Method of using an active material based concealment assembly

Abstract

A method of concealing a component is disclosed. The method includes positioning a member in operable communication with the component, wherein the member is configured to have a first form and a second form, wherein the first form is configured to conceal the component and the second form is configured to expose the component. The method also includes activating an active material in operative communication with the member, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in a property is effective to transition the member from the first form to the second form.

1 . A method of concealing a component, comprising:
 positioning a member in operable communication with the component, wherein the member is configured to have a first form and a second form, wherein the first form is configured to conceal the component and the second form is configured to expose the component; and   activating an active material in operative communication with the member, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in a property is effective to transition the member from the first form to the second form.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first form comprises an abutting surface that is coplanar to a surface of a vehicle and conceals the component and wherein the second form is not coplanar with the surface of the vehicle and exposes the component. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein further comprising deactivating the active material to reverse the change in a property, wherein reversing the change in a property is effective to return the member to the first form from the second form. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, an magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological elastomer, an electroactive polymer, a piezoelectric material, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the change in the at least one property comprises a change in a shape, a dimension, a phase, a shape orientation, a stiffness, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing properties. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the activation signal comprises a thermal activation signal, an electric activation signal, a magnetic activation signal, a chemical activation signal, a mechanical load, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing activation signals. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising an activation device configured to provide the activation signal to the active material.