A shock absorber includes a first end configured to be mechanically fastened to a first component, a second end configured to be mechanically fastened to a second component, a main body, a main shaft, and a primary piston. The primary piston configured to move within the main body and further configured to provide a first damping force by movement of a fluid through the primary piston while the main shaft moves a first distance. The shock absorber also includes a deformable solid material arranged in the main body. The primary piston configured to further move within the main body and further configured to provide a second damping force by deforming the deformable solid material after the main shaft moves the first distance.

A leak-resistant pressurized granular-material damper comprising a supporting frame; a damper cylinder attached to the supporting frame and comprising a first piston opening at a first end of the damper cylinder and a second piston opening at a second end of the damper cylinder; a damper piston comprising first and second piston ends, wherein the damper piston is disposed on a damper cylinder longitudinal axis with the first piston end extending outward through the first piston opening and the second piston end extending through the second piston opening, with the damper piston is configured to move bidirectionally along the damper cylinder longitudinal axis; a damper sphere mounted on the damper piston in an interior of the damper cylinder; and one or more sealing ring assemblies, each sealing ring assembly disposed around the damper piston in the interior of the damper cylinder proximately to the first or the second piston opening.

A method for execution by a computing entity includes interpreting a magnetic response from a set of magnetic 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 magnetic 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 a magnetic activation based on the desired response for the STF and outputting the magnetic activation to a set of magnetic field emitters positioned proximal to the chamber.

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.

A method for execution by a computing entity includes interpreting a fluid flow response from a set of radio frequency wireless field sensors to produce a piston velocity and position of a piston associated with a head unit device that includes a chamber filled with a shear thickening fluid (STF) that includes a combination of a multitude of piezoelectric nanoparticles and a multitude of magnetic 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 a wireless field activation based on the desired response for the STF and outputting the wireless field activation to a set of radio frequency wireless field emitters positioned proximal to the chamber.