Previous electrochemically-powered yarn muscles cannot be usefully operated between extreme negative and extreme positive potentials, since strokes during electron injection and during hole injection partially cancel because they are in the same direction. Unipolar-stroke carbon nanotube yarn muscles are described in which muscle strokes are additive between extreme negative and extreme positive potentials, and stroke increases with potential scan rate. These electrochemical artificial muscles include an electrically conducting twisted or coiled yarn and a material that dramatically shifts the potential of zero charge of the electrochemically actuated yarn.

An artificial muscle that includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region, the electrode pair having a first electrode fixed to a first surface of the housing and a second electrode fixed to a second surface of the housing. The first and second electrodes each have two or more tab portions and two or more bridge portions. Each of the two or more bridge portions interconnects adjacent tab portions and at least one of the first and second electrodes includes a central opening positioned between the two or more tab portions and encircling the expandable fluid region. A dielectric fluid is housed within the housing and the electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated to actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region.

An artificial muscle that includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region, the electrode pair having a first electrode fixed to a first surface of the housing and a second electrode fixed to a second surface of the housing. The first and second electrodes each have two or more tab portions and two or more bridge portions. Each of the two or more bridge portions interconnects adjacent tab portions and at least one of the first and second electrodes includes a central opening positioned between the two or more tab portions and encircling the expandable fluid region. A dielectric fluid is housed within the housing and the electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated to actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region.

An artificial muscle that includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region, the electrode pair having a first electrode fixed to a first surface of the housing and a second electrode fixed to a second surface of the housing. The first and second electrodes each have two or more tab portions and two or more bridge portions. Each of the two or more bridge portions interconnects adjacent tab portions and at least one of the first and second electrodes includes a central opening positioned between the two or more tab portions and encircling the expandable fluid region. A dielectric fluid is housed within the housing and the electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated to actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region.

An electromechanical actuator includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlying at least a portion of the primary electrode, and an electroactive layer disposed between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, where the electroactive layer has a first curvature when zero voltage is applied between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, and a second curvature when a non-zero voltage is applied between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode.

The present invention discloses propulsion system operating exclusively in electromagnetic domain. Only electromagnetic field and direct electric current are used to generate propulsion force. In exemplary embodiment two switchable electromagnets, one to generate electromagnetic field, the other to generate electromagnetic force are used. To disable electromagnetic reaction force on electromagnetic field generator, streams of independent but synchronized direct current pulses passing through two electromagnets are organized in the way that first electromagnet is always carrying current when magnetic field generated by second electromagnet reaches it, thus generating Laplace force, whereas, second electromagnet is never carrying current (open circuit) when magnetic field generated by the first electromagnet reaches it, which means, no Laplace reaction force ever occurs on second electromagnet. The system therefore does not depend on the emission of matter. Only electric current is needed.

An actuator setup is disclosed which includes a body, at least one control surface located on the body for enabling to control the flow of fluid by moving relative to the body, at least one actuator produced from an electro-active polymer material that is located between the body and the control surface and changes its form depending on electrical energy, thereby triggering the control surface, at least one strengthener located on the actuator, enabling the actuator to change its form, a strengthener located on the actuator so as to be in connection with the body and having a front strengthener and a rear strengthener located on the actuator so as to be oppositely positioned with the front strengthener.

A sound generating system comprises a parabolic sound reflecting body. A speaker is fixed on a support member that is connected with the parabolic sound reflecting body, wherein the speaker generates sound in a first direction away from the parabolic sound reflecting body and in a second opposite direction toward the parabolic sound reflecting body. The parabolic sound reflecting body is mounted on a stand and configured to rotate around two axes orthogonal to the first direction.

A headphone stand may be provided. The headphone stand may include a headphone base, and an upper portion attached to the headphone base. The headphone base may have a stem, a first end of the stem may be attached to the headphone base while a second end of the stem may be attached to a headphone holder. The headphone stand may further include a rotation means, which may allow for the upper base portion to automatically rotate independent of the headphone base.

Previous electrochemically-powered yarn muscles cannot be usefully operated between extreme negative and extreme positive potentials, since strokes during electron injection and during hole injection partially cancel because they are in the same direction. Unipolar-stroke carbon nanotube yarn muscles are described in which muscle strokes are additive between extreme negative and extreme positive potentials, and stroke increases with potential scan rate. These electrochemical artificial muscles include an electrically conducting twisted or coiled yarn and a material that dramatically shifts the potential of zero charge of the electrochemically actuated yarn.