Abstract: A grasp assist system includes a glove having a glove palm and fingers, with the glove worn on a user's hand. A sensor measures flexion of the glove fingers, and thus a change of position and/or attitude of the fingers is determined. Finger saddles at least partially surround a phalange of a respective one of the user's fingers. The system uses one or more tendon actuators to pull on flexible tendons. Each tendon connects to a respective finger saddle. A controller is in communication with the actuators and sensor(s). The glove may use feedback from optional contact sensors to adjust tension, and may have a built-in restorative force. In executing a control method, the controller selectively applies tension to the tendons in response to finger flexion, via the tendon actuators, at a level sufficient for moving the user's fingers when the user executes a hand maneuver.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a solution path overlay interface to transmit a solution path are described. The disclosed technology includes receiving vehicle data and external data from a vehicle. The vehicle data includes a vehicle location and a vehicle destination, and the external data includes a location and a movement path for each of a plurality of external objects. A solution path is determined between the vehicle location and the vehicle destination, wherein the solution path does not intersect with the plurality of external objects. A solution path overlay interface is generated that includes the vehicle traveling the solution path and at least some of the plurality of external objects. The solution path overlay interface is outputted for display that is configured to receive a command from an operator which results in an updated solution path that is transmitted to the vehicle for execution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for projecting one or more trends in electronic data and generating enhanced data. A system includes a data forecasting system is in electronic communication with one or more electronic data sources via an electronic network. The data forecasting system is configured to: monitor the electronic data source(s) for data that meet one or more predetermined criteria; obtain at least a portion of the monitored data from electronic data source(s) based on the predetermined criteria; create a data set from the obtained data; derive one or more data values associated with the data set over a predetermined period according to a forward-looking term methodology; and utilize the data set and the derived value(s) over the predetermined period to derive at least one data forecast metric associated with the data set.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein include a method and system for determining velocity and a motor controller implementing such velocity determination. In one embodiment, a rotatable element has a digital encoder coupled thereto for determining discrete angular positions of the rotatable element. An amount of time for the rotatable element to rotate between two successive ones of the discrete angular positions is measured. The amount of time is converted to a rotational velocity determination of the rotatable element.

Abstract: A material that facilitates dissipation of heat is provided and includes hexagonal boron nitride and alumina.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a cell culturing system, and specifically to a three-dimensional cell culturing system for neuronal cells that promotes both structural and functional characteristics that mimic those of in vivo peripheral fibers, including cell myelination. Using a dual hydrogel construct and spheroids comprising neuronal cells, the present disclosure provides methods, devices, and systems for in vitro spatially-controlled, three-dimensional models that permit intra- and extra-cellular electro-physiological measurements and recordings. The three-dimensional hydrogel constructs allow for flexibility in incorporated cell types, geometric fabrication, and electrical manipulation, providing viable systems for culture, perturbation, and testing of biomimetic neural growth with physiologically-relevant results.

Abstract: An apparatus that combines an antenna and telescope to minimize system mass without compromising performance of either the antenna or telescope. The apparatus includes a sub-reflector placed before a prime focus feed of a hybrid reflector system. The apparatus also includes a radio frequency (RF) reflector is rigidly attached to a body of a spacecraft and an optical section is attached to a vibration isolation platform.

Abstract: A system and method of warning and planning failure responses using an automated failure response system including, providing an electro-mechanical system having mechanical and electrical components and providing a failure response system for diagnosing failures of the components. The failure response system then determines effects of said failures on carrying out system activities using the failure response system, quantifies a severity for each failure diagnosed by the failure response system, and identifies repairs for each component failure. The failure response system also prioritizes each failure of a component based on severity and then recommends which repairs should be prioritized as most urgent to keep the electro-mechanical system operational based upon the severity of the associated failures and the effects of their corresponding failure.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a method of calculating an angle of impact of a bloodstain is performed by a device for calculating an angle of impact of a bloodstain and includes obtaining a captured image of an analysis target by using a camera, extracting a spatter stain included in the analysis target, by analyzing the obtained captured image, calculating a major axis length and a minor axis length of the spatter stain, estimating an angle of impact of the spatter stain by using the major axis length and the minor axis length of the spatter stain, and outputting the spatter stain and the angle of impact of the spatter stain.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing the threat of derailment of a train during deceleration is provided. An individualized braking force for each rail car of a train, such individualized braking force being determined by the braking deceleration of the train's locomotive, may be calculated by the rail car's controller and is directly proportional to the mass of the rail car. The controller may utilize the various forces acting upon the individual rail car as measured by a plurality of sensing and measuring devices to dynamically adjust the braking force applied to the individual rail car's brakes. Such a system and method allows for the train to act as a single body mass When decelerating to eliminate rail car pile-up and reduce the threat of derailment.

Abstract: A method for sorting unsystematic environment risk of underground storage tank systems includes: generating an unsystematic environmental site assessment priority list for the underground storage tank systems using a risk weight assessment module based on facility level factor data and operational status factor data of each underground storage tank system; obtaining an actual soil gas detection data for each underground storage tank system after conducting an environmental site assessment on the priority list; and generating an investigation list according to the contamination potential assessment result of each underground storage tank system using a contamination potential assessment module based on the actual soil gas detection data as a basis for subsequent investigation and regulation on the underground storage tank systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing an exchange for physicals (EFP) may comprise receiving, with a matching engine module in communication with a processor, EFP data comprising an amount of securities to be traded and a price. The matching engine module may calculate a first delta percentage between the EFP data and an index based on the amount, the price, and an index value. The matching engine module may calculate a residual delta based on the first delta percentage and an index notional value. The matching engine module may attribute the residual delta to the securities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method and system for crater detection in planetary data based on marked point processes (MPP), effective for various object detection tasks in Earth observation, and for planetary image registration. The resulting spatial features are exploited for registration, together with fitness functions based on the MPP energy, on the mean directed Hausdorff distance, and on the mutual information. Two different methods—one based on birth-death processes and region-of-interest analysis, and the other based on graph cuts and decimated wavelets—are included within the present framework. Experimental results confirmed the effectiveness of the present invention in terms of crater detection performance and sub-pixel registration accuracy.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to ATPA technology that provides a method for the real-time assessment of the polymerization of a sample, e.g., whole blood or blood plasma coagulation, by a non-contact acoustic tweezing device. The acoustic tweezing technology integrates photo-optical tests used in plasma coagulation assays with mechanical (viscoelastic) tests used in whole blood analysis. Its key disruptive features are the increased reliability and accuracy due to non-contact measurement, low sample volume requirement, relatively short procedure time (less than 10 minutes), and the ability to assess the level of Factor XIII function from measurements of the fibrin network formation time.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for the flameless premixed combustion of the pyrolysis gases of a milligram-sized sample of solid material in a microscale fire calorimeter (MFC) at high temperatures of combustion and under precisely controlled fuel-to-oxygen ratios. The microscale fire calorimeter (MFC) device and techniques set out herein provide for the generation of fuel gases from solids and the mixing of those fuel gases with oxygen under controlled conditions to obtain precise fuel/oxygen ratios during combustion. Combustion is conducted under flameless, premixed conditions in a rapid test that can generate soot and other products of incomplete combustion, which may then be analyzed to determine their type and nature. This allows for microscale, accurate, and convenient techniques for the generation and determination of the type and nature of combustion species produced over the full range of fire stages from early stage (over-ventilated) fires to late-stage (under-ventilated/high-toxicity) fires.

Abstract: A hardware encryption module with reconfigurable security algorithms for randomly selecting block ciphers, stream ciphers, and their components, for internet of things (IoT) and data security applications. A corresponding system contains a hardware number generator for generating unique secrets in digital and wireless communication protocols. The system contains a cryptographically secure pseudorandom number generator for creating deterministic random sequences for the reconfigurable logic module. The system contains a multiplexing scheme to send keys and cipher texts in accordance with a wireless communication protocol. The hardware encryption module can be used to reconfigure block cipher algorithms, modes of operation, key scheduling algorithms, confusion functions, and/or round orders, based on reconfigurable logic. One type of reconfigurable logic allows stream cipher algorithms and key mixing keys to be changed at random.

Abstract: A tension-measurement device configured to determine a tension in a line includes a body. The body includes a first portion, a second portion extending from the first portion of the body, and a third portion extending from the first portion of the body. The line is configured to extend at least partially through the second and third portions of the body. A first sensor is coupled to the body and is configured to measure a strain on the body when a first portion of the line is placed under tension. The tension in the first portion of the line is configured to be determined based at least partially upon the strain.

Abstract: A laminate has a composite coating on a substrate. The substrate is a polymeric substrate with a surface resistivity of 4×102 to 1×108?/?; or a textured substrate with surface features which are 100 nm to 10 microns high. The composite coating comprising a tie layer of a nickel-chromium alloy; a layer of a reflective metal; a layer of aluminum oxide; a layer of silicon oxide; and optionally a layer of indium tin oxide. The laminate has a solar absorbance at a wavelength of 0.25 microns to 2.5 microns of between 0.07 and 0.7; and the laminate has an IR emittance of 0.1 to 0.8. Solar absorbance and IR emittance of the laminate may be independently to control the ratio of solar absorbance to IR emittance. Solar absorbance may be adjusted by changing the surface resistance or degree of texturing on the substrate. IR emittance may be adjusted by changing oxide film thickness.

Abstract: This system combines 3D printing technology with artificially modified cells for production of nonliving biomaterials. A 3D printer deposits a 3D array of bioengineered cells in the shape of a selected product. The cells are programmed to produce biomaterials in regulated amounts. The cell array deposits biomaterials onto a substrate. The cells and substrate are then removed, leaving a finished, nonliving product with microscale structure and precision.

Abstract: A rigid radiation reflector is fabricated from a powdered material transparent to light in a wavelength band extending from approximately 0.2 micrometers to at least 8 micrometers. The powdered material is dispersed in a liquid wherein the powdered material is at least 95% insoluble in the liquid. The resulting mixture is molded under pressure at room temperature and then sintered to generate a porous solid. The porous solid is cooled to room temperature. A surface of the porous solid is then coated with a light-reflecting metal.