Abstract: Methods and systems are described for unobtrusively monitoring patient activity to determine compliance of the patient with a prescribed regimen for treating for a brain-related disorder. Patient activity associated with routine patient activities is detected with an activity sensor at the patient location, and activity data is transmitted to a monitoring location. Patient activity is processed at the patient location and/or monitoring location to identify activity parameters and/or patterns that indicate whether the patient has complied with the prescribed treatment regimen. Patient identity may be determined through biometric identification or other authentication techniques. The system may provide a report to an interested party, for example a medical care provider or insurance company, regarding compliance of the patient with the prescribed treatment regimen.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for monitoring patient speech to determine compliance of the patient with a prescribed regimen for treating for a brain-related disorder. Patient speech is detected with an audio sensor at the patient location, and speech data is transmitted to a monitoring location. Patient speech is processed at the patient location and/or monitoring location to identify speech parameters and/or patterns that indicate whether the patient has complied with the prescribed treatment regimen. Patient identity may be determined through biometric identification or other authentication techniques. The system may provide a report to an interested party, for example a medical care provider, based on whether (and/or the extent to which) the patient has complied with the prescribed treatment regimen. The monitoring system may transmit a report to a wireless device such as a pager or cell phone, generate an alarm or notification, and/or store information for later use.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring compliance of a patient with a prescribed treatment regimen are described. Two or more patient activities (including e.g., speech activity) are analyzed to determine compliance with a treatment for a brain-related disorder. Activity is detected unobtrusively during performance of routine activities with activity sensor(s) at the patient location, patient speech is detected during use of a communication system such as a mobile telephone, and activity data is sent to a monitoring system at a monitoring location. Activity and/or speech data is processed at the patient location or monitoring location to identify activity parameters or patterns that indicate whether the patient has complied with the treatment regimen. Patient identity may be determined through biometric identification or other authentication techniques. The system may provide a report to an interested party, for example a medical care provider or insurance company, regarding patient compliance.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for monitoring patient speech to determine compliance of the patient with a prescribed regimen for treating for a brain-related disorder. Patient speech is detected with an audio sensor at the patient location, and speech data is transmitted to a monitoring location. The audio sensor and other components at the patient location may be incorporated into, or associated with, a cell phone, computing system, or stand-alone microprocessor-based device, for example. Patient speech is processed at the patient location and/or monitoring location to identify speech parameters and/or patterns that indicate whether the patient has complied with the prescribed treatment regimen. Patient identity may be determined through biometric identification or other authentication techniques. The system may provide a report to an interested party, for example a medical care provider, based on whether (and/or the extent to which) the patient has complied with the prescribed treatment regimen.

Abstract: Systems and methods for self-testing archival memory devices are described. The memory device includes a data storage component capable of being coded with data. The memory device further includes a read-write mechanism configured to read, write, and delete data stored on the data storage component. The memory device includes a read-write controller configured to control the read-write mechanism based on input received through a device interface of the memory device, wherein the device interface of the memory device is configured to connect to an external computing device. The memory device further includes a diagnostic controller configured to perform a test on at least one of the data stored on the data storage component, the data storage component, and the read-write mechanism. The memory device includes a power source configured to provide operational power to the diagnostic controller when the memory device is not connected to an external power source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for self-testing archival memory devices are described. The memory device includes a data storage component capable of being coded with data. The memory device further includes a read-write mechanism configured to read, write, and delete data stored on the data storage component. The memory device includes a read-write controller configured to control the read-write mechanism based on input received through a device interface of the memory device, wherein the device interface of the memory device is configured to connect to an external computing device. The memory device further includes a diagnostic controller configured to perform a test on at least one of the data stored on the data storage component, the data storage component, and the read-write mechanism. The memory device includes a power source configured to provide operational power to the diagnostic controller when the memory device is not connected to an external power source.

Abstract: A system for detecting the release of a chemical substance includes a release device configured to release a chemical substance into a surrounding environment based on receipt of a control signal; a signaling device configured to transmit the control signal to the release device; and a sensor device configured to detect the chemical substance in the surrounding environment based on an analysis of the surrounding environment.

Abstract: An apparatus having reduced phononic coupling between a graphene monolayer and a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes an aerogel substrate and a monolayer of graphene coupled to the aerogel substrate.

Abstract: A thermal insulator includes a plurality of layers. At least some of the layers include phononic crystals having a phononic bandgap, wherein heat transporting phonons within a selected range of frequencies are substantially blocked by each phononic crystal layer. The plurality of layers thermally isolate a first region from a second region, wherein the first region is at one end of the plurality of layers and the second region is at the other end of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: An adaptive sensing system is configured to acquire sensor data pertaining to objects in the vicinity of a land vehicle. The adaptive sensing system may be configured to identify objects that are at least partially obscured by other objects and, in response, the adaptive sensing system may be configured to modify the configuration of one or more sensors to obtain additional information pertaining to the obscured objects. The adaptive sensing system may comprise and/or be communicatively coupled to a collision detection module, which may use the sensor data acquired by the adaptive sensing system to detect potential collisions.

Abstract: A thermal sensing device can include an electromagnetic radiation source configured to generate electromagnetic radiation, a first antenna configured to direct electromagnetic radiation generated by the radiation source toward a target, and a second antenna configured to receive microwave radiation emitted from an internal portion of the target. The thermal sensing device can also include a microwave sensor coupled to the second antenna and configured to acquire sensor data regarding the microwave radiation emitted from an internal portion of the target. A processing device, included in the thermal sensing device, can be configured to produce thermal data based on the sensor data.

Abstract: An adaptive sensing system is configured to acquire sensor data pertaining to objects in the vicinity of a land vehicle. The adaptive sensing system may be configured to identify objects that are at least partially obscured by other objects and, in response, the adaptive sensing system may be configured to modify the configuration of one or more sensors to obtain additional information pertaining to the obscured objects. The adaptive sensing system may comprise and/or be communicatively coupled to a collision detection module, which may use the sensor data acquired by the adaptive sensing system to detect potential collisions.

Abstract: A method for providing an environmental impact rating for a solar cell includes acquiring power generation data and thermal exchange data regarding the solar cell using a data acquisition device, transmitting the power generation data and the thermal exchange data to a controller, and generating the environmental impact rating based on the power generation data and the thermal exchange data using the controller, wherein the environmental impact rating provides an indication of an environmental impact of using the solar cell.

Abstract: A traceable cement mixture includes a volume of cementitious material and a taggant disposed within the volume of cementitious material. The taggant includes data relating to a characteristic of the volume of cementitious material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with acoustic transmitters, receivers, and antennas. Specifically, the present disclosure provides a transducer system for transmitting and receiving acoustic energy according to a determined acoustic emission/reception pattern. In various embodiments, an acoustic transducer system may include an array of sub-wavelength transducer elements each configured with an electromagnetic resonance at one of a plurality of electromagnetic frequencies. Each sub-wavelength transducer element may generate an acoustic emission in response to the electromagnetic resonance. A beam-forming controller may cause electromagnetic energy to be transmitted at select electromagnetic frequencies to cause a select subset of the sub-wavelength transducer elements to generate acoustic emissions according to a selectable acoustic transmission pattern. A common port may facilitate electromagnetic communication with each of the sub-wavelength transducer elements.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems including a limbed vehicle having a plurality of controllably movable limbs (e.g., a limbed machine, limbed robot, etc.) and a plurality of spaced posts that the limbed vehicle may travel on using the limbs. As non-limiting examples, such disclosed embodiments of systems may be used to service an agriculture field, to enable travel over an environmentally-sensitive area or an area impassable by a conventional wheeled or tracked vehicle, and may be used in many other different applications. Embodiments disclosed herein also relate to methods of operating a limbed vehicle to travel on a plurality of spaced posts.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems including a limbed vehicle having a plurality of controllably movable limbs (e.g., a limbed machine, limbed robot, etc.), a plurality of spaced posts that the limbed vehicle may travel on using the limbs, and at least one logistical-support unit associated with at least one of the posts and configured to provide logistical support to the limbed vehicle. As non-limiting examples, such disclosed embodiments of systems may be used to service an agriculture field, to enable travel over an environmentally-sensitive area or an area impassable by a conventional wheeled or tracked vehicle, and may be used in many other different applications. Embodiments disclosed herein also relate to limbed vehicles configured to receive logistical support from a logistical-support unit, methods of providing logistical support to such limbed vehicles, post networks, and posts.

Abstract: A collision detection system of a land vehicle may be configured to coordinate sensor operation with one or more other sensing systems of one or more other land vehicles. The coordination may comprise configuring the other sensing systems. In some embodiments, the coordination comprises forming a multistatic sensor comprising one or more emitters and/or one or more receivers. The collision detection system may be configured to receive detection signal(s) emitted by one or more of the other sensing systems. The coordination may further comprise directing detection signals of the multistatic sensor. The collision detection system may use sensor data acquired by use of the coordinated sensing system(s) to generate a collision detection model.

Abstract: An array of scattering and/or reflector antennas are configured to produce a series of beam patterns, where in some embodiments the scattering antenna and/or the reflector antenna includes complementary metamaterial elements. In some embodiments circuitry may be configured to set a series of conditions corresponding to the array to produce the series of beam patterns, and to produce an image of an object that is illuminated by the series of beam patterns.

Abstract: An array of scattering and/or reflector antennas are configured to produce a series of beam patterns, where in some embodiments the scattering antenna and/or the reflector antenna includes complementary metamaterial elements. In some embodiments control circuitry is operably connected to the array to produce an image of an object in the beam pattern.