Abstract: A method performed by one or more processing resources of one or more computer systems is disclosed. The method comprises receiving an object at a first of a plurality of nodes from a second of the plurality of storage nodes within a cluster switch fabric, examining a value associated included within the received object, wherein the value is associated with a clock value of the second node and updating a clock operating at the first node with the received value.

Abstract: A method performed by one or more processing resources of one or more computer systems is disclosed. The method comprises receiving an object at a first of a plurality of nodes from a second of the plurality of storage nodes within a cluster switch fabric, examining a value associated included within the received object, wherein the value is associated with a clock value of the second node and updating a clock operating at the first node with the received value.

Abstract: An information handling system may establish a secure channel between an embedded controller and a processor, and request access to a resource of the embedded controller through the secured channel. The system may also receive a response to the request via the secure channel, wherein the response is based on the embedded controller validating whether the processor has a right to access the resource.

Abstract: Community-driven, context-aware (e.g., geospatially and space-time aware) intelligent research assistant systems are provided. A virtual assistant application of a user computing system may receive a query from a user and provide the query to a server. The server may determine a category and topic of the query and determine whether an application exists for the category and topic. When the application exists, the server may call an application programming interface (API) associated with the application that executes finite state machine (FSM) logic to determine a context-aware answer to the query and provide the determined context-aware answer to the virtual assistant application.

Abstract: A system including a magnet configured to move in response to a movement of a wear pin indicator of a brake assembly of a vehicle. A sensor is configured to generate position data corresponding to the magnet. The position data is indicative of a position and/or movement of the wear pin indicator. The system includes a thermoelectric generator configured to generate an electrical signal based on an operation of the brake assembly. The thermoelectric generator is configured to deliver at least a portion of the electrical signal to the sensor. The system includes a mounting bracket configured to mechanically couple a sensor housing to an actuator housing of the brake assembly. The mounting bracket is configured to provide heat to the thermoelectric generator when the mounting bracket mechanically couples the sensor housing and the actuator housing.

Abstract: A two degree-of-freedom brushless DC motor includes a stator, a rotor, a plurality of distributed stator windings, and a stator voice coil winding. The stator includes an inner stator structure and a plurality of arc-shaped stator poles. The inner stator structure includes a main body and a plurality of spokes that are spaced apart from each other to define a plurality of stator slots. Each arc-shaped stator pole is connected to a different one of the spokes. The rotor is spaced apart from the stator, includes a plurality of magnets, and is configured to rotate about a plurality of perpendicular axes. The distributed stator windings are wound around the plurality of spokes and extend through the stator slots. The stator voice coil winding is wound around the outer surfaces of the arc-shaped stator poles. The arc-shape and spacing of the stator poles define the stator as being spherically shaped.

Abstract: A gimbal assembly is provided that allows for more than a single rotation about a rotational axis in both a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction.

Abstract: A multi degree-of-freedom electromagnetic machine includes an outer case, an inner case, a stator, stator windings, a voice coil winding, a tilt magnet, a rotor, and rotor magnets. The inner case is disposed within an inner cavity of the outer case and is mounted to rotate relative to the outer case about one or more rotational axes. The stator is fixedly mounted within the inner case, and the stator windings are wound thereon. The voice coil winding is fixedly coupled to either the inner surface of the outer case or the outer surface of the inner case. The tilt magnet is fixedly coupled to either the outer surface of the inner case or the inner surface of the outer case. The rotor is rotationally mounted within the inner case and is operable to rotate, relative to the stator, about a rotational axis.

Abstract: The system and methods described herein provide a fan belt guard housing configured to contain a fan belt of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) unit. The fan belt guard housing includes a frame having a first lateral strut, a first flange extending from the first lateral strut, and a second flange extending from the first lateral strut, where the first flange is offset from the second flange to define a gap therebetween. The fan belt guard housing also includes an access panel configured to removably couple to the frame, where the access panel includes a cutout formed in an outer edge of the access panel, and the cutout is configured to align with the second flange of the frame such that the access panel can then slide along the first flange to position the outer edge of the access panel within the gap and capture the access panel between the first flange and the second flange in an installed configuration of the access panel.

Abstract: A multi-degree-of-freedom electromagnetic machine includes a spherical structure, a first coil, a second coil, a non-magnetic structure, and a Halbach array. The spherical structure has a first axis of symmetry, a second axis of symmetry, and a third axis of symmetry, and the first, second, and third axes of symmetry are disposed perpendicular to each other. The first coil is wound on the spherical structure about the first axis of symmetry, and the second coil is wound on the spherical structure about the second axis of symmetry. The non-magnetic structure is spaced apart from, and at least partially surrounds, the spherical structure. The Halbach array is mounted on the non-magnetic structure and includes N-magnets, where N is a multiple of 4. The spherical structure and non-magnetic structure are mounted to allow relative rotation between the non-magnetic structure and the spherical structure.

Abstract: A spherical brushless direct current (BLDC) machine includes a first stator, a second stator, and a spherical rotor. The first stator is symmetrically disposed about a first axis and includes a first multi-pole stator core having a first multi-phase winding wound thereon. The second stator is symmetrically disposed about a second axis and includes a second multi-pole stator core having a second multi-phase winding wound thereon. The second stator core is coupled to the first stator core, and the second axis intersects the first axis. The spherical rotor is disposed adjacent to, and is moveable relative to, the first and second stators. The spherical rotor includes a plurality of magnets that emanate a magnetic field, and each magnet has at least one of its magnetic poles facing the first and second stators.

Abstract: The system and methods described herein provide a fan belt guard housing configured to contain a fan belt of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) unit. The fan belt guard housing includes a frame having a first lateral strut, a first flange extending from the first lateral strut, and a second flange extending from the first lateral strut, where the first flange is offset from the second flange to define a gap therebetween. The fan belt guard housing also includes an access panel configured to removably couple to the frame, where the access panel includes a cutout formed in an outer edge of the access panel, and the cutout is configured to align with the second flange of the frame such that the access panel can then slide along the first flange to position the outer edge of the access panel within the gap and capture the access panel between the first flange and the second flange in an installed configuration of the access panel.

Abstract: A gimbal assembly is provided that allows for more than a single rotation about a rotational axis in both a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction.

Abstract: A stepper motor includes a rotor, a stator, a plurality of stator windings, and a plurality of permanent magnets. The permanent magnets are coupled to the outer surface of the rotor and are spaced apart from the plurality of stator poles, and each permanent magnet is shaped like an arc having an arc length and is circumferentially spaced apart from two adjacent permanent magnets by a spacing angle. In some instance, the arc length of each permanent magnet is equal, and the spacing angles are not all equal. In other instances, the arc length of two or more of the permanent magnets is unequal to the arc lengths of the other permanent magnets, and the spacing angles are not all equal.

Abstract: A two degree-of-freedom brushless DC motor includes a stator, a rotor, a plurality of distributed stator windings, and a stator voice coil winding. The stator includes an inner stator structure and a plurality of arc-shaped stator poles. The inner stator structure includes a main body and a plurality of spokes that are spaced apart from each other to define a plurality of stator slots. Each arc-shaped stator pole is connected to a different one of the spokes. The rotor is spaced apart from the stator, includes a plurality of magnets, and is configured to rotate about a plurality of perpendicular axes. The distributed stator windings are wound around the plurality of spokes and extend through the stator slots. The stator voice coil winding is wound around the outer surfaces of the arc-shaped stator poles. The arc-shape and spacing of the stator poles define the stator as being spherically shaped.

Abstract: A multi-degree-of-freedom electromagnetic machine includes a spherical stator, an armature, a payload mount assembly, and a payload. The spherical stator has a first axis of symmetry, a second axis of symmetry, and a third axis of symmetry that are disposed perpendicular to each other. The armature is spaced apart from, and surrounds at least a portion of, the spherical stator, and is mounted for rotation about the first and second axes of symmetry. The payload is spaced apart from the spherical stator and the armature and is coupled to the payload mount assembly and is mounted to rotate about a payload rotational axis that is parallel to the first axis of symmetry and perpendicular to the second axis of symmetry. The payload is disposed such that its center of gravity is at a position where the second axis of symmetry and the payload rotational axis intersect.

Abstract: A multi degree-of-freedom electromagnetic machine includes an outer case, an inner case, a stator, stator windings, a voice coil winding, a tilt magnet, a rotor, and rotor magnets. The inner case is disposed within an inner cavity of the outer case and is mounted to rotate relative to the outer case about one or more rotational axes. The stator is fixedly mounted within the inner case, and the stator windings are wound thereon. The voice coil winding is fixedly coupled to either the inner surface of the outer case or the outer surface of the inner case. The tilt magnet is fixedly coupled to either the outer surface of the inner case or the inner surface of the outer case. The rotor is rotationally mounted within the inner case and is operable to rotate, relative to the stator, about a rotational axis.

Abstract: A multi-degree of freedom electromagnetic machine includes a spherical body, an outer structure, a plurality of magnets, and a plurality of windings. Each of the plurality of windings includes a flexible dielectric substrate and an electrical conductor. The flexible dielectric substrate has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface of the flexible substrate facies the outer surface of the spherical body. The electrical conductor is disposed on at least one of the inner or outer surfaces of the flexible dielectric substrate.

Abstract: A multi-degree-of-freedom electromagnetic machine includes a spherical structure, a first coil, a second coil, a non-magnetic structure, and a Halbach array. The spherical structure has a first axis of symmetry, a second axis of symmetry, and a third axis of symmetry, and the first, second, and third axes of symmetry are disposed perpendicular to each other. The first coil is wound on the spherical structure about the first axis of symmetry, and the second coil is wound on the spherical structure about the second axis of symmetry. The non-magnetic structure is spaced apart from, and at least partially surrounds, the spherical structure. The Halbach array is mounted on the non-magnetic structure and includes N-magnets, where N is a multiple of 4. The spherical structure and non-magnetic structure are mounted to allow relative rotation between the non-magnetic structure and the spherical structure.

Abstract: A stepper motor includes a rotor, a stator, a plurality of stator windings, and a plurality of permanent magnets. The permanent magnets are coupled to the outer surface of the rotor and are spaced apart from the plurality of stator poles, and each permanent magnet is shaped like an arc having an arc length and is circumferentially spaced apart from two adjacent permanent magnets by a spacing angle. In some instance, the arc length of each permanent magnet is equal, and the spacing angles are not all equal. In other instances, the arc length of two or more of the permanent magnets is unequal to the arc lengths of the other permanent magnets, and the spacing angles are not all equal.