Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generating apparatus for extracting energy from flowing water. The apparatus comprises a buoyancy vessel, and a turbine assembly coupled to the buoyancy vessel which comprises a turbine rotor mounted to a nacelle, and a support structure. The turbine assembly is pivotally moveable between a first position and a second position. When the power generating apparatus is floating on a body of water, in the first position the nacelle is fully submerged below the water surface; and in the second position at least a part of the nacelle projects above the water surface. Movement of the turbine assembly from the first position to the second position is buoyancy assisted, for example by providing the turbine assembly with positive buoyancy or selectively increasing its buoyancy.

Abstract: A method and system applying glue to a fabric to create a bonded seam by applying a carrier liquid to a predetermined area of a first piece of fabric and in a pre-determined pattern; applying uniformly, to the first piece of fabric, particles of a powdered elastomer such that the particles of the powdered elastomer adhere to the applied carrier liquid; removing excess particles of the powdered elastomer, the excess particles of the powdered elastomer being particles of the powdered elastomer not adhering to the applied carrier liquid; applying a second piece of fabric to the predetermined area of a first piece of fabric; and curing the particles of a powdered elastomer to create a bonded seam between the first piece of fabric and the second piece of fabric.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for transferring particles in a pattern. In one implementation, a particle-transferring system includes a first substrate comprising a first surface configured to support a plurality of particles in a non-uniform pattern, and a particle transfer unit configured to remove the plurality of particles from the first surface in response to the plurality of particles being within a first gap. The system also includes a second substrate configured to remove the plurality of particles from the particle transfer unit and secure the plurality of particles to the second surface in response to the plurality of particles being within a second gap. The particle transfer unit is configured to transfer the plurality of particles and maintain the non-uniform pattern regardless of the positions of the plurality of particles, which are not predefined to fit features of the particle transfer unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implementations of a particles-transferring system, particle transferring unit, and method of transferring particles in a pattern. In one implementation, a particles-transferring system includes a first substrate including a first surface to support particles in a pattern, particle transferring unit including an outer surface to be offset from the first surface by a first gap, and second substrate including a second surface to be offset from the outer surface by a second gap. The particle transferring unit removes the particles from the first surface in response to the particles being within the first gap, secures the particles in the pattern to the outer surface, and transports the particles in the pattern. The second substrate removes the particles in the pattern from the particle transferring unit in response to the particles being within the second gap. The particles are to be secured in the pattern to the second surface.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing (AM) system manufactures composite structures having different materials in an integrated manner during a single processing process. For example, a first composite image is created on a substrate and then that image is stabilized by heat, pressure of chemical fusion not to the point of complete solid formation but enough to give the first composite image enough stability so that it is not disturbed by subsequent processing. A second image is then created on parts of the substrate not covered by the first composite image, a second powder is applied, and excess second powder that is not part of the second image is removed. The substrate may be cut into sheets that are stacked in register for consolidation and subsequent matrix removal resulting in a multi-polymer 3D object.

Abstract: A method and system applying glue to a fabric to create a bonded seam by applying a carrier liquid to a predetermined area of a first piece of fabric and in a pre-determined pattern; applying uniformly, to the first piece of fabric, particles of a powdered elastomer such that the particles of the powdered elastomer adhere to the applied carrier liquid; removing excess particles of the powdered elastomer, the excess particles of the powdered elastomer being particles of the powdered elastomer not adhering to the applied carrier liquid; applying a second piece of fabric to the predetermined area of a first piece of fabric; and curing the particles of a powdered elastomer to create a bonded seam between the first piece of fabric and the second piece of fabric.

Abstract: A staged printing system includes: a printing station for printing an image upon an object; a curing station, operatively connected to the printing station, for curing the image printed upon the object; and a pretreatment station, operatively connected to the printing station, for pretreating the object before printing an image upon the object. The printing station includes a plurality of vertically mounted print heads for ejecting ink and a rotating platform for rotating the object as the plurality of vertically mounted print heads eject ink upon the object.

Abstract: A colorimetric based sensor system includes a low power communication system to harvest energy from an interrogator and to broadcast information to the interrogator; a controller operatively connected to the low power communication system; a light emitter, operatively connected to the controller, to emit light; a light detector, operatively connected to the controller, to convert receive light into electrical signals; and a colorimetric based sensor, having a changeable color patch and in optical communication with the light detector and the light emitter, to measure a condition of an object of interest.

Abstract: A system for communicating a message in response to placement of a product proximate to a mobile electronic device. The system includes a product package comprising a token that includes a power source and a wireless transmitter, and a mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device includes a processor, a computer-readable memory, a wireless receiver that is operable to detect a signal emitted by the wireless transmitter of the product package, and a transmitter. The processor is configured to detect the signal, analyze the signal and extract token information from the signal, retrieve user information for a user who is associated with the mobile electronic device, generate a message that corresponds to the extracted information, and cause the transmitter of the mobile electronic device to send the message via a wireless communication protocol.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generating apparatus for extracting energy from flowing water. The apparatus comprises a buoyancy vessel, and a turbine assembly coupled to the buoyancy vessel which comprises a turbine rotor mounted to a nacelle, and a support structure. The turbine assembly is pivotally moveable between a first position and a second position. When the power generating apparatus is floating on a body of water, in the first position the nacelle is fully submerged below the water surface; and in the second position at least a part of the nacelle projects above the water surface. Movement of the turbine assembly from the first position to the second position is buoyancy assisted, for example by providing the turbine assembly with positive buoyancy or selectively increasing its buoyancy.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a power generating apparatus for extracting energy from flowing water. The apparatus comprises a buoyancy vessel, and a turbine assembly coupled to the buoyancy vessel which comprises a turbine rotor mounted to a nacelle, and a support structure. The turbine assembly is pivotally moveable between a first position and a second position. When the power generating apparatus is floating on a body of water, in the first position the nacelle is fully submerged below the water surface; and in the second position at least a part of the nacelle projects above the water surface. Movement of the turbine assembly from the first position to the second position is buoyancy assisted, for example by providing the turbine assembly with positive buoyancy or selectively increasing its buoyancy.

Abstract: A method and system applying glue to a fabric to create a bonded seam by applying a carrier liquid to a predetermined area of a first piece of fabric and in a pre-determined pattern; applying uniformly, to the first piece of fabric, particles of a powdered elastomer such that the particles of the powdered elastomer adhere to the applied carrier liquid; removing excess particles of the powdered elastomer, the excess particles of the powdered elastomer being particles of the powdered elastomer not adhering to the applied carrier liquid; applying a second piece of fabric to the predetermined area of a first piece of fabric; and curing the particles of a powdered elastomer to create a bonded seam between the first piece of fabric and the second piece of fabric.

Abstract: A method of forming a sensor includes providing a substrate, forming a polymer aerogel layer on the substrate, and infusing the polymer aerogel layer with sensing molecules.

Abstract: A sensor has a transparent polymer aerogel, and sensing materials dispersed into the transparent, polymer aerogel, where the sensing materials change color in response to environmental conditions. A method of forming a sensor includes providing a substrate, forming a polymer aerogel layer on the substrate, and infusing the polymer aerogel layer with sensing molecules.

Abstract: A system for promoting user-product engagement including a plurality of token readers and a messaging system server is disclosed. Each of the plurality of token readers comprises one or more sensors configured to detect a code from a token associated with a packaged product when the token is in a range of the sensor, and also detect a user identifier from a proximate mobile electronic device, and a transmitter. The messaging system server is configured to receive a signal emitted by any of the plurality of transmitters associated with each of the plurality of token readers, retrieve, from a data store, profile information for a user who is associated with the user identifier, update the profile information with product information corresponding to the detected code and location information corresponding to the token reader ID, and save the updated profile information to the data store.

Abstract: A system and method are described for regulating water concentration in a dielectric fluid. The system can comprise electrodes capable of applying an electric field across the dielectric fluid, thereby causing charge carriers and water included in the charge carriers to move toward a respective electrode. The system further includes a trap positioned near the electrodes and comprising a water absorbing material capable of trapping water, thereby reducing the concentration of water in the dielectric fluid. It is also possible to measure properties of the dielectric fluid and use such measurements to control the water-trapping process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic fluid power transmission comprising: actuator apparatus having a plurality of chambers, each of the chambers having a respective fluid driving surface configured to drive or be driven by hydraulic fluid therein; a discretised pressure control system configured to selectively connect one or more first chambers of the said plurality of chambers to one of a plurality of hydraulic fluid sources or sinks, at least two of the plurality of hydraulic fluid sources or sinks having different fluid pressures; a continuous pressure control system configured to control the pressure of hydraulic fluid, or a flow rate of hydraulic fluid, input to or output from one or more second chambers of the said plurality of chambers, the pressure or flow rate of the hydraulic fluid input to or output from the second chambers being thereby variable within a range of pressures or flow rates respectively; and a controller configured to control the discretised and continuous pressure control systems to

Abstract: An additive manufacturing (AM) system manufactures composite structures having different materials in an integrated manner during a single processing process. For example, a first composite image is created on a substrate and then that image is stabilized by heat, pressure of chemical fusion not to the point of complete solid formation but enough to give the first composite image enough stability so that it is not disturbed by subsequent processing. A second image is then created on parts of the substrate not covered by the first composite image, a second powder is applied, and excess second powder that is not part of the second image is removed. The substrate may be cut into sheets that are stacked in register for consolidation and subsequent matrix removal resulting in a multi-polymer 3D object.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implementations of a particles-transferring system, particle transferring unit, and method of transferring particles in a pattern. In one implementation, a particles-transferring system includes a first substrate including a first surface to support particles in a pattern, particle transferring unit including an outer surface to be offset from the first surface by a first gap, and second substrate including a second surface to be offset from the outer surface by a second gap. The particle transferring unit removes the particles from the first surface in response to the particles being within the first gap, secures the particles in the pattern to the outer surface, and transports the particles in the pattern. The second substrate removes the particles in the pattern from the particle transferring unit in response to the particles being within the second gap. The particles are to be secured in the pattern to the second surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implementations of a particles-transferring system, particle transferring unit, and method of transferring particles in a pattern. In one implementation, a particles-transferring system includes a first substrate including a first surface to support particles in a pattern, particle transferring unit including an outer surface to be offset from the first surface by a first gap, and second substrate including a second surface to be offset from the outer surface by a second gap. The particle transferring unit removes the particles from the first surface in response to the particles being within the first gap, secures the particles in the pattern to the outer surface, and transports the particles in the pattern. The second substrate removes the particles in the pattern from the particle transferring unit in response to the particles being within the second gap. The particles are to be secured in the pattern to the second surface.