MOBILE FIBERS AND ELONGATED STRUCTURES AND UNITS THEREOF

摘要

The present invention provides a unit or segment having a ball, a socket and a connector with the connector physically linking the ball and socket together such that a main opening of the socket continuous with the socket cavity faces away from the connected ball. Alternatively, a unit/segment may instead include a ball and a socket coupled directly together. Elongated structures comprising a plurality of units joined together in series, such as through ball joints and other connections, are further provided that may vary greatly in length and size. The ball and socket may have corresponding electromagnets and magnetic materials, respectively, that may attract or repel each other to cause controlled rotational movement of the individual ball joint(s) by controlling the operation of the electromagnets. Higher order structures including one or more elongated structures are further provided. Methods for constructing and/or operating units and/or elongated structures are further provided.

主权项

1. A unit comprising:
a ball having a generally spherical outer shape and a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end being on opposite sides of the ball, the ball comprising:
a central conducting channel;a lateral conducting channel;a plurality of spaced-apart electromagnets; anda controller, the controller being in electrical communication with one or more of the plurality of electromagnets; wherein the central conducting channel is configured to provide an electrical connection between a first outer position at or near the first end of the ball and a second outer position at or near the second end of the ball, and wherein the lateral conducting channel is configured to provide an electrical connection between the central conducting channel and at least one lateral outer position on a circumferential side of the ball.