A vehicle radiator assembly includes: a common inlet tank having a high temperature inlet chamber and a low temperature inlet chamber; a common outlet tank spaced apart from the common inlet tank and including a high temperature outlet chamber and a low temperature outlet chamber; a high temperature radiator core including a plurality of high temperature tubes connecting the high temperature inlet chamber and the high temperature outlet chamber, and a plurality of high temperature cooling fins arranged with the plurality of high temperature tubes; a low temperature radiator core including a plurality of low temperature tubes connecting the low temperature inlet chamber and the low temperature outlet chamber, and a plurality of low temperature cooling fins arranged with the plurality of low temperature tubes; and a bimetal interposed between the high temperature radiator core and the low temperature radiator core.

Self-regulating thermal insulation includes one or more thermal actuators that expand and contract in response to changes in temperature adjacent the thermal insulation, thereby automatically changing the thermal resistance of the thermal insulation. In this manner, a self-regulating thermal insulation may be configured to locally adjust in response to local changes in temperature of a part being insulated, for example, during curing or some other manufacturing process. Such self-regulating thermal insulation may be configured to respond to temperature changes without feedback control systems, power, or human intervention. Methods of making self-regulating thermal insulation include coupling a first plate with respect to a second plate using a support structure, thereby defining an insulation thickness therebetween, positioning an internal partition positioned between the first plate and the second plate, and positioning at least one thermal actuator positioned between the second plate and the internal partition.

The devices and systems described herein generally relate to programmable surfaces. A set of tiles in conjunction with actuators, allow for the surface to be constantly changeable from a first shape to an unlimited variety of second shapes. Once a desired second shape is achieved, the shape can be held by actuating the actuators. The system can include detection and maintenance of the shapes of the programmable surface by controlling which of the actuators are released and when they are released.

An adjustable deforming composite structure based on a hydrogen-induced expansion effect and a preparation method therefor are provided. The hydrogen-induced expansion effect means metals absorb hydrogen under a hydrogen-containing atmosphere and at a temperature to produce a volume expansion effect. Reactions between the metals and hydrogen are reversible reactions. When a hydrogen partial pressure is reduced or the temperature is increased, the hydrogen in the metals is removed, and the metals are restored to an original shape. Under a stimulation of external hydrogen and heat, a composite of a hydrogen-absorbing metal and other non-hydrogen-absorbing materials undergo an adjustable deformation according to a design, and a material undergoes reversible shape changes. The preparation method is applied to composite materials for a 4D printing and is used for an intelligent shape adjustment at a medium to high temperature.

A thermobimetal heat driven turbine having a rotor, and a series of vanes extending from the rotor wherein the vanes comprise two or more separate materials laminated together, said two separate materials having different coefficients of expansion whereby exposure to a heat source causes the two separate materials to expand at different rates thereby re-shaping the vanes to drive the rotor. The rotating turbine is thus able to generate power using direct heat from an energy source. The heat source may be radiant, convection and/or conduction type heat.

An electric controlled bi-directional bending actuator with deformability and stiffness tunable capacity is disclosed. The electric controlled bi-directional bending actuator with deformability and stiffness tunable capacity comprises three kinds of functional layers that are electro-deformable layers, electro-variable stiffness layers and flexible electrodes. From up to bottom, they are the first flexible electrodes layer, the first electro-deformable layer, the second flexible electrodes layer, the electro-variable stiffness layer, the third flexible electrode layer, the second electro-deformable layer and the fourth flexible electrode layer. The adjacent layers are glued together. The electro-deformable layer is made from dielectric elastomers. The electro-variable stiffness layer is made from electro-rheological materials, including electro-rheological fluids, electro-rheological gels or electro-rheological elastomers. Compared with the present pneumatic actuators with deformability and stiffness tunable capacity, the invention has such merits as simple structure, precise regulation, quick response, convenient control and insensitive to environmental.

An optical waveguide-type soft photoactuator based on an optical micro/nanofiber includes an optical micro/nanofiber, a first deformed material membrane, and a second deformed material membrane. One end of the optical micro/nanofiber is provided with a taper region and a waist region, and the taper region and the waist region are encapsulated in the first deformed material membrane. The second deformed material membrane covers a side of the first deformed material membrane, and the first deformed material membrane or the second deformed material membrane is doped with a photothermal conversion material. The refractive index of the first deformed material membrane is less than the refractive index of a core of the optical micro/nanofiber. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the first deformed material membrane and a coefficient of thermal expansion of the second deformed material membrane are different.

A shape memory alloy actuator includes a bistable shape memory alloy strip having openings. The bistable shape memory alloy strip having a straight stable state and a curled stable state. The shape memory alloy actuator further includes a shape memory alloy wire located along a side of the bistable shape memory alloy strip. The shape memory alloy wire contracts from heat exposure with each end secured to one of the plurality of openings of the bistable shape memory alloy strip.

An electric controlled bi-directional bending actuator with deformability and stiffness tunable capacity is disclosed. The electric controlled bi-directional bending actuator with deformability and stiffness tunable capacity comprises three kinds of functional layers that are electro-deformable layers, electro-variable stiffness layers and flexible electrodes. From up to bottom, they are the first flexible electrodes layer, the first electro-deformable layer, the second flexible electrodes layer, the electro-variable stiffness layer, the third flexible electrode layer, the second electro-deformable layer and the fourth flexible electrode layer. The adjacent layers are glued together. The electro-deformable layer is made from dielectric elastomers. The electro-variable stiffness layer is made from electro-rheological materials, including electro-rheological fluids, electro-rheological gels or electro-rheological elastomers. Compared with the present pneumatic actuators with deformability and stiffness tunable capacity, the invention has such merits as simple structure, precise regulation, quick response, convenient control and insensitive to environmental.

An optical waveguide-type soft photoactuator based on an optical micro/nanofiber includes an optical micro/nanofiber, a first deformed material membrane, and a second deformed material membrane. One end of the optical micro/nanofiber is provided with a taper region and a waist region, and the taper region and the waist region are encapsulated in the first deformed material membrane. The second deformed material membrane covers a side of the first deformed material membrane, and the first deformed material membrane or the second deformed material membrane is doped with a photothermal conversion material. The refractive index of the first deformed material membrane is less than the refractive index of a core of the optical micro/nanofiber. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the first deformed material membrane and a coefficient of thermal expansion of the second deformed material membrane are different.