Abstract: An inspection system for inspecting a machine includes an inspection vehicle constructed for wireless operation while submersed in a dielectric liquid medium. The inspection vehicle is self-propelled. A controller is operative to direct the activities of the inspection vehicle. A plurality of status interrogation systems is disposed on the inspection vehicle. The status interrogation systems are operative to capture inspection data regarding a plurality of inspection procedures performed on the machine.

Abstract: Devices, methods and software for automated electrical connector positioning for electric vehicle (EV) charging are provided. Using, for example, the disclosed automatic charging device, a method for charging an EV includes determining receipt of an EV-side electrical connector to a charging zone of an EV charging environment. The method includes actuating a charger-side electrical connector from an initial position outside of the charging zone to a final position inside of the charging zone. The final position corresponds to the charger-side electrical connector matingly engaged with the EV-side electrical connector.

Abstract: A system for determining at least one mechanical property of a mechanical power transmitter may use thermal sensor data. The system may include the mechanical power transmitter; at least one thermal sensor disposed on or in the mechanical power transmitter; and a controller configured to receive data from the at least one thermal sensor and to process the data using a model based on machine learning to determine the at least one mechanical property of the mechanical power transmitter.

Abstract: A rotor of a synchronous reluctance motor may include: a plurality of laminations forming a stack, each lamination including: two parallel surfaces and a perimeter that define the lamination and a direction of stacking the laminations that is perpendicular to the parallel surfaces, the lamination at least partially filled with a magnetically soft electrical conductor and at least one cavity encircled by the conductor and extending from a first to a second surface of the two parallel surfaces, the conductor forming at least one bridge at the perimeter of the lamination from one side of the at least one cavity to another side of the at least one cavity. A value of a magnetic property and a value of a mechanical property of the at least one bridge differs from a value of the magnetic property and a value of the mechanical property of the conductor material.

Abstract: A method of estimating an operating parameter of industrial mechanical power transmission equipment is provided. The method includes acquiring data of a first parameter of the gearbox using a sensor, inferring a second parameter of a gearbox based on the acquired data of the first parameter by using a machine learning model, wherein the second parameter is of a different type from the first parameter and includes at least one of a torque of the gearbox, a rotational speed of the gearbox, or an overhung shaft force of the gearbox, and outputting the estimated second parameter.

Abstract: A life prediction system for industrial mechanical power transmission equipment is provided. The system includes a life prediction computing device, the life prediction computing device including at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device, and the at least one processor programmed to receive data of a gearbox measured by one or more sensors, predict remaining useful lifetime of the gearbox based on the received data by using a machine learning model, and output the predicted life of the gearbox.

Abstract: A system for data driven diagnostics of a machine including a machine learning model instantiated in a computer, the machine learning model being configured to: receive operational data of the machine; and process the operational data to determine machine diagnostics information. The machine learning model is trained using simulated defect information received from a simulation environment.

Abstract: A sensor system for monitoring a device, the sensor system including a housing, a base configured to attach the sensor system to the device to be monitored, a sensor configured to obtain data related to at least one operating parameter of the device, and an integral energy harvesting device configured to provide at least a portion of the energy required to operate the sensor system.

Abstract: A method for predicting and updating gearbox lifetime expectancies is provided. The method includes: determining, by a computing system, a lifetime expectancy of a gearbox located at a first location; obtaining, by the computing system and from a computing device at the first location, sensor measurements associated with the gearbox; updating, by the computing system, the lifetime expectancy of the gearbox based on the sensor measurements; and causing, by the computing system, display of the updated lifetime expectancy of the gearbox.

Abstract: An unmanned rail vehicle for surveillance, inspection, and/or maintenance of an industrial site is provided. The rail vehicle includes at least two carry rollers adapted for engaging on an upper rail side of a rail, wherein the center of gravity of the rail vehicle is vertically below the upper rail side; and at least one support roller connected to the chassis and adapted for rolling against a lateral rail side of the rail to laterally displace the center of gravity of the rail vehicle with respect to the upper rail side.

Abstract: A transmission includes a housing, a plurality of components, and a cooling system. The housing has a plurality of walls that cooperate to define an interior space and a sump configured to store lubricating fluid in use of the transmission. The plurality of components are arranged in the interior space and configured to cooperatively transmit rotational power between an input shaft and an output shaft of the transmission to reduce a rotational speed of the output shaft relative to a rotational speed of the input shaft in use of the transmission. At least one of the plurality of components is supplied with lubricating fluid stored by the sump in use of the transmission. The cooling system is supported by the housing.

Abstract: Transmissions and methods therefor are disclosed herein. A transmission includes a housing, an input shaft, and a cooling unit. The input shaft extends outside of the housing and is configured to receive rotational power from a rotational power source. The cooling unit is supported by the input shaft. The cooling unit includes a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method for automated gearbox design includes: instantiating the gearbox model having an initial parameter state in a modeling environment; analyzing and/or characterizing the gearbox model in the modeling environment to determine gearbox model performance; and determining whether the gearbox model performance satisfies a performance target. Upon a determination that the gearbox model performance does not satisfy the performance target: a reward is calculated based on the gearbox model performance; a reinforcement machine learning agent determines a parameter change action based on the reward and a current parameter state of the gearbox model; and an updated parameter state of the gearbox model is determined based on the parameter change action.

Abstract: A cooling device includes a body formed into an elongate strip having upper and lower surfaces. The elongate strip is configured to contact the housing along the lower surface for conductive heat transfer from the housing to the body. Each of a plurality of cooling fins is attached to the strip and extends from one end attached to the upper surface of the strip another, free end. The device includes a first tab disposed at one end of the elongate strip, and a second tab disposed at another end of the elongate strip. The elongate strip is made from a compliant material such that the elongate strip conforms to a shape of the housing when the first and second tabs are connected to the housing and a majority of the lower surface contacts the housing. The fins are arranged to convectively dissipate heat from the body.

Abstract: An automatic charging device and method is described that is positionable to access an underside of an electrical vehicle that facilitates hands-free connection of a vehicle-side electrical connector with a floor unit electrical connector. The automatic charging device includes a floor unit, a first slidable carriage disposed in the floor unit, a second slidable carriage disposed in the floor unit, a pivotal link coupled to the floor unit electrical connector, and a lift mechanism connected to the second slidable carriage and the pivotal link. The floor unit electrical connector is arranged to rise away from the floor unit in a direction of the vehicle-side electrical connector to facilitate a mating of the vehicle-side electrical connector and the floor unit electrical connector. The first and the second slidable carriages are configured to move in a linear xy-direction, respectively, and the lift mechanism is configured to move in a linear z-direction.

Abstract: A charging station for automatically conductively charging an electric vehicle having an underbody receptacle cavity is provided. When charging, the charging station and the electric vehicle may spaced apart by a linear distance. Other alignment discrepancies may also exist between the electric vehicle and the charging station. To traverse the linear distance and align and insert the plug into the receptacle, the charging station may be capable of moving in multiple translational degrees of freedom.

Abstract: An automatic charging device and method is described that is positionable to access an underside of an electrical vehicle that facilitates hands-free connection of a vehicle-side electrical connector with a floor unit electrical connector. The automatic charging device includes a floor unit, a first slidable carriage disposed in the floor unit, a second slidable carriage disposed in the floor unit, a pivotal link coupled to the floor unit electrical connector, and a lift mechanism connected to the second slidable carriage and the pivotal link. The floor unit electrical connector is arranged to rise away from the floor unit in a direction of the vehicle-side electrical connector to facilitate a mating of the vehicle-side electrical connector and the floor unit electrical connector. The first and the second slidable carriages are configured to move in a linear xy-direction, respectively, and the lift mechanism is configured to move in a linear z-direction.

Abstract: Devices, methods and software for automated electrical connector positioning for electric vehicle (EV) charging are provided. Using, for example, the disclosed automatic charging device, a method for charging an EV includes determining receipt of an EV-side electrical connector to a charging zone of an EV charging environment. The method includes actuating a charger-side electrical connector from an initial position outside of the charging zone to a final position inside of the charging zone. The final position corresponds to the charger-side electrical connector matingly engaged with the EV-side electrical connector.

Abstract: A vehicle-side receptacle unit is described that is positionable on an underside of an electrical vehicle (EV) and a method for operating such unit. The vehicle-side receptacle facilitates hands-free connection of an automatic charging device including a charger electrical connector of a floor-positioned recharging unit. The automatic charging device includes a plurality of movable links including a distal link and a proximal link and a pivotal lift arm connected to the distal link coupled to the plurality of movable links and to the charger electrical connector. The plurality of movable links include rounded edges and the rounded edges are configured to minimize rotational interference between links during motion. The plurality of movable links include spring loaded casters. The plurality of movable links are coplanar when in a non-operational position and when in an operational position.

Abstract: The methods of harvesting cells are provided, wherein the methods comprise introducing a processing material and a source material into a processing loop. The processing loop comprises a processing chamber and a filtering device. The processing material and the source material are circulating through the processing chamber and the filtering device, wherein the processing chamber has a mass; balancing an influx of the processing material into the processing chamber with a permeate flux of the filtering device to maintain the mass of the processing chamber at a constant value; and collecting the cells in a collection chamber. Cell harvesting devices are also provided for processing and harvesting cells using a control law to balance the mass of the processing chamber through the entire process.