A biological engine is configured to transfer mechanical energy from a biological actuator. The biological engine has an enclosure containing a biological feedstock. A cylinder opening is arranged on a bottom side of the enclosure. A turbine hole is arranged on the bottom side of the enclosure. A turbine is arranged in the turbine hole with a turbine seal. A crankshaft assembly has a crankshaft joined to the turbine. A piston is joined to the crankshaft assembly. A cylinder surrounds the piston and connected to the cylinder opening. A biological actuator joins the piston and a cylinder head with an artificial tendon. An electrode pad touches the biological actuator and connected to a current source with a wire and an electrode connector. Electrical current from the current sources causes the biological actuator to expand and contract, moving the piston, turning the crankshaft and transferring the mechanical energy.

Cooling by a twist-untwist process, by a stretch-release process for twisted, coiled, or supercoiled yarns or fibers, and methods and systems thereof. High mechanocaloric cooling results from release of inserted twist or from stretch release for twisted, coiled, or supercoiled fibers, including natural rubber fibers, NiTi wires, and polyethylene fishing line. Twist utilization can increase cooling and cooling efficiencies. A cooler using twist insertion and release can be shorter and smaller in volume than a cooler that requires a large elastomeric elongation. The cooler system can be utilized in mechanochromic textiles and remotely readable tensile and torsional sensors.

Systems and methods for developing a composite material are disclosed. The system can include a plurality of particles and a plurality of polymers. The plurality of particles can generate mechanical force in response to changing relative humidity, and the plurality of filaments can transfer the mechanical force throughout the composite material, such that the mechanical force changes a shape of the composite material reversibly and repeatedly.

A method and system for providing an engine for producing mechanical energy through the absorption and evaporation of moisture uses a hygroscopic material in one or more configurations to do mechanical work. The hygroscopic material can include microbial spores, plant cells and cell materials, silk and hydrogel materials that absorb moisture and expand or swell when exposed to high relative humidity environments and shrink or return to nearly their original size or shape when exposed to low relative humidity environments wherein the moisture evaporates and is released. By exposing the hygroscopic material to a cycle of high relative humidity environments and low relative humidity environments, useful work can be done. One or more transmission elements can be used to couple the hygroscopic material to a generator that converts the mechanical energy to, for example, electrical energy. The hygroscopic material can be applied to flexible sheet materials that flex as the hygroscopic material absorbs or evaporates moisture. The hygroscopic material can also be applied to elastic conductive materials, such that the plates of a capacitor mechanically change the capacitance of the device.

A method and system for providing an engine for producing mechanical energy through the absorption and evaporation of moisture uses a hygroscopic material in one or more configurations to do mechanical work. The hygroscopic material can include microbial spores, plant cells and cell materials, silk and hydrogel materials that absorb moisture and expand or swell when exposed to high relative humidity environments and shrink or return to nearly their original size or shape when exposed to low relative humidity environments wherein the moisture evaporates and is released. By exposing the hygroscopic material to a cycle of high relative humidity environments and low relative humidity environments, useful work can be done. One or more transmission elements can be used to couple the hygroscopic material to a generator that converts the mechanical energy to, for example, electrical energy. The hygroscopic material can be applied to flexible sheet materials that flex as the hygroscopic material absorbs or evaporates moisture. The hygroscopic material can also be applied to elastic conductive materials, such that the plates of a capacitor mechanically change the capacitance of the device.

A method and system for providing an engine for producing mechanical energy through the absorption and evaporation of moisture uses a hygroscopic material in one or more configurations to do mechanical work. The hygroscopic material can include microbial spores, plant cells and cell materials, silk and hydrogel materials that absorb moisture and expand or swell when exposed to high relative humidity environments and shrink or return to nearly their original size or shape when exposed to low relative humidity environments wherein the moisture evaporates and is released. By exposing the hygroscopic material to a cycle of high relative humidity environments and low relative humidity environments, useful work can be done. One or more transmission elements can be used to couple the hygroscopic material to a generator that converts the mechanical energy to, for example, electrical energy. The hygroscopic material can be applied to flexible sheet materials that flex as the hygroscopic material absorbs or evaporates moisture. The hygroscopic material can also be applied to elastic conductive materials, such that the plates of a capacitor mechanically change the capacitance of the device.

A silk fibroin-based multi-responsive soft actuator and a manufacturing method therefor are provided. The soft actuator includes a silk fibroin membrane and a flexible substrate, the silk fibroin membrane being arranged on and tightly bonded with the flexible substrate to form a double-layer membrane structure, thermal expansion coefficients of the silk fibroin membrane and the flexible substrate being different. The manufacturing method for a soft actuator includes: performing plasma processing on a flexible substrate; then scrap-coating the flexible substrate with a silk fibroin wet membrane, drying same to obtain a silk fibroin membrane, the silk fibroin membrane together with the flexible substrate forming a double-layer membrane; soaking the double-layer membrane into water, and then drying same; and integrally or locally soaking in a calcium chloride aqueous solution the silk fibroin membrane in the dried double-layer membrane, then taking out same, and drying same to obtain a soft actuator.

A silk fibroin-based multi-responsive soft actuator and a manufacturing method therefor are provided. The soft actuator includes a silk fibroin membrane and a flexible substrate, the silk fibroin membrane being arranged on and tightly bonded with the flexible substrate to form a double-layer membrane structure, thermal expansion coefficients of the silk fibroin membrane and the flexible substrate being different. The manufacturing method for a soft actuator includes: performing plasma processing on a flexible substrate; then scrap-coating the flexible substrate with a silk fibroin wet membrane, drying same to obtain a silk fibroin membrane, the silk fibroin membrane together with the flexible substrate forming a double-layer membrane; soaking the double-layer membrane into water, and then drying same; and integrally or locally soaking in a calcium chloride aqueous solution the silk fibroin membrane in the dried double-layer membrane, then taking out same, and drying same to obtain a soft actuator.