In some embodiments, a variable stiffness joint is provided which has a plurality of structural members with a variable stiffness material coupled between the plurality of structural members. The variable stiffness material may be selectively activated/inactivated to control the stiffness of the joi
In some embodiments, a variable stiffness joint is provided which has a plurality of structural members with a variable stiffness material coupled between the plurality of structural members. The variable stiffness material may be selectively activated/inactivated to control the stiffness of the joint. Additional embodiments and implementations are disclosed.
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1. A variable stiffness joint comprising: a) a spherical joint comprising: (1) a plurality of structural members; and(2) a variable stiffness material coupling the plurality of structural members, wherein the variable stiffness material is interposed between adjacent surfaces of the plurality of str
1. A variable stiffness joint comprising: a) a spherical joint comprising: (1) a plurality of structural members; and(2) a variable stiffness material coupling the plurality of structural members, wherein the variable stiffness material is interposed between adjacent surfaces of the plurality of structural members. 2. The variable stiffness joint of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of structural members comprise a connector, the variable stiffness material coupling adjacent connectors. 3. The variable stiffness joint of claim 2, wherein the variable stiffness material comprises sections connecting adjacent connectors. 4. The variable stiffness joint of claim 3, wherein the connectors comprise sides, and wherein the sections are interposed between the sides of adjacent connectors. 5. The variable stiffness joint of claim 4, wherein the sections are sandwiched between the sides of the adjacent connectors. 6. The variable stiffness joint of claim 3, wherein the variable stiffness material is associated with a connecting linkage between the connectors and is configured to be capable of restraining a movement of the connectors. 7. The variable stiffness joint of claim 6, wherein the variable stiffness material further comprises an activator and is capable of exerting a force when the activator is controlled. 8. The variable stiffness joint of claim 3, wherein the plurality of structural members each comprise the connector at an end of each of the plurality of structural members. 9. The variable stiffness joint of claim 1, wherein the variable stiffness material comprises three generally orthogonal intersecting sections, and wherein each of the plurality of structural members comprises a connector comprising faces abutting three adjacent portions of the generally orthogonal intersecting sections. 10. The variable stiffness joint of claim 1, wherein the variable stiffness material comprises a shape memory polymer. 11. The variable stiffness joint of claim 1, wherein the variable stiffness material comprises a shape memory alloy. 12. The variable stiffness joint of claim 1 further comprising a control system associated with the variable stiffness material adapted to control a stiffness of the variable stiffness material. 13. The variable stiffness joint of claim 12, wherein the variable stiffness material comprises a section located between each of the plurality of structural members, and wherein the control system is configured to allow individual control of the sections. 14. A variable stiffness joint comprising: a) a spherical joint comprising: (1) a plurality of structural members; and(2) variable stiffness material associated with each of the plurality of structural members and configured to allow controllable restraint of the plurality of structural members so as to be capable of controlling non-tensile movement of the plurality of structural members. 15. The variable stiffness joint of claim 14 further comprising a means for selectively controlling the variable stiffness material. 16. The variable stiffness joint of claim 15, wherein the variable stiffness material and the means for selectively controlling the variable stiffness material are constructed to allow controllable fixation and release of the plurality of structural members. 17. The variable stiffness joint of claim 15, wherein the variable stiffness material comprises sections located between each of the plurality of structural members, and wherein the means for selectively controlling further comprises a means for individually controlling the sections. 18. The variable stiffness joint of claim 14, wherein the variable stiffness material comprises sections connecting adjacent structural members. 19. The variable stiffness joint of claim 18, wherein the variable stiffness material is laminated between adjacent structural members. 20. The variable stiffness joint of claim 14, wherein the variable stiffness material is interposed between at least some of the plurality of structural members. 21. The variable stiffness joint of claim 14, wherein the plurality of structural members are mechanically connected together and wherein the variable stiffness material is located about each of the plurality of structural members to be capable of restraining a movement of at least some of the plurality of structural members. 22. The variable stiffness joint of claim 21, wherein the variable stiffness material further comprises an activator and is capable of exerting a force when the activator is controlled. 23. The variable stiffness joint of claim 14, wherein the variable stiffness material comprises a shape memory polymer. 24. The variable stiffness joint of claim 14, wherein the variable stiffness material comprises a shape memory alloy. 25. The variable stiffness joint of claim 14, wherein the variable stiffness joint is reconfigurable so as to allow load tailoring within an apparatus. 26. A variable stiffness joint comprising: a) a plurality of structural members;b) a variable stiffness material coupling the plurality of structural members, andc) wherein the variable stiffness material comprises three generally orthogonal intersecting sections, each of the plurality of structural members comprises a connector comprising faces abutting three adjacent portions of the generally orthogonal intersecting sections. 27. A variable stiffness joint comprising: a) a plurality of structural members;b) a variable stiffness material coupling the plurality of structural members so as to be capable of controlling non-tensile movement of the plurality of structural members, andc) wherein at least one of the plurality of structural members is capable of at least one of: (1) at least three degrees of freedom of movement; or (2) one degree of rotational movement. 28. The variable stiffness joint of claim 27, wherein at least one of the plurality of structural members is capable of one degree of rotational movement. 29. The variable stiffness joint of claim 27, wherein at least one of the plurality of structural members is capable of at least three degrees of freedom of movement.
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