A magnetorheological damper, wherein the damper comprises a housing that is at least partially filed with a magnetorheological fluid, and a magnetorheological valve disposed within the housing. The valve includes a magnetically permeable core having at least one coil reservoir formed therein, and at least one conductor coil, wherein each conductor coil is disposed around a portion of the core within a respective one of the coil reservoir(s). The valve additionally includes a fluid flow path adjacent the conductor coil(s). The fluid flow path is structured and operable to allow the magnetorheological fluid to flow adjacent the conductor coil(s). The valve further includes at least one coil cover, wherein each coil cover is disposed over a respective one of the coil(s) such that the respective coil is protected from exposure to magnetorheological fluid flowing through the fluid flow path.

A vibration damping actuator provided by the present disclosure uses a magnet system or a spring system to introduce controllable negative stiffness characteristics into a semi-active system, so as to couple a controllable negative stiffness actuator on the basis of the semi-active actuator (controllable damping actuator). Based on the coupling and integration of the semi-active actuator (controllable damping actuator) and the controllable negative stiffness actuator, the vibration damping actuator may realize four-quadrant mechanical characteristics of an active actuator, improve the vibration damping effect of the semi-active system on the basis of ensuring the advantages of low power consumption, low cost, stability and reliability, and simple structure of the vibration control system of the semi-active actuator (controllable damping actuator), and improve the vibration isolation effect of the semi-active system to a level close to that of an active system.

Embodiments of a work vehicle magnetorheological fluid (MRF) joystick system include a joystick device having a base housing, a joystick movably mounted to the base housing, and a joystick position sensor configured to monitor joystick movement. An MRF joystick resistance mechanism is controllable to vary a joystick stiffness resisting movement of the joystick relative to the base housing, while a controller architecture is coupled to the joystick position sensor and to the MRF joystick resistance mechanism. The controller architecture is configured to: (i) selectively place the work vehicle MRF joystick system in a modified joystick stiffness mode during operation of the work vehicle; and (ii) when the work vehicle MRF joystick system is placed in the modified joystick stiffness mode, command the MRF joystick resistance mechanism to vary the joystick stiffness based, at least in part, on the movement of the joystick relative to the base housing.

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 sleeve or case for a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet or other types of hand-held device or mobile smart device, has a sleeve part for at least partially enclosing the mobile device and an input device arranged in the sleeve part for controlling the mobile device which can be received in the sleeve part. The input device includes a movable control element and a magnetorheological brake. Any movement of the control element can be selectively damped by way of the magnetorheological brake.

A steering system of a vehicle is provided. The steering system adjusts the torsional rigidity of a torsion bar without limitation as to the configuration thereof and performs active control responding to the vehicle state by adjusting steering characteristics by controlling the torsional rigidity of the torsion bar based on the traveling condition, load state or driving mode of the vehicle. The steering system includes an MR assist device, which is coupled to an end portion of the torsion bar and adjusts the rotation and torsional rigidity of the torsion bar using an MR fluid as a working fluid.

A suspension control system includes: a first electric current setting unit configured to set a first electric current based on an actual damping speed; a second electric current setting unit configured to set a second electric current based on a model damping speed; a weight coefficient setting unit configured to set a weight coefficient based on the actual damping speed; and a target electric current setting unit configured to set a sum of a first value and a second value as a target electric current of the damper, the first value being obtained by multiplying the second electric current by the weight coefficient, the second value being obtained by multiplying the first electric current by a value obtained by subtracting the weight coefficient from one. The first electric current setting unit is configured to make the first electric current smaller than the second electric current in a prescribed case.

A door component has a controllable rotary damper and two connector units which can be moved relative to one another. One of the two connector units can be connected to a load-bearing construction and the other one can be connected to a movable door device of a vehicle, in order to damp a movement of the door device between a closed position and an open position in a controlled manner. Two mutually engaged spindle units are arranged between the two connector units, one spindle unit being a threaded spindle and the other being a spindle nut. A first spindle unit is fastened rotatably on a coupling rod connected to one of the connector units. A magnetorheological transmission device is arranged between the coupling rod and the first spindle unit, in order to brake a rotational movement of the first spindle unit as required.

In embodiments, a work vehicle magnetorheological fluid (MRF) joystick system includes a joystick device, an MRF joystick resistance mechanism, and a controller architecture. The joystick device includes, in turn, a base housing, a joystick movably mounted to the base housing, and a joystick position sensor configured to monitor movement of the joystick relative to the base housing. The MRF joystick resistance mechanism is controllable to vary a first joystick stiffness resisting movement of the joystick relative to the base housing in at least one degree of freedom. The controller architecture is configured to: (i) detect when unintended joystick motion conditions occur during operation of the work vehicle; and (ii) when detecting unintended joystick motion conditions, command the MRF joystick resistance mechanism to increase the first joystick stiffness in a manner reducing susceptibility of the joystick device to unintended joystick motions.

A method for controlling an elastic mount configured to support a propulsion device with respect to a marine vessel, wherein the elastic mount contains an electromagnetic fluid and an electromagnet and is configured such that adjusting an amount of electricity applied to the electromagnet changes the shear strength of the electromagnetic fluid and thereby controls elasticity of the elastic mount, including applying a first amount of electricity to the electromagnet to produce a first elasticity in the elastic mount, determining that a vessel speed indicator exceeds a high speed threshold, determining that a trim position for the propulsion device is greater than a threshold trim position, detecting at least a threshold decrease in throttle demand, and applying a second amount of electricity to the electromagnet wherein the second amount of electricity is greater than the first amount of electricity, so as to decrease the elasticity of the elastic mount.