. The chamber further includes a front channel and a back channel. The head unit system further includes a piston housed at least partially radially within the piston compartment and separating the back channel and the front channel. The piston includes a first piston bypass and a second piston bypasses to control flow of the STF between opposite sides of the piston. The chamber further includes a set of fluid manipulation emitters to control the flow of the STF to cause selection of one of a variety of shear rates for the STF within the chamber.

A fiber optic sensor is provided. The fiber optic sensor includes: a fixed portion configured to be secured to a body of interest; a moveable portion; a spring member positioned at least partially between the fixed portion and the moveable portion; an optical fiber wound in contact with the fixed portion and the moveable portion such that the optical fiber spans at least a portion of the spring; and an elastomeric material provided in contact with at least one of the fixed portion, the moveable portion, the spring member, the body of interest, and the optical fiber.

A fiber optic sensor is provided. The fiber optic sensor includes: a fixed portion configured to be secured to a body of interest; a moveable portion; a spring member positioned at least partially between the fixed portion and the moveable portion; an optical fiber wound in contact with the fixed portion and the moveable portion such that the optical fiber spans at least a portion of the spring; and an elastomeric material provided in contact with at least one of the fixed portion, the moveable portion, the spring member, the body of interest, and the optical fiber.