  Directed transport is a key concept for many ongoing applications including
nanoscale heat management, current rectification, source protection, and energy
harvesting. Within the context of quantum transport, we here explore the use of
nonlinear effects introduced by current-induced forces (CIFs) as a practical
way to effectively break charge and heat transport reciprocities. In
particular, we consider a simple model consisting of a mobile quantum dot (QD)
coupled to two leads, where the charge (or heat) current develops an asymmetric
behavior under inversion of voltage (or temperature) bias, thereby turning the
system into a quantum diode (or quantum thermal diode). Furthermore, we find
multiple stable positions for the QD and we show how the extraction of useful
work is possible by modulating the nonequilibrium sources along
well-established hysteresis loops. Finally, we explore a particular case where
the nonlinearity of the CIFs can be exploited to pump heat or charge, even for
systems that preserve inversion symmetry. This counterintuitive result is
attributed to a spontaneous breaking of the inversion symmetry due to the
intrinsic system's dynamics.
