Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of monitoring, analyzing, and/or validating the lifecycle and maintenance schedule of consumable wear components used in or by a semi-autonomous cleaning device can include scanning a unique identifier associated with a consumable component and receiving, at the cleaning device, data associated with the unique identifier. A signal associated with the data is sent from the cleaning device to a host device. After scanning the unique identifier, the consumable component is installed in or on the cleaning device. During use of the cleaning device, a status of the consumable component is monitored and a signal is sent to the host device in response to one or more characteristics associated with the consumable component meeting a criterion.

Abstract: A system and/or method can be provided for detecting the status of one or more components and/or systems of, for example, a manual, semi-autonomous, or fully autonomous cleaning device or the like. For example, systems and methods can be used for detecting degradation of back squeegee performance. In some embodiments, a system and/or method for detecting the status of one or more components is provided for detecting vacuum performance degradation by monitoring the current (amperage) being drawn by a vacuum motor. In addition, one or more other components can be monitored by inspecting images captured by a camera mounted on a back door of the cleaning device to determine, for example, one or more other problems associated with a squeegee mount, water pick up, and/or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame, a drive assembly supported by the frame, an electronic system supported by the frame, and a cleaning assembly coupled to the frame. The drive assembly is configured to move the frame along a surface. The cleaning assembly is configured to engage the surface to transfer detritus from the surface to a storage volume supported by the frame. The electronic system has at least a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to define a path along which the drive assembly travels and is configured to redefined a path along which the drive assembly travels based on at least one signal received from at least one sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame, a drive assembly supported by the frame, an electronic system supported by the frame, and a cleaning assembly coupled to the frame. The drive assembly is configured to move the frame along a surface. The cleaning assembly is configured to engage the surface to transfer detritus from the surface to a storage volume supported by the frame. The electronic system has at least a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to define a path along which the drive assembly travels and is configured to redefined a path along which the drive assembly travels based on at least one signal received from at least one sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame, a drive assembly supported by the frame, an electronic system supported by the frame, and a cleaning assembly coupled to the frame. The drive assembly is configured to move the frame along a surface. The cleaning assembly is configured to engage the surface to transfer detritus from the surface to a storage volume supported by the frame. The electronic system has at least a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to define a path along which the drive assembly travels and is configured to redefined a path along which the drive assembly travels based on at least one signal received from at least one sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to mobile ad hoc networks, and to ad hoc networks using aircraft in particular. A method of maintaining data links to and from a source node in an ad hoc mobile network is provided. The network comprises nodes including neighbor nodes corresponding to nodes within range for direct communication with the source node. The neighbor nodes comprise active neighbor nodes and inactive neighbor nodes, the active neighbor nodes being connected to the source node via respective active data links and the inactive neighbor nodes having respective inactive data links to the source node. One or more lost neighbor nodes are identified and revised configurations of data links are considered that account for the change in neighbor nodes. A new configuration is selected based at least partly on the cost of sending messages from the source node using the revised configurations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a distributed agent-based computer infrastructure configured to manage a mission of an unmanned vehicle that includes generating a mission plan and executing the mission plan. The computer infrastructure comprises an operator interface component, an autonomous mission management component and a vehicle systems interface component. The autonomous mission management component comprises agents configured for receiving information from an operator, for generating a mission plan from the received information including a path to be traveled, and for monitoring execution of the mission plan.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to mobile ad hoc networks that may include aircraft. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of providing routing data for use in routing a message from a source node to available destination nodes through a mobile ad hoc network. A list of neighbor nodes corresponding to nodes within range for direct communication is obtained. For each neighbor node, a cost function is used to calculate the lowest costs of sending messages to respective available destination nodes; and routing data is generated based on these lowest costs. A message may be routed to the most suitable neighbor node by reference to the routing data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to voice-activated vehicle control, and to the control of UAVs (unmanned air vehicles) using speech in particular. A method of controlling a vehicle is provided that includes receiving one or more instructions issued as speech and analyzing the speech using speech recognition software to provide a sequence of words and a word confidence measure for each word so recognized. The sequence of words is analyzed to identify a semantic concept corresponding to an instruction based on the analysis, and a semantic confidence level for the semantic concept identified derived at least in part with reference to the word confidence measures of the words associated with the semantic concept. A spoken confirmation of the semantic concept so identified based on the semantic confidence level is provided, and the semantic concept is used to provide a control input for the vehicle.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to mobile ad hoc networks that may include aircraft. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of providing routing data for use in routing a message from a source node to available destination nodes through a mobile ad hoc network. A list of neighbour nodes corresponding to nodes within range for direct communication is obtained. For each neighbour node, a cost function is used to calculate the lowest costs of sending messages to respective available destination nodes; and routing data is generated based on these lowest costs. A message may be routed to the most suitable neighbour node by reference to the routing data.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to mobile ad hoc networks, and to ad hoc networks using aircraft in particular. A method of maintaining data links to and from a source node in an ad hoc mobile network is provided. The network comprises nodes including neighbour nodes corresponding to nodes within range for direct communication with the source node. The neighbour nodes comprise active neighbour nodes and inactive neighbour nodes, the active neighbour nodes being connected to the source node via respective active data links and the inactive neighbour nodes having respective inactive data links to the source node. One or more lost neighbour nodes are identified and revised configurations of data links are considered that account for the change in neighbour nodes. A new configuration is selected based at least partly on the cost of sending messages from the source node using the revised configurations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to voice-activated vehicle control, and to the control of UAVs (unmanned air vehicles) using speech in particular. A method of controlling a vehicle is provided that includes receiving one or more instructions issued as speech and analyzing the speech using speech recognition software to provide a sequence of words and a word confidence measure for each word so recognized. The sequence of words is analyzed to identify a semantic concept corresponding to an instruction based on the analysis, and a semantic confidence level for the semantic concept identified derived at least in part with reference to the word confidence measures of the words associated with the semantic concept. A spoken confirmation of the semantic concept so identified based on the semantic confidence level is provided, and the semantic concept is used to provide a control input for the vehicle.

Abstract: A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine, which includes a bottom portion (2) intended to face at least one combustion chamber (CC) formed in a cylinder block (B) of the engine, and an upper portion (3) which extends on the other side of the bottom portion (2) from the said at least one combustion chamber (CC) and has a plurality of separate cavities (5a, 6, 7, 8) for the passage of fluids, the bottom portion (2) and the upper portion (3) being formed separately and intended to be joined together at a junction surface (10). In its joined condition, with the bottom portion (2) attached to the upper portion (3), the cylinder head includes sealing means (11, 15) interposed between the bottom plate (2) and the upper portion (3) for sealing off the plurality of cavities (5a, 6, 7, 8) at the junction surface (10), fixing means (14) being provided for holding the bottom portion (2) and the upper portion (3) fixed to the cylinder block (B).

Abstract: An overhead cam engine having a drive train including a crankshaft rotatably disposed within a crankcase and driven by a piston-connecting rod assembly. The crankshaft drives a timing shaft at half the speed of the crankshaft through a gear set within in the crankcase. The timing shaft is parallel to the crankshaft, and has an end extending externally of the crankcase with a timing pulley mounted thereon. The timing pulley is drivingly attached through an external timing belt to a camshaft pulley mounted on an end of a camshaft which extends externally of the cylinder head. The camshaft has a pair of cam lobes mounted thereon inside the cylinder head for actuating intake and exhaust valves within the cylinder head.

Abstract: A single cylinder, internal combustion engine with a dry sump lubrication system. The engine includes an engine housing in which the overhead camshaft and crankshaft are rotatably supported, and the housing includes an integrally formed cylinder and head. A timing belt disposed externally of the engine housing interconnects the crankshaft and camshaft, and a piston connected to the crankshaft reciprocates within an internal bore provided in the engine housing cylinder. The cylinder wall around the internal bore is of a generally uniform thickness and circumscribed by cooling fins such that the cylinder resists bore distortion during operation. Dry sump lubrication is obtained by an external oil reservoir connected to a pump which supplies pressurized oil to the bearing journals of the camshaft. A portion of the oil at the camshaft bearing journals flows through passages provided within the cylinder to lubricate the bearing journals of the crankshaft.

Abstract: A single cylinder, internal combustion engine with a dry sump lubrication system. The engine includes an engine housing in which the overhead camshaft and crankshaft are rotatably supported, and the housing includes an integrally formed cylinder and head. A timing belt disposed externally of the engine housing interconnects the crankshaft and camshaft, and a piston connected to the crankshaft reciprocates within an internal bore provided in the engine housing cylinder. The cylinder wall around the internal bore is of a generally uniform thickness and circumscribed by cooling fins such that the cylinder resists bore distortion during operation. Dry sump lubrication is obtained by an external oil reservoir connected to a pump which supplies pressurized oil to the bearing journals of the camshaft. A portion of the oil at the camshaft bearing journals flows through passages provided within the cylinder to lubricate the bearing journals of the crankshaft.

Abstract: A single cylinder, internal combustion engine with a dry sump lubrication system. The engine includes an engine housing in which the overhead camshaft and crankshaft are rotatably supported, and the housing includes an integrally formed cylinder and head. A timing belt disposed externally of the engine housing interconnects the crankshaft and camshaft, and a piston connected to the crankshaft reciprocates within an internal bore provided in the engine housing cylinder. The cylinder wall around the internal bore is of a generally uniform thickness and circumscribed by cooling fins such that the cylinder resists bore distortion during operation. Dry sump lubrication is obtained by an external oil reservoir connected to a pump which supplies pressurized oil to the bearing journals of the camshaft. A portion of the oil at the camshaft bearing journals flows through passages provided within the cylinder to lubricate the bearing journals of the crankshaft.

Abstract: A single cylinder, internal combustion engine with an engine housing in which the overhead camshaft and crankshaft are rotatably supported. The housing includes an integrally formed cylinder and head. A timing belt disposed externally of the engine housing interconnects the crankshaft and camshaft, and a piston connected to the crankshaft reciprocates within an internal bore provided in the engine housing cylinder. The cylinder wall around the internal bore is of a generally uniform thickness and circumscribed by cooling fins such that the cylinder resists bore distortion during operation. The inventive engine further provides for the mounting of flywheels within the crankcase cavity in conjunction with an external, lightweight fan for engine housing cooling, as well as employs a cast in valve seat for the overhead valve assemblies.

Abstract: A single cylinder, internal combustion engine with a dry sump lubrication system. The engine includes an engine housing in which the overhead camshaft and crankshaft are rotatably supported, and the housing includes an integrally formed cylinder and head. A timing belt disposed externally of the engine housing interconnects the crankshaft and camshaft, and a piston connected to the crankshaft reciprocates within an internal bore provided in the engine housing cylinder. The cylinder wall around the internal bore is of a generally uniform thickness and circumscribed by cooling fins such that the cylinder resists bore distortion during operation. Dry sump lubrication is obtained by an external oil reservoir connected to a pump which supplies pressurized oil to the bearing journals of the camshaft. A portion of the oil at the camshaft bearing journals flows through passages provided within the cylinder to lubricate the bearing journals of the crankshaft.

Abstract: A single cylinder, internal combustion engine with a dry sump lubrication system. The engine includes an engine housing in which the overhead camshaft and crankshaft are rotatably supported, and the housing includes an integrally formed cylinder and head. A timing belt disposed externally of the engine housing interconnects the crankshaft and camshaft, and a piston connected to the crankshaft reciprocates within an internal bore provided in the engine housing cylinder. The cylinder wall around the internal bore is of a generally uniform thickness and circumscribed by cooling fins such that the cylinder resists bore distortion during operation. Dry sump lubrication is obtained by an external oil reservoir connected to a pump which supplies pressurized oil to the bearing journals of the camshaft. A portion of the oil at the camshaft bearing journals flows through passages provided within the cylinder to lubricate the bearing journals of the crankshaft.