Patent ID: 7878312

Claim:
An energy absorption apparatus, comprising: a variable profile energy absorber operatively coupled between a vehicle and a structure to mitigate vibration experienced by the structure, the variable profile energy absorber having a movable element to apply forces between the vehicle and the structure to mitigate vibration, a controller in communication with said variable profile energy absorber for adjusting a load-stroke profile of said variable profile energy absorber in real-time based on a sensor measurement; and a fixed profile energy absorber operatively coupled to said variable profile energy absorber and a structure to mitigate shock during a shock event experienced by said structure, said fixed profile energy absorber being constructed and arranged such that the fixed profile energy absorber is in a first structural configuration during mitigation of vibration, the variable profile energy absorber and the fixed profile energy absorber being configured to be in series, such that said variable profile energy absorber mitigates vibration and said fixed profile energy absorber mitigates shock from impact experienced by the structure, thereby combining to mitigate vibration and shock.