A head unit system for controlling motion of an object includes a 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.

Airfoil vibration damping apparatus are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a metallic airfoil including a cavity, and a dilatant material disposed in the cavity to dampen vibrations of the metallic airfoil.

A head unit system for controlling motion of an object includes a head unit module of a set of head unit devices and a ramp shaped plate that contacts the head unit module using an engagement approach. Head unit devices of the head unit module include shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber configured to contain the STF. A piston moves through the chamber as a result of the motion of the object and the STF resists the movement of the piston to control the motion of the object.

A head unit system for controlling an object includes a head unit device that includes shear thickening fluid (STF) and chambers containing the STF coupled by a hinge. The chambers each include gates between a front channel and a back channel. The gates include a bypass opening set. The head unit device further includes pistons housed at least partially radially within the chambers. The gates are configured to control flow of the STF between the front and back channels of the chambers to control rotational movement of the object.

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 head unit system for controlling motion of an object includes a 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 piston bypass 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 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 head unit system for controlling an object includes a head unit device that include shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber configured to contain the STF. The chamber further includes a gate between a front channel and a back channel. The gate includes a set of bypass openings. The head unit device further includes a piston housed at least partially radially within the chamber. The gate is configured to control flow of the STF between the front channel and the back channel to control contraction of the chamber to provide the controlling of the object.

A helmet insert, comprising a bladder member and a non-Newtonian fluid disposed within the bladder member. The non-Newtonian fluid has an oil, a settling agent, cornstarch, and water in a preselected ratio. The ratio of the oil, the settling agent, the cornstarch and the water is in a weight range between 50-75% oil, 1-10% settling agent, 15-30% cornstarch, and 1-20% water.

A head unit system for controlling an object includes a head unit device that includes shear thickening fluid (STF) and chambers containing the STF coupled by a hinge. The chambers each include gates between a front channel and a back channel. The gates include a bypass opening set. The head unit device further includes pistons housed at least partially radially within the chambers. The gates are configured to control flow of the STF between the front and back channels of the chambers to control rotational movement of the object.