Abstract: An artificial gravity heating system includes a cylindrical compartment formed of a hollow cylinder having a bottom base and an open top end. An electric motor rotates the cylindrical compartment to provide centripetal motion of materials inside the cylindrical compartment. While rotating, the materials move towards an inner wall of the cylindrical compartment. A heating element is conductively coupled along an outer wall of the cylindrical compartment for heating the materials against the inner wall via conduction. A temperature sensor is operatively coupled to the cylindrical compartment for monitoring a temperature of the cylindrical compartment. A controller is configured to control operation of the heating element based on the temperature monitored via the temperature sensor. An artificial gravity heating method is used to process materials including heating ingredients to cook food. The artificial gravity heating system may also be configured as a vapor generator dehydrator or a thermal gas generator.

Abstract: An artificial gravity heating system includes a cylindrical compartment formed of a hollow cylinder having a bottom base and an open top end. An electric motor rotates the cylindrical compartment to provide centripetal motion of materials inside the cylindrical compartment. While rotating, the materials move towards an inner wall of the cylindrical compartment. A heating element is conductively coupled along an outer wall of the cylindrical compartment for heating the materials against the inner wall via conduction. A temperature sensor is operatively coupled to the cylindrical compartment for monitoring a temperature of the cylindrical compartment. A controller is configured to control operation of the heating element based on the temperature monitored via the temperature sensor. An artificial gravity heating method is used to process materials including heating ingredients to cook food. The artificial gravity heating system may also be configured as a vapor generator dehydrator or a thermal gas generator.

Abstract: An optical-input print reading device with voice output for people with impaired or no vision in which the user provides input to the system from hand gestures. Images of the text to be read, on which the user performs finger- and hand-based gestural commands, are input to a computer, which decodes the text images into their symbolic meanings through optical character recognition, and further tracks the location and movement of the hand and fingers in order to interpret the gestural movements into their command meaning. In order to allow the user to select text and align printed material, feedback is provided to the user through audible and tactile means. Through a speech synthesizer, the text is spoken audibly. For users with residual vision, visual feedback of magnified and image enhanced text is provided. Multiple cameras of the same or different field of view can improve performance.

Abstract: A biax gimballing arrangement permitting both axes of rotation to intersect at a point within a load being gimbaled, thereby permitting the rotational inertia of the load and the gimbal mechanism itself to be minimized. Gimbal rotation about a first axis is achieved by a first drive motor. Rotation in a second axis orthogonal to the first axis is achieved by a steel cable drive assembly having two drive cable ends that are passed through the first rotational axis on their way to respective anchor points within a portion of the gimbal apparatus that is rotated about the first axis. This rotatable portion of the gimbal apparatus includes milled guideways which permit rotation of the gimbal load mount. The central portion of the cable is driven by engagement with a pulley attached to the shaft of a second drive motor.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for moving a load from an equilibrium position to which it is urged by extraneous forces, with reduced power required of the motive system. In the system, a load is engaged by means storing potential energy when the load is in its equilibrium position and returning the potential energy to the load as it is moved from the equilibrium position. Such a nozzle-actuating system includes generally a frame, an electric motor drive, and a member, driven by the electric motor drive, that is movably carried by the frame and connected with the rocket nozzle. The frame and driven member can include a cam and spring arrangement to provide a force counteracting the force imposed on the driven member by the rocket nozzle when it is displaced from its normal position by the electric motor drive.

Abstract: A compass device for underwater use and having substantially no magnetic nature or influence utilizes three Hall effect generators in an array wherein two of the generators have their principal axes of magnetic response extending normal to one another and at 45.degree. to the axis of the third generator. The array is rotatable relative to a base carrying three lights and solid state analog logic circuitry for causing the lights to be variously lighted and extinguished to indicate a need to turn left, to turn right, or being on course.