A propulsion system includes a cylindrical shaft member coupled to a motor with a motor frame; said shaft member mechanically coupled to a disc members with radius, to rotate in a dynamically and statically balanced state with said shaft when said motor rotates; the apparatus further comprising a power source to supply power to said motor to rotate said shaft member with said disc members; each said disc members comprising an annular radial array of material segments extending radially to the radius; said material segments comprising of a material that responds to electromagnetic fields to change shape radially on said disc member; such that when power is supplied to rotate the motor, the motor rotates the disc members and when each such material segment rotates to an angular location of the shaft member relative to a fixed point on the motor frame, each said material segment is supplied with said electromagnetic field; and said material responds to said electromagnetic field to change its shape radially to a new radius different from, at said angular location, and such that the mass of said material segment is redistributed radially at the radius R2 in said material segment in said angular location; and such that the difference in centripetal forces acting on said change in radial location from R1 to R2 at said angular location creates a radial force on said shaft member in the direction of the said angular location.

A vibrating actuator includes a contact body and a vibrating body that vibrates, has an energy conversion element, and has an elastic body in contact with the contact body to move relative to each other from the vibration. The contact body has a base part, a thin plate part, a support part, and a friction member. The thin plate part extends from the base part toward an annular center axis of the base part and the support part is disposed at an end of the thin plate part. The friction member is disposed to the support part as a member separate from the support part and in contact with the elastic body. Density of the friction member is higher than density of the thin plate part. A weight ratio of the thin plate part to a total weight of the friction member and the support part is 0.5 to 1.5.

The disclosed embodiments are generally directed to optical systems. The optical systems may include a proximal lens that may transmit light toward an eye of a user. The optical systems may also include a distal lens that may, in combination with the proximal lens, correct for at least a portion of a refractive error of the eye of the user. The optical systems may further include a selective transmission interface. The selective transmission interface may couple the proximal lens to the distal lens, transmits light having a selected property, and does not transmit light that does not have the selected property. The optical system can also include an accommodative lens, such as a liquid lens. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Described herein are embodiments of fiber scanning systems and methods of scanning optical fibers. The disclosed systems and methods advantageously provide an improvement to the scanning range, the oscillation amplitude, and/or the maximum pointing angle for an optical fiber in a fiber scanning system by inducing a buckling of a portion of the optical fiber.

An electroactive device may include (1) an electroactive polymer element having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the electroactive polymer element comprising a nanovoided polymer material, (2) a primary electrode abutting the first surface of the electroactive polymer element, and (3) a secondary electrode abutting the second surface of the electroactive polymer element. The electroactive polymer element may be deformable from an initial state to a deformed state by application of an electrostatic field produced by a potential difference between the primary electrode and the secondary electrode. Various other devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

An actuator has a plurality of pairs of a flexible electrode having flexibility, and a base electrode having an opposed face that is opposed to the flexible electrode and is covered with an insulating layer. The flexible electrode is configured to deform to get closer to the opposed face when a voltage is applied to the flexible electrode and the base electrode. Each of the pairs is located on the same axis, and adjacent ones of the pairs are connected to each other. The axis intersects with the opposed face of the base electrode of each of the pairs. The base electrode of each of the pairs is divided into a plurality of electrode portions insulated from each other, and the voltage is individually applied to the electrode portions.

An actuator has a flexible electrode having flexibility, and a base electrode having an opposed face that is opposed to the flexible electrode and is covered with an insulating layer. The flexible electrode deforms to get closer to the opposed face when a voltage is applied to the flexible electrode and the base electrode. The flexible electrode is a rotating body placed on the opposed face. The base electrode is divided into a plurality of electrode portions insulated from each other. The electrode portions are arranged along a predetermined direction. The flexible electrode moves in the predetermined direction relative to the base electrode, while rotating on the opposed face, when the voltage is sequentially applied to the electrode portions in the predetermined direction.

A projection exposure apparatus comprises a projection objective, and the projection objective comprises an optical device, wherein the optical device comprises an optical element having an optically effective surface and an electrostrictive actuator. The electrostrictive actuator is deformable by a control voltage being applied. The electrostrictive actuator is functionally connected to the optical element to influence the surface shape of the optically effective surface. A control device supplies the electrostrictive actuator with the control voltage. A measuring device is configured, at least at times while the electrostrictive actuator influences the optically effective surface of the optical element, to measure directly and/or to determine indirectly the temperature and/or a temperature change of the electrostrictive actuator and/or the surroundings thereof to take account of a temperature-dependent influence during driving of the electrostrictive actuator by the control device.

This invention describes a method for producing highly controllable motion in electroactive materials and electroactive actuators capable of pronounced contraction and expansion, which act as synthetic muscle, tendon, fascia, perimysium, epimysium, and skin that wrinkles, comprising ion-containing, cross-linked electroactive material(s); solvent(s); electrode(s); attachments to levers or other objects; and coating(s). Restriction of movement in undesired direction(s) produces pronounced movement in the desired direction(s). The electroactive material itself or the electroactive actuator may be used individually or grouped to produce movement when activated by electricity. This invention can provide for human-like motion, durability, toughness, speed, and strength. The electroactive materials and electroactive actuators, with highly controllable motion, can be attached to objects and devices to produce motion with no metal pulleys, gears, or motors needed.

The disclosed embodiments are generally directed to optical systems. The optical systems may include a proximal lens that may transmit light toward an eye of a user. The optical systems may also include a distal lens that may, in combination with the proximal lens, correct for at least a portion of a refractive error of the eye of the user. The optical systems may further include a selective transmission interface. The selective transmission interface may couple the proximal lens to the distal lens, transmits light having a selected property, and does not transmit light that does not have the selected property. The optical system can also include an accommodative lens, such as a liquid lens. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.