A thermal-mechanical linear actuator can include a first stage comprising one of a positive coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) material or a negative CTE material and a second stage comprising the other of the positive CTE material or the negative CTE material. The second stage can be at least partially inserted into the first stage. The actuator can further comprise a thermal isolator disposed between the first stage and the second stage to thermally isolate the first stage from the second stage. Heat inputs can be provided where the heat inputs can control the temperature of the first and second stages independently. A hyperbolic meta material can be wrapped or coated around the first stage.

SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.

A hinge-type actuator device in accordance with the present disclosure may include a first and second paddle, a first and second artificial muscle actuator segment, and a plurality of contacts, where the first and second artificial muscle actuator segments are actuated via the contacts, actuation of the first artificial muscle actuator segment causes the first and second paddle to open the hinge-type actuator, and actuation of the second artificial muscle actuator segment causes the first and second paddle to close the hinge-type actuator.

An energy conversion system is dedicated to pressurizing a flow using a constant volume pressure source. In some embodiments, the constant volume pressure source is based on the pressure increase associated with a phase conversion in a constant volume enclosure due to heating up of the entrapped matter or exposing a mass to the gravitational field.

An aerosol generating device configured to operate with a consumable article includes a heating chamber configured to receive and heat at least a part of the consumable article and an expandable container containing a heat expandable material. The heating chamber includes at least one moveable element. The expandable container is configured to cause, by expansion of the heat expandable material, the moveable element to compress the part of the consumable article when it is received in the heating chamber and when the heating chamber is operated to heat the part of the consumable article.

A landing door of an elevator system includes a door leaf that is equipped with an integrated operating and/or display panel. In the event of a fire, a printed circuit board of the operating and/or display panel is removed from the door leaf by activation of an ejection device comprising intumescent material and being positioned in the door leaf.

An actuator device that includes a first fiber, a conducting material, and a coating. The coating coats the first fiber or the conducting material. The coating may also provide moisture protection, UV protection, thermal insulation and thermal conductivity.

A method for activating a gas, wherein an electrically conductive aeromaterial having a pore space comprising the gas is electrically contacted and at least one electric current, which varies over time, flows through the aeromaterial, wherein the aeromaterial exhales gas from the pore space when the electrical power consumption is increased and inhales gas from the surroundings of the aeromaterial when the power consumption is decreased, and wherein a temporally pulsed current having predefined pulse power levels, pulse durations and pulse spacings is fed through the aeromaterial and the temperature of the aeromaterial is changed by the time-varying current by 100 C. or more within one second or less. The invention also relates to an electrothermal gas actuator and to uses of a gas actuator.

Provided are a shape-variable electronic device and an operation method of the same. More specifically, the shape-variable electronic device includes a substrate having a cell region, a light source on the cell region, a flexible layer provided vertically spaced apart from the light source part, a chamber between the light source part and the flexible layer, and a pressure control unit configured to adjust an internal pressure of the chamber. The flexible layer includes a photo-thermal response part configured to emit thermal energy by receiving light emitted from the light source part, and a deformation part of which mechanical stiffness is decreased by receiving the thermal energy from the photo-thermal response part.

The invention provides an energy recovery device comprising an engine comprising a plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements fixed at a first end and connected at a second end to a drive mechanism wherein a holder is configured with a plurality of slots adapted to receive the plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) or NTE elements.