An insulation pack for thermally and acoustically insulating an aircraft has a mat formed from an insulation material, and a casing film which completely encases the mat. The casing film has drying openings, each closable a cover that is connected to the casing film. Each cover has a coating substance, the planar extent of which varying as a function of the relative air humidity of the air in the interior of the insulation pack such that each cover moves relative to the casing film, as a function of air humidity. The associated covers are adapted for assuming an orientation which, below a predetermined relative air humidity, closes the associated drying opening and which, at higher relative air humidity values, at least partially opens the associated drying opening.

This device consists of a housing (1) made of electrically insulating material, in which a fuse (6) is provided with at least one main fuse wire (7) located in its cavity. The main fuse wire (7) is electrically conductively connected at one end to at least one connecting pin (2) which is led out of the housing (1) and at the other end it is electrically conductively connected to at least one terminal (3) located in at least one cavity (4) formed in the housing (1). The shape of the connecting pin (2) is adapted for connection to the protected device.

A rotary engine that generates electricity using differences in relative humidity. A water-responsive material expands and contracts as water evaporates which drives the rotation of two wheels. The rotary motion drives an electrical generator which produces electricity. In another embodiment, the water-responsive material is used to actuate an artificial muscle of a robotic device.

A tacking element for tacking workpieces in composite manufacturing includes a base member, an actuating member and a heating member. The actuating member secured to the base member. The heating member disposed on the base member or the actuating member and configured to selectively radiate heat toward the actuating member. The actuating member is configured to transform from an inactive position to an active position in response to the heat from the heating member. A tacking stick and system that implements the tacking element is provided. A method for tacking workpieces in composite manufacturing is also provided.

An apparatus including polymer configured to have a first state or a second state, wherein the volume of the polymer in the first state is different to a volume of the polymer in the second state; an actuator configured to be controlled by an input signal to cause the polymer to change between the first state and the second state; and a constraint configured to constrain the polymer in at least a first direction when the polymer changes between the first state and the second state.