Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods for automatically determining liquid coverage on plant surfaces. More particularly, in certain embodiments, presented herein is a system for receiving an image depicting one or more plant surfaces, automatically identifying the plant surfaces in the image and distinguishing portions covered by liquid, and automatically determining a liquid coverage value. In some embodiments, the system determines changes to liquid spraying parameters to achieve desired liquid coverage values. In some embodiments, the system uses two cameras to cooperatively conduct background removal in images and determination of liquid coverage.

Abstract: Separators and additives (e.g., electrode additives) for use in energy storage devices are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a separator includes inorganic particles. In certain embodiments, an additive includes inorganic particles. The additive may be used in an electrode, such as a cathode or anode in a battery. The inorganic particles (whether included in a separator or used in (e.g., as) an additive, for example for an electrode) may be functional inorganic particles that promote battery performance and/or safety. For example, the functional inorganic particles may act to reduce or eliminate side reactions or mitigate the effects of side reactions during electrochemical cycling of an energy storage device in which they are included (e.g., discharge and/or charge of a battery). As another example, the functional inorganic particles may additionally or alternatively promote ionic conductivity.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods for creating durable lubricious surfaces (DLS) via interfacial modification. The DLS can be prepared via a combination of a solid, a liquid, and an additive that modifies the interface between the DLS and a contact liquid, resulting in an interfacial layer that acts as a lubricant and/or protective coating between the DLS and the contact liquid. The lubricating effect created between the additive and the contact liquid results in enhanced slipperiness, as well as the protective properties that can help with durability of the DLS.

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods for automatically determining liquid coverage on plant surfaces. More particularly, in certain embodiments, presented herein is a system for receiving an image depicting one or more plant surfaces, automatically identifying the plant surfaces in the image and distinguishing portions covered by liquid, and automatically determining a liquid coverage value. In some embodiments, the system determines changes to liquid spraying parameters to achieve desired liquid coverage values.

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods for automatically determining liquid coverage on plant surfaces. More particularly, in certain embodiments, presented herein is a system for receiving an image depicting one or more plant surfaces, automatically identifying the plant surfaces in the image and distinguishing portions covered by liquid, and automatically determining a liquid coverage value. In some embodiments, the system determines changes to liquid spraying parameters to achieve desired liquid coverage values. In some embodiments, the system uses two cameras to cooperatively conduct background removal in images and determination of liquid coverage.

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods for waterless, contactless systems and methods for cleaning solar panels that can be applied, for example, to photovoltaics and solar reflector power plants. The systems and methods remove dust particles from surfaces using electrostatic induction.

Abstract: Described herein is an aqueous aluminum ion battery featuring an aluminum or aluminum alloy/composite anode, an aqueous electrolyte, and a manganese oxide, aluminosilicate or polymer-based cathode. The battery operates via an electrochemical reaction that entails an actual transport of aluminum ions between the anode and cathode. The compositions and structures described herein allow the aqueous aluminum ion battery described herein to achieve: (1) improved charge storage capacity; (2) improved gravimetric and/or volumetric energy density; (3) increased rate capability and power density (ability to charge and discharge in shorter times); (4) increased cycle life; (5) increased mechanical strength of the electrode; (6) improved electrochemical stability of the electrodes; (7) increased electrical conductivity of the electrodes, and (8) improved ion diffusion kinetics in the electrodes as well as the electrolyte.

Abstract: A position and an orientation of a user in a virtual 3D scene is determined (22), an action is executed (24) in the virtual 3D scene for the user in function of the position and orientation of the user with respect to a given place, and a result of the action is outputted (25). For at least one event in the scene consisting in a presence of at least one determined virtual content, metadata linking the event(s) and at least one place of the event(s) are obtained (21). A given event and the given place linked by those metadata are determined (241), in function of the above position and orientation and of a relationship between that event and a user profile of the user. The action regarding the determined given event and place is executed.

Abstract: Described herein is an aqueous aluminum ion battery featuring an aluminum or aluminum alloy/composite anode, an aqueous electrolyte, and a manganese oxide, aluminosilicate or polymer-based cathode. The battery operates via an electrochemical reaction that entails an actual transport of aluminum ions between the anode and cathode. The compositions and structures described herein allow the aqueous aluminum ion battery described herein to achieve: (1) improved charge storage capacity; (2) improved gravimetric and/or volumetric energy density; (3) increased rate capability and power density (ability to charge and discharge in shorter times); (4) increased cycle life; (5) increased mechanical strength of the electrode; (6) improved electrochemical stability of the electrodes; (7) increased electrical conductivity of the electrodes, and (8) improved ion diffusion kinetics in the electrodes as well as the electrolyte.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods for creating durable lubricious surfaces (DLS) via interfacial modification. The DLS can be prepared via a combination of a solid, a liquid, and an additive that modifies the interface between the DLS and a contact liquid, resulting in an interfacial layer that acts as a lubricant and/or protective coating between the DLS and the contact liquid. The lubricating effect created between the additive and the contact liquid results in enhanced slipperiness, as well as the protective properties that can help with durability of the DLS.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods for creating durable lubricious surfaces (DLS) via interfacial modification. The DLS can be prepared via a combination of a solid, a liquid, and an additive that modifies the interface between the DLS and a contact liquid, resulting in an interfacial layer that acts as a lubricant and/or protective coating between the DLS and the contact liquid. The lubricating effect created between the additive and the contact liquid results in enhanced slipperiness, as well as the protective properties that can help with durability of the DLS.

Abstract: Described herein is an aqueous aluminum ion battery featuring an aluminum or aluminum alloy/composite anode, an aqueous electrolyte, and a manganese oxide, aluminosilicate or polymer-based cathode. The battery operates via an electrochemical reaction that entails an actual transport of aluminum ions between the anode and cathode. The compositions and structures described herein allow the aqueous aluminum ion battery described herein to achieve: (1) improved charge storage capacity; (2) improved gravimetric and/or volumetric energy density; (3) increased rate capability and power density (ability to charge and discharge in shorter times); (4) increased cycle life; (5) increased mechanical strength of the electrode; (6) improved electrochemical stability of the electrodes; (7) increased electrical conductivity of the electrodes, and (8) improved ion diffusion kinetics in the electrodes as well as the electrolyte.

Abstract: Described herein is an aqueous aluminum ion battery featuring an aluminum or aluminum alloy/composite anode, an aqueous electrolyte, and a manganese oxide, aluminosilicate or polymer-based cathode. The battery operates via an electrochemical reaction that entails an actual transport of aluminum ions between the anode and cathode. The compositions and structures described herein allow the aqueous aluminum ion battery described herein to achieve: (1) improved charge storage capacity; (2) improved gravimetric and/or volumetric energy density; (3) increased rate capability and power density (ability to charge and discharge in shorter times); (4) increased cycle life; (5) increased mechanical strength of the electrode; (6) improved electrochemical stability of the electrodes; (7) increased electrical conductivity of the electrodes, and (8) improved ion diffusion kinetics in the electrodes as well as the electrolyte.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for applying a geometric warp to the light field capture of a 3D scene, consisting of several views of the scene taken from different viewpoints. The warp is specified as a set of (source point, target point) positional constraints on a subset of the views. These positional constraints are propagated to all the views and a warped image is generated for each view, in such a way that these warped images are geometrically consistent in 3D across the views.

Abstract: Described herein is an aqueous aluminum ion battery featuring an aluminum or aluminum alloy/composite anode, an aqueous electrolyte, and a manganese oxide, aluminosilicate or polymer-based cathode. The battery operates via an electrochemical reaction that entails an actual transport of aluminum ions between the anode and cathode. The compositions and structures described herein allow the aqueous aluminum ion battery described herein to achieve: (1) improved charge storage capacity; (2) improved gravimetric and/or volumetric energy density; (3) increased rate capability and power density (ability to charge and discharge in shorter times); (4) increased cycle life; (5) increased mechanical strength of the electrode; (6) improved electrochemical stability of the electrodes; (7) increased electrical conductivity of the electrodes, and (8) improved ion diffusion kinetics in the electrodes as well as the electrolyte.

Abstract: A virtual reality apparatus includes a virtual reality display screen. Further, the virtual reality apparatus includes an eye tracking system that tracks a gaze direction of one or more eyes of a user to determine an object of focus in a virtual reality display. In addition, the virtual reality apparatus includes a processor. The virtual reality apparatus also includes a memory having a set of instructions that when executed by the processor causes the virtual reality apparatus to estimate one or more pupil dimensions of the one or more eyes based upon a luminance of virtual reality imagery displayed by the virtual reality display. The virtual reality apparatus is further caused to determine a focal plane based upon the estimated one or more pupil dimensions.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods for creating durable lubricious surfaces (DLS) via interfacial modification. The DLS can be prepared via a combination of a solid, a liquid, and an additive that modifies the interface between the DLS and a contact liquid, resulting in an interfacial layer that acts as a lubricant and/or protective coating between the DLS and the contact liquid. The lubricating effect created between the additive and the contact liquid results in enhanced slipperiness, as well as the protective properties that can help with durability of the DLS.

Abstract: Nanoscale emulsions can be made by means of condensing a liquid vapor onto another liquid. The precise size, chemical composition, and density of emulsions may be controlled through varying the experimental parameters, such as surfactant concentration, time of condensation, humidity, and temperature.

Abstract: A method for sculpting a template 3D model comprises receiving (12) a deformation to be applied to the template 3D model. In response to the received deformation, at least one action is executed (13) on at least the template 3D model or a reference 3D model. Such an action uses a set of dependency data representing interrelations between the reference 3D model and the template 3D model, the action(s) providing a user with a corrective feedback on the deformation to be applied, that feedback being adapted to enable the user to avoid exceeding deformation bounds in applying the deformation. The user sculpting the template 3D model can thus be guided during the modeling process.

Abstract: A position and an orientation of a user in a virtual 3D scene is determined (22), an action is executed (24)in the virtual 3D scene for the user in function of the position and orientation of the user with respect to a given place, and a result of the action is outputted (25). For at least one event in the scene consisting in a presence of at least one determined virtual content, metadata linking the event(s) and at least one place of the event(s) are obtained (21). A given event and the given place linked by those metadata are determined (241), in function of the above position and orientation and of a relationship between that event and a user profile of the user. The action regarding the determined given event and place is executed.