A cylindrical structure including a first cloth including a piezoelectric thread that generates an electric potential from external energy, a second cloth including a piezoelectric thread that generates an electric potential from external energy, and a connection portion connecting the first cloth and the second cloth, wherein the first cloth and the second cloth forms a side face of the cylindrical structure.

Road vehicle suspension member for converting vibrations and/or mechanical stresses into electricity and a method for producing such a suspension member, the suspension member comprising at least one suspension element or at least one interface element, configured to participate in the fixing of at least one suspension element of the vehicle, and at least one continuous two-dimensional sheet, incorporated in or covering a surface of the suspension element or of the interface element, wherein the at least one two-dimensional sheet comprises at least one piezoelectric layer, comprising piezoelectric fibres collectively orientated in a common direction in such a way as to convert at least some of the vibrations and/or mechanical stresses undergone by the suspension element during operation of the vehicle into electricity, and an electrically conductive collector layer, covering the piezoelectric layer in such a way as to collect the electricity produced by the piezoelectric fibres.

Methods and systems for sending multicast messages are disclosed. A multicast message is received to be transmitted to a plurality of access terminals at a radio access network (RAN), the received multicast message having a first format. The first format may correspond to a conventional multicast message format. The RAN determines whether the received multicast message requires special handling. If the RAN determines the received multicast message requires special handling, the radio access network converts the received multicast message from the first format into a second format. The RAN transmits the converted multicast message with the second format (e.g., a data over signaling (DOS) message) on a control channel to at least one of the plurality of access terminals. The access terminals receiving the converted multicast message interpret the message as a multicast message.

A transducer in the form of cloth having high flexibility obtained by manufacturing a conventional woven or knitted fabric structure using general-purpose fiber materials. The transducer includes piezoelectric units, each including two conductive fibers and one piezoelectric fiber arranged substantially on the same plane in the order of the conductive fiber, the piezoelectric fiber and the conductive fiber, and outputs and inputs an electric signal.

The invention provides hybrid photovoltaic-piezoelectric energy harvesting devices in the form of flexible filaments. The devices harvest energy from ambient light, and also from environmental motions and vibrations. They are particularly suitable for incorporation into fabrics and clothing.

Technology for a thermal switch is described. The thermal switch can include a first conducting layer. The thermal switch can include a second conducting layer. The thermal switch can include a material layer in between the first conducting layer and the second conducting layer. The material layer can be a conductor when above a defined temperature and a dielectric when below the defined temperature. The thermal switch can be operable to close an electrical circuit when the material layer is a conductor and open the electrical circuit when the material layer is the dielectric.

The invention relates to a rotation actuating device, comprising a base, a rotor and at least two groups of drive units, each group comprising at least two drive units, wherein the drive units are arranged peripherally on the base and between the base and the rotor, wherein each drive unit comprises two deflectable actuators, which are arranged in a V-shape with respect to each other, and a friction element, which is connected to both actuators, and wherein the rotor and the friction elements are pressed in a direction toward each other by means of a spring device arranged between the drive units, such that, when the actuators are not deflected, all the friction elements are in contact with the rotor and jointly span a contact plane, wherein a continuous movement of the rotor is realized by means of phase-offset control of the actuators of different groups of drive units. The invention further relates to a method for operating the rotation actuating device.

Multicomponent fibers with a piezoelectric effect, including an electroactive fluoropolymer shell which adheres to a metal core. Also, a solvent-based fluoropolymer formulation which makes it possible to obtain optimum adhesion to a bare, electrically conductive metal filament. Also, a process for manufacturing these composite fibers, and also their uses in varied sectors of technical textiles, filtration and in electronics.

Disclosed herein is a composition and a method for energy harvesting and the autonomous detection of structural failure. This method can be used to monitor, for example, the structural integrity of unmanned aircraft systems.

A system for detecting and reporting stress or strain in a connection cable connecting a tractor of a vehicle with a trailer is disclosed. The system includes a connection line breakage/strain detection system including a processor and a memory device storing instructions that when executed by the processor configure the processor to: (i) receive a signal corresponding to an output voltage measured across an electrical circuit, the electrical circuit connected with two ends of a sleeve over a core of the connection cable, the sleeve including a plurality of fibers of piezo polymer material; (ii) identify an extent of stress or strain on the connection cable based upon the received signal; and (iii) in response to the extent of stress or strain on the connection cable meeting a specific threshold condition, generate and transmit an alert or a warning to an external receiver.