Energy dissipative cushioning elements

1. A method comprising:

determining an event;

actuating a cushioning element in response to the determining the event, the cushioning element including at least one or more tension-bearing members; and

dissipating at least some of an energy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming including at least substantially inelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members, and the dissipating including at least adding at least one of a phase-change material or a heat capacity material to the at least one of the tension bearing members in response to the determining the event.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining a pre-collision event.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that an object has reached a specific location.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that a collision has occurred.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining a change in acceleration that exceeds a threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that a collision between two objects is likely to occur.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that a collision between two objects is likely to occur based on at least a relative location of the two objects.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that a collision between two objects is likely to occur based on a relative location and a relative orientation of the two objects.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that a collision between a first object and a second object is likely to occur based on at least a relative location and a relative velocity of the first object with respect to the second object.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that a collision between a first object and a second object is likely to occur based on at least a relative location, a relative velocity, and a relative acceleration of the first object with respect to the second object.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that a collision between a first object and a second object is likely to occur based on at least a relative location, a relative velocity, a relative orientation, and a relative angular velocity of the first object with respect to the second object.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that a collision between a first object and a second object is likely to occur based on at least a relative acceleration and an angular acceleration of the first object with respect to the second object.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that a collision between a first object and a second object is likely to occur based on at least one of:

a relative location of the first object with respect to the second object;

a relative velocity of the first object with respect to the second object;

a relative acceleration of the first object with respect to the second object;

a relative orientation of the first object with respect to the second object;

a relative angular velocity of the first object with respect to the second object; or

a relative angular acceleration of the first object with respect to the second object.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that a collision between a first object and a second object is likely to occur based on a relative velocity of the first object with respect to the second object.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that a collision between a first object and a second object is likely to occur based on a relative acceleration of the first object with respect to the second object.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that a collision between a first object and a second object is likely to occur based on a relative orientation of the first object with respect to the second object.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that a collision between a first object and a second object is likely to occur based on a relative angular velocity of the first object with respect to the second object.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining an event comprises:

determining that a collision between a first object and a second object is likely to occur based on a relative angular acceleration of the first object with respect to the second object.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the actuating a cushioning element in response to the determining the event, the cushioning element including at least one or more tension-bearing members, comprises:

expanding the cushioning element to place the one or more tension-bearing members in an initial state.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the actuating a cushioning element in response to the determining the event, the cushioning element including at least one or more tension-bearing members, comprises:

inflating an inflatable gas bag to place the one or more tension-bearing members in an initial state.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the dissipating at least some of an energy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming including at least substantially inelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members, comprises:

dissipating at least some of an energy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming including at least substantially inelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members after the at least one of the tension bearing members reaches an elastic limit to convert at least some of a kinetic energy associated with the collision to thermal energy.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the dissipating at least some of an energy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming including at least substantially inelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members, comprises:

dissipating at least some of an energy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming including at least substantially inelastically stretching during a collision at least one of the tension-bearing members that extend in a direction other than a direction of impact of the collision.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the dissipating at least some of an energy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming including at least substantially inelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members, comprises:

dissipating at least some of an energy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming including substantially inelastically stretching during a collision at least one of the tension-bearing members that extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of impact of the collision.

24. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory signal-bearing medium bearing at least:

(a) one or more instructions for determining an event;

(b) one or more instructions for actuating a cushioning element in response to the determining the event, the cushioning element including at least one or more tension-bearing members; and

(c) one or more instructions for providing control sufficient to cause dissipation of at least some of an energy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming including at least substantially inelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members, and the dissipating including at least adding at least one of a phase-change material or a heat capacity material to the at least one tension bearing members in response to the determining the event.

25. The computer program product of claim 24 , wherein the non-transitory signal-bearing medium includes a computer-readable medium.

26. The computer program product of claim 24 , wherein the non-transitory signal-bearing medium includes a recordable medium.

27. The computer program product of claim 24 , wherein the non-transitory signal-bearing medium includes a communications medium.

28. A system comprising:

a computing device; and

one or more instructions that when executed on the computing device cause the computing device to at least:

(a) determine an event;

(b) actuate a cushioning element in response to the determining the event, the cushioning element including at least one or more tension-bearing members; and

(c) provide control sufficient to dissipate at least some of an energy associated with a collision based on deforming at least one of the tension-bearing members during the collision, the deforming including at least substantially inelastically stretching the at least one of the tension-bearing members, and the dissipating including at least adding at least one of a phase-change material or a heat capacity material to the at least one tension bearing members in response to the determining the event.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the computing device comprises:

one or more of a computational device embedded in a vehicle, a functionally-dedicated computational device, a distributed computational device including at least one or more vehicle-mounted devices configured to communicate with a remote control plant, personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a tablet personal computer, a networked computer, a computing system comprised of a cluster of processors, a workstation computer, and/or a desktop computer.