Abstract: A method of producing an object by sequentially printing layers of construction material one on top of the other, the method comprising: providing the construction material at a first lower temperature; flowing the construction material through a heated flow path in a flow structure to heat the construction material and delivering the heated construction material to a heated reservoir in a printing head; and dispensing the heated construction material from the reservoir to build the object layer by layer.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus including a scanner for directing a laser beam on to layers of flowable material to selectively solidify the material to form an object in a layer-by-layer manner. The scanner includes an optical component operable under the control of a first actuator to reflect the laser beam over a first range of angles in a first dimension and the or a further optical component operable under the control of a second actuator to reflect the laser beam over a second range of angles in the first dimension, wherein the second actuator provides a faster dynamic response but a smaller range of movement of the laser beam than the first actuator.

Abstract: A controller for an agricultural sprayer machine is configured to receive for each of a plurality of nozzle sets a respective upper pressure limit, a nozzle reference flow, and a nozzle reference pressure. For each one of the plurality of nozzle sets, a speed setpoint is calculated based upon the application rate setpoint, the nozzle reference flow, the nozzle reference pressure, and the product pressure setpoint.

Abstract: A printing head assembly for 3D printing and methods of using the same are provided. The printing head incorporates a backing means that can be shaped and positioned by use of an attractive force. This creates the possibility of embodiments in which the head can move in three dimensions, without the need to print each successive layer on the layer below. Methods of ensuring the security and integrity of the 3D printing process are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling machine configurations. An example method includes deter mining a desired trajectory of an auxiliary machine based at least in part on a desired work path or an alignment of a host machine and the auxiliary machine; determining a first actual trajectory of the auxiliary machine based on i) determining a first distance between a first side of the auxiliary machine and the host machine and ii) determining a second distance between a second side of the auxiliary machine and the host machine, the first side is opposite the second side; comparing the desired trajectory of the auxiliary machine to the first actual trajectory of the auxiliary machine; and when the first actual trajectory does not satisfy a threshold distance of the desired trajectory, selecting a trajectory-assist mode to steer the auxiliary machine toward the desired trajectory.

Abstract: In some examples, with respect to region of interest monitoring and control for additive manufacturing, a blob detection analysis may be performed on first and second component images associated with additive manufacturing of a component, and blobs that remain a same shape and include same centroids on the first and second component images may be identified. A further blob detection analysis may be performed on first and second thermal images associated with the first and second component images, and a determination may be made as to whether one of the identified blobs includes a same shape and a different centroid between the first and second thermal images. Based on a determination that the one of the identified blobs includes the same shape and the different centroid, an indication of a thermal camera misalignment associated with the additive manufacturing may be generated.

Abstract: A multi-story building is described, and includes a vertical support core disposed on a foundation, and a plurality of floor plates disposed on the vertical support core in a stacked arrangement. A plurality of sensors are disposed to monitor the vertical support core and the plurality of floor plates. A controller is in communication with the plurality of sensors, and includes a memory device including an instruction set that is executable to determine baseline inputs for the plurality of sensors, dynamically monitor in-use inputs for the plurality of sensors, evaluate the multi-story building based upon the baseline inputs and the in-use inputs from the plurality of sensors and communicate the evaluation to a second controller.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for an operation of an electric power plant comprising a renewable energy resource and an energy storage device. The method may comprise determining, at a first time, a forecast of predicted energy production by the electric power plant over a time period subsequent to the first time based on a forecast for the time period; detecting a current state of charge of the energy storage device; calculating a range of automatic generation controls the electric power plant is capable of satisfying for the time period based on the forecast of predicted energy production and the detected current state of charge of the energy storage device; and signaling, from the electric power plant to a central utility controlling a power grid, the range of automatic generation controls the electric power plant is capable of satisfying for the time period.

Abstract: A method and printing system for printing a three-dimensional structure, in particular an optical component, by depositing droplets of printing ink side by side and one above the other in several consecutive depositing steps by means of a print head. In each depositing step a plurality of droplets is ejected simultaneously by a plurality of ejection nozzles of the print head. After at least one depositing step, surface properties of a pre-structure built up by the deposited droplets are measured by a measuring unit in a measuring step. Ejection characteristics of the ejection nozzles are determined in dependency of the measured surface properties in a determining step and at least one following depositing step is performed in dependency of the determined ejection characteristics.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes an extruder having a motor and a pressure sensor. A filter receives speed values for the motor and generates a predicted pressure value from the speed values. A response threshold module sets a response threshold pressure value based on the predicted pressure value such that when the response threshold pressure value is between a pressure value from the pressure sensor and the predicted pressure value, a response is executed.

Abstract: Smart electricity monitors with unique identities placed at individual power outlets within a building communicate frequent power measurements to a service which determines, from this power usage data, which outlets are associated with occupied seats within the building. This occupancy information can be used to update an occupancy model for the building that is used to forecast the building's occupancy. Based on present occupancy, projected occupancy, and other data, in some instances, the building's thermostats can be controlled and unoccupied seats can be assigned dynamically.

Abstract: Smart electricity monitors with unique identities placed at individual power outlets within a building communicate frequent power measurements to a service which determines, from this power usage data, which outlets are associated with occupied seats within the building. This occupancy information can be used to update an occupancy model for the building that is used to forecast the building's occupancy. Based on present occupancy, projected occupancy, and other data, in some instances, the building's thermostats can be controlled and unoccupied seats can be assigned dynamically.

Abstract: A method of controlling a computer process for designing or verifying a photolithographic component includes building a source tree including nodes of the process, including dependency relationships among the nodes, defining, for some nodes, at least two different process conditions, expanding the source tree to form an expanded tree, including generating a separate node for each different defined process condition, and duplicating dependent nodes having an input relationship to each generated separate node, determining respective computing hardware requirements for processing the node, selecting computer hardware constraints based on capabilities of the host computing system, determining, based on the requirements and constraints and on dependency relations in the expanded tree, an execution sequence for the computer process, and performing the computer process on the computing system.

Abstract: A data analyzer includes a data collector that acquires data on each analysis target parameter of each of a plurality of apparatuses from the apparatus, the plurality of apparatuses including a light source apparatus, an exposure apparatus that exposes a wafer to pulsed light outputted from the light source apparatus, and a wafer inspection apparatus that inspects the exposed wafer, an image generator that visualizes the data on each of the parameters collected by the data collector from the apparatuses that process the wafer for each predetermined area of the wafer to convert the data into an image and generates a plurality of mapped images for each of the parameters of the apparatuses, and a correlation computing section that performs pattern matching on arbitrary ones of the mapped images generated from the wafer to determine a correlation value between arbitrary ones of the parameters of the apparatuses.

Abstract: A method of providing a dataset for additive manufacturing includes collecting a first type of data for the dataset during the additive buildup of a at least one layer of a component to be manufactured, evaluating of the structural quality of the layer by the first type of data, modifying the first type of data in that fractions of the data representing an insufficient structural quality of the layer are deleted from the first type of data, and superimposing second type of data, to the first type of data, wherein the second type of data is suitable to support a validation of the structural quality of the as-manufactured component.

Abstract: A method of simulating a resist pattern according to an exemplary embodiment includes a step (A) of calculating a latent image of a concentration of an active species in a resist film that has been radiated by a radioactive ray along a target pattern with respect to a radiation position of the radioactive ray, a step (B) of calculating a change rate of the concentration with respect to the radiation position at an edge of the target pattern on the basis of the latent image, a step (C) of calculating a probabilistic variation at the edge of the target pattern, and a step (D) of calculating a variation in pattern edge roughness from the change rate of the concentration and the probabilistic variation.

Abstract: A method of producing an optical element includes forming a base portion that supports a curved surface of the optical element by discharging a transmissive material that allows transmission of light in a first amount, and forming the curved surface by discharging, to the base portion, the transmissive material in a second discharge amount smaller than the first discharge amount.

Abstract: A wiring harness assembly includes a plurality of electrical conductors having wires enclosed within insulative sheaths that are integrally formed of an electrically insulative material. The assembly also includes a lattice support structure that is attached to the insulative sheaths at multiple locations. The lattice support structure is configured to maintain a desired shape of the assembly. The lattice support structure is formed of filaments that may be formed using an additive manufacturing process The filaments may be arranged such that lattice support structure defines a plurality of hexagonally shaped apertures. A process for manufacturing the wiring harness assembly and an apparatus configured to manufacture the wiring harness assembly is also presented.

Abstract: A crane control system for controlling a plurality of cranes is provided. The crane control system in some embodiments includes a master controller unit, at least one computer readable memory for storing a plurality of tokens, each token from the plurality of tokens associated with a respective crane from the plurality of cranes, and a processing unit responsive to commands inputtable by an operator of the master controller unit to send the commands to individual cranes from the plurality of cranes, wherein the processing unit associates the commands with respective tokens to control the cranes associated with those tokens. The crane control system in some embodiments also includes a processing unit that is responsive to a signal indicative of a synchronization loss to issue a command to bring the plurality of cranes into a safe condition, such as an emergency stop, or a corrective action.

Abstract: A spatial model of a printed circuit board assembly is generated based on an input file. The spatial model is used to determine a spatial feature not directly specified in the input file. A manufacturing parameter is determined based at least in part on the determined spatial feature. A proposal to manufacture the printed circuit board assembly is generated programmatically based at least in part on the determined manufacturing parameter.