A method of performing wireless actuation by inductive heating of magnetic particles. The method provides a bladder having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming an interior area, the bladder configured to expand or retract so as to change an area of the interior area, (ii) a plurality of magnetic particles suspended in a fluid medium and disposed within the interior area, and (iii) a sleeve disposed on the outer surface of the bladder. The method excites the plurality of magnetic particles by application of an alternating magnetic field to which the particles reaction. The method causes, by the excited magnetic particles, a phase transition to the fluid medium within the interior area which causes the bladder to expand, such that the sleeve confining the bladder generates actuation from the expansion or retraction of the bladder.

An artificial muscle device includes a plurality of intermuscular boards and a plurality of artificial muscles disposed between the intermuscular boards in an alternating pattern and communicatively coupled to a controller. Each of the one or more artificial muscles includes a housing comprising an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode. The electrode pair is actuatable between a 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, thereby applying pressure to the intermuscular boards.

A hydraulic actuator including a cylinder housing surrounding a cylinder cavity. A piston is in the cylinder cavity and separates the cylinder cavity into a first and a second pressure chamber. A connection between the first and the second pressure chamber for a hydraulic fluid is provided. A piston rod extends from the piston along an actuation direction. A locking device can be selectively switched between a locking mode and a non-locking mode, wherein in the locking mode the locking device prevents movement of the piston and in the non-locking mode does not prevent movement of the piston. A first arrangement of piezoelectric elements is inside the first pressure chamber which first arrangement of piezoelectric elements is adapted to selectively contract or expand to change the volume of the first pressure chamber occupied by the piezoelectric elements of the first arrangement of piezoelectric elements.

Systems and methods determine a fluid efficiency of a fluid that flows through a fluid power system. A magnetic flux gradient generated by a magnetic fluid filter positioned on a flow path as the fluid flows through the magnetic fluid filter is monitored in real-time by a fluid monitoring device that is coupled to the fluid power system. A fluid status is determined in real-time that is associated with the magnetic flux gradient from fluid parameters associated with the magnetic flus gradient as detected by the fluid monitoring device. The fluid status of the fluid is determined in real-time that indicates that a corrective action is to be executed to increase a quality of the fluid based on the fluid parameters detected by the fluid monitoring device. The degradation to components of the fluid power system increases without the corrective action being executed to increase the quality of the fluid.

A directional control system of a marine vessel includes a steering control member manually operated by a user and operationally connected to a direction-variation member acting on or in the water, such as at least one rudder blade or at least one outboard engine, the direction-variation member having an angular position that is controlled by the steering control member; and a locking system locking the free variation of the angular position of the direction-variation member, which can be activated and deactivated to allow the variation of angular position and carry out a directional change, the locking system including a hydraulic cylinder having a piston dividing the cylinder into two chambers, which are connected by a bypass circuit that can be opened and closed by a switching member. According to the invention, the fluid in the hydraulic circuit is a magnetorheological fluid, and a magnetic field generator, which can be activated and deactivated by the switching member, is combined with the bypass circuit, the magnetorheological fluid changing viscosity depending on the generated magnetic field, switching from a fluid condition to a substantially solid condition or viscosity that prevents flow in the bypass circuit.

The present disclosure relates to a system for controlling deformation of a flexible screen, configured to control the deformation of the flexible screen, the flexible screen including: a flexible screen body, a metal layer attached to a back surface of the flexible screen body, and a current controlled deformation layer coated on the metal layer; the flexible screen further including a power supply circuit, and a current regulation circuit through which the power supply circuit is coupled to the metal layer; and the system including: a hardness regulation circuit, configured to control intensity of current flowing in the metal layer to soften the current controlled deformation layer. The above system for controlling deformation of a flexible screen can control the flexible screen to be deformed to have a desired shape.

The present invention provides an actuator comprising an actuator body, a piston relatively moveable within the actuator body, and a rod attached to the piston and extending out of the actuator body, the actuator body comprising a port for conveying actuator fluid, wherein the actuator also has a damping control portion provided with damping control fluid containing magnetic particles, wherein the piston or the rod is adjacent the damping control fluid, and a first electrical coil associated with the damping control portion, such that an electrical current supplied to the first electrical coil induces a magnetic field and causes the effective viscosity of the damping control fluid to increase, thus increasing the damping effect of the damping control fluid on the piston or rod. The invention also provides an aircraft assembly, such as a landing gear assembly, an aircraft and a method of operating an actuator.

An ER fluid valve includes a housing and a plurality of parallel flow passages through the housing each defined by spaced electrodes at least one of which is controllable independently of other flow passages electrodes. A controller is configured to selectively establish electrical fields for all of the independently controllable electrodes to close all of the flow passages to ER fluid flowing through the housing. By removing the fields from all of the independently controllable electrodes, all the flow passages are open to the ER fluid flowing through the housing. By establishing fields for select independently controllable electrodes to close their associated flow passages and by leaving other flow passages open, restricted flow of the ER fluid through the housing is accomplished to vary the flow rate through the housing.

A system that utilizes a very thin arrangement of transparent sub panels containing embedded very small distributed electromagnet wires to control the distribution of very fine magneto-rheological fluid particles suspended in a very thin panel sandwiched between the electromagnet wire panels. The current applied to specific electromagnets may be used to control the amount of electromagnetic energy, such as visible light, that can be transmitted through the panel system. The system may also be used to increase or decrease the rigidity of the multi-panel structure as a function of current applied to the electromagnets.

An artificial muscle assembly includes initiating actuators and an artificial muscle. The artificial muscle includes a housing including an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region. The electrode pair includes a first electrode and a second electrode fixed to respective first and second surfaces of the housing. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a central opening defining the expandable fluid region. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs a dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region. Each initiating actuator is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state applies a force against the electrode region of the artificial muscle.