Abstract: A dual directional actuator may be linked to another actuator, device, object, or joint (e.g., a robotic limb or the like). A linkage mechanism may securely couple the actuator to the other actuator, device, object, or joint. Additionally, a piston axle bridge may couple the piston of the actuator to an internal or external axle. The dual directional actuator may be coupled to manifolds with integrated tee fittings to eliminate hoses external to a joint comprising one or more dual directional actuators.

Abstract: A displacement measuring cell may be used to measure linear and/or angular displacement. The displacement measuring cell may include movable and stationary electrodes in a conductive fluid. Electrical property measurements may be used to determine how far the movable electrode has moved relative to the stationary electrode. The displacement measuring cell may include pistons and/or flexible walls. The displacement measuring cell may be used in a touch-sensitive robotic gripper. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may include a plurality of displacement measuring cells mechanically in series and/or parallel. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may be include a processor and/or memory configured to identify objects based on displacement measurements and/or other measurements. The processor may determine how to manipulate the object based on its identity.

Abstract: A multi-source power supply for supplying power that includes a first rectifier configured to convert a first AC power signal from a first source to a first DC power signal, a second rectifier configured to convert a second AC power signal from a second source to a second DC power signal and a common bus operatively connected to the first rectifier and the second rectifier and configured to combine a the DC power signals into a combined DC power signal, where the common bus distributes the combined DC power signal to at least one server.

Abstract: A displacement measuring cell may be used to measure linear and/or angular displacement. The displacement measuring cell may include movable and stationary electrodes in a conductive fluid. Electrical property measurements may be used to determine how far the movable electrode has moved relative to the stationary electrode. The displacement measuring cell may include pistons and/or flexible walls. The displacement measuring cell may be used in a touch-sensitive robotic gripper. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may include a plurality of displacement measuring cells mechanically in series and/or parallel. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may be include a processor and/or memory configured to identify objects based on displacement measurements and/or other measurements. The processor may determine how to manipulate the object based on its identity.

Abstract: Devices and systems for producing rotational actuation are described. More specifically, hydraulic and pneumatic actuators that can produce and control rotational or joint-like motion are described. An actuator may be configured to allow parallel coupling of multiple actuators, and thus increase the range of rotation of the actuators when considered collectively.

Abstract: A system is provided to allow for charging of a chemical storage device without a rectifier. A gate is used in conjunction with a gate controller. The gate controller monitors input voltage and opens the gate when voltage crosses a zero crossing in a first direction. The gate monitor then closes the gate when the voltage crosses a zero crossing in a second direction. This increases the chances that the output power will have voltage in a single direction. This output power is then fed to a chemical storage device, where it can be stored and used by one or more electronic devices.

Abstract: A system is provided to allow for charging of a chemical storage device without a rectifier. A gate is used in conjunction with a gate controller. The gate controller monitors input voltage and opens the gate when voltage crosses a zero crossing in a first direction. The gate monitor then closes the gate when the voltage crosses a zero crossing in a second direction. This increases the chances that the output power will have voltage in a single direction. This output power is then fed to a chemical storage device, where it can be stored and used by one or more electronic devices.

Abstract: A rotational hydraulic joint may include an extension chamber and a retraction chamber. Each chamber may include an end cap and a piston that moves relative to the end cap. One or more ports may add and remove fluid from the chamber. The rotational hydraulic joint may rotate in a cyclical direction when fluid is added to the extension chamber and in a countercyclical direction when fluid is added to the retraction chamber. The chambers may each include a torus-shaped cavity. Bladders may prevent fluid from leaking out of the rotational hydraulic joint. Stationary and movable electrodes may be coupled to the end cap and piston respectively. A plurality of rotational hydraulic joints may be combined to create a compound joint.

Abstract: A displacement measuring cell may be used to measure linear and/or angular displacement. The displacement measuring cell may include movable and stationary electrodes in a conductive fluid. Electrical property measurements may be used to determine how far the movable electrode has moved relative to the stationary electrode. The displacement measuring cell may include pistons and/or flexible walls. The displacement measuring cell may be used in a touch-sensitive robotic gripper. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may include a plurality of displacement measuring cells mechanically in series and/or parallel. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may be include a processor and/or memory configured to identify objects based on displacement measurements and/or other measurements. The processor may determine how to manipulate the object based on its identity.

Abstract: A robot skeletal component may be configured to support and power a robot. The skeletal component may include an elongated inner core and a battery coupled to and substantially circumscribing the inner core. The robot skeletal component may be configured to connect to a joint via a quick release flange. A casing may enclose the battery. The casing may be configured to seal punctures. The robot skeletal component may include a heating element to heat the battery. The robot skeletal component may be configured to transport fluid, data, and/or electrical power. The inner core may include a plurality of surface elements to transfer data and/or electrical power. The inner core may include a hollow interior, and the hollow interior may include a plurality of non-interconnected chambers configured to transfer fluid. The inner core may include insulators to insulate the inner core from the surface elements and/or the fluid.

Abstract: A displacement measuring cell may be used to measure linear and/or angular displacement. The displacement measuring cell may include movable and stationary electrodes in a conductive fluid. Electrical property measurements may be used to determine how far the movable electrode has moved relative to the stationary electrode. The displacement measuring cell may include pistons and/or flexible walls. The displacement measuring cell may be used in a touch-sensitive robotic gripper. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may include a plurality of displacement measuring cells mechanically in series and/or parallel. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may be include a processor and/or memory configured to identify objects based on displacement measurements and/or other measurements. The processor may determine how to manipulate the object based on its identity.

Abstract: A system is provided to allow for charging of a chemical storage device without a rectifier. A gate is used in conjunction with a gate controller. The gate controller monitors input voltage and opens the gate when voltage crosses a zero crossing in a first direction. The gate monitor then closes the gate when the voltage crosses a zero crossing in a second direction. This increases the chances that the output power will have voltage in a single direction. This output power is then fed to a chemical storage device, where it can be stored and used by one or more electronic devices.

Abstract: A rotational hydraulic joint may include an extension chamber and a retraction chamber. Each chamber may include an end cap and a piston that moves relative to the end cap. One or more ports may add and remove fluid from the chamber. The rotational hydraulic joint may rotate in a cyclical direction when fluid is added to the extension chamber and in a countercyclical direction when fluid is added to the retraction chamber. The chambers may each include a torus-shaped cavity. Bladders may prevent fluid from leaking out of the rotational hydraulic joint. Stationary and movable electrodes may be coupled to the end cap and piston respectively. A plurality of rotational hydraulic joints may be combined to create a compound joint.

Abstract: A displacement measuring cell may be used to measure linear and/or angular displacement. The displacement measuring cell may include movable and stationary electrodes in a conductive fluid. Electrical property measurements may be used to determine how far the movable electrode has moved relative to the stationary electrode. The displacement measuring cell may include pistons and/or flexible walls. The displacement measuring cell may be used in a touch-sensitive robotic gripper. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may include a plurality of displacement measuring cells mechanically in series and/or parallel. The touch-sensitive robotic gripper may be include a processor and/or memory configured to identify objects based on displacement measurements and/or other measurements. The processor may determine how to manipulate the object based on its identity.

Abstract: A robot skeletal component may be configured to support and power a robot. The skeletal component may include an elongated inner core and a battery coupled to and substantially circumscribing the inner core. The robot skeletal component may be configured to connect to a joint via a quick release flange. A casing may enclose the battery. The casing may be configured to seal punctures. The robot skeletal component may include a heating element to heat the battery. The robot skeletal component may be configured to transport fluid, data, and/or electrical power. The inner core may include a plurality of surface elements to transfer data and/or electrical power. The inner core may include a hollow interior, and the hollow interior may include a plurality of non-interconnected chambers configured to transfer fluid. The inner core may include insulators to insulate the inner core from the surface elements and/or the fluid.

Abstract: The present method relates to the manual assistance for the automated indexing (100) of a collection of images using facial recognition. In a first automated indexing step, automated indexing of faces within a collection of images is performed, creating sets of faces each of which comprises faces that are determined by the automated process to be representative of the same person. In a second splitting step (200), sets are displayed to an operator, who determines whether there are false-positive associations within a set. If false-positive associations are found, the faces representing different people are manually split into different sets, hi this way, there will be no false-positive associations within the collection of images, hi a third merging step (300), sets that have some degree of similarity are presented to the operator, who determines whether the two sets comprise representations of the same person. If so, the two sets are manually merged, thereby eliminating false-negative errors.

Abstract: The present method relates to the manual assistance for the automated indexing (100) of a collection of images using facial recognition. In a first automated indexing step, automated indexing of faces within a collection of images is performed, creating sets of faces each of which comprises faces that are determined by the automated process to be representative of the same person. In a second splitting step (200), sets are displayed to an operator, who determines whether there are false-positive associations within a set. If false-positive associations are found, the faces representing different people are manually split into different sets, hi this way, there will be no false-positive associations within the collection of images, hi a third merging step (300), sets that have some degree of similarity are presented to the operator, who determines whether the two sets comprise representations of the same person. If so, the two sets are manually merged, thereby eliminating false-negative errors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel compounds that function as immunological adjuvants when co-administered with antigens such as vaccines for bacterial and viral diseases, to novel adjuvant formulations which include at least one of the adjuvant compounds of the invention, to novel immunostimulatory compositions which comprise an antigen and at least one of the adjuvant compounds of the invention, and to methods for the immunization of an animal by co-administration of a compound of the invention with an antigen against which the animal is to be immunized.

Abstract: A business method is disclosed directed to attempting to saving clients money on their communications services. Specifically, billing information is obtained for a client and loaded into a database. An initial rate is determined based on this billing information, along with possibly an add on rate for add on services, which can provide a combined rate charge. At least one of the initial rate and combined rates are compared to a derived rate which is calculated by applying an algorithm to the database which applies the actual data to a plurality of rate plans provided by communications carriers to see which rate plan might provide savings for the client, if any. If savings are achieved, at least recommending if not switching to another rate plan, possibly of an other carrier.

Abstract: One step ortho-alkylation of anilines with styrenes to give chiral anilines is obtained using a strong acid catalyst, e.g. CF3SO3H. Condensation of the product to give ligand and metallation gives complex which catalyzes polymerization of propylene to give isotactic propylene or regiorandom propylene of low PDI or blocks thereof, depending on polymerization temperature.