Abstract: A system and method for method including receiving data representing coordinates of a shape of a body part, forming a model of a flexible inner liner based upon the received data, the flexible inner liner configured to be placed over the body part, receiving, as input, a thickness and an offset of the model of the flexible inner liner, assigning a default density to an internal structure of the model; and varying the default density of the model without changing an outer geometry of the model to create a modified model of the flexible inner liner.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system, and associated methods, comprise an image projection system comprising a plurality of image projectors that project a composite image onto a build area within a resin pool. The composite image comprises a plurality of sub-images arranged in an array. The properties of a sub-image and the alignment of the position of the sub image within the composite image can be adjusted using a set of filters comprising an irradiance mask that normalizes irradiance, and a gamma adjustment mask that adjusts sub-image energy based on a reactivity of the resin.

Abstract: A parking bay comprises a front wall comprising a front opening formed in the front wall and sized to accommodate a width of a vehicle; a rear wall opposite the front wall, the rear wall comprising a rear opening formed in the rear wall and sized to accommodate the width of the vehicle; a pair of side walls extending between the front wall and the rear wall; and a sloped floor provided between the front wall and the rear wall and defining a tray-receiving opening sized to contain a tray, wherein the sloped floor comprises an upper surface defining a slope between the front wall and the rear wall.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to attachment of bands about a garment opening. In one example, among others, a sleeve band can be attached to a garment by loading the sleeve band on a band guide, aligning an opening of a garment over the sleeve band, and attaching the band to the garment along the edge of the opening. Alignment of the edges of the opening and the sleeve band can be maintained by ply aligners during attachment. In another example, a garment holding system includes a garment holder that can receive a garment and a band positioning system includes a band guide that can receive a band. Edges of the opening of the garment and the band can be controlled and maintained with ply aligners of the band positioning system.

Abstract: A dispensing control system, including a frame component having a first side surface and a second side surface, a first sensor portion positioned proximate the first side surface, and a second sensor portion positioned proximate the second side surface, the second sensor portion being separated from the first sensor portion a distance to allow a liquid spray stream exiting a dispenser of a conformal coating machine to pass therebetween, wherein the first sensor portion transmits a beam of light towards the second sensor portion to measure the liquid spray stream exiting the dispenser, the beam of light encompassing both edges of the liquid spray stream while the dispenser is stationary, is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A marine vessel has AC generators and AC loads connected by circuit breakers to first and second AC bus systems respectively. First and second galvanic isolators, which include bidirectional AC/DC inverters are connected to each other and respectively connected to the first and second bus systems. As a result, power may be transferred to and from multiple galvanically isolated AC bus systems and to and from DC energy storage systems while maintaining DP-2 requirements.

Abstract: A robotic tool has a longitudinal shaft, defining a longitudinal axis when the shaft is in a default, centered position. A lockout rod is moveable between first and second positions. In the first position, the lockout rod allows the longitudinal shaft to move with 360 radial degrees of compliance about the longitudinal axis. In the second position, the lockout rod limits compliance of the longitudinal shaft to only one radial angle from the longitudinal axis. In one embodiment the lockout rod is positioned adjacent (e.g., above or below) part of one ring of a 2-axis concentric ring gimbal. The lockout rod is shaped so as to not contact any part of the gimbal in the first position, allowing compliance in a full 360 radial degrees. In the second position, the lockout rod limits the motion of one ring of the gimbal, limiting compliance of the shaft to motion of the other ring, which is necessarily limited to only one radial angle.

Abstract: Automated Part Loader (APL) systems and methods for loading and unloading product parts within a machine, e.g., a vertical mill, are provided. The APL system is compact and has a smaller footprint compared with current automated loading systems. The APL system may include a spring-based rotatable loader arm that may be actuated to rotate, e.g., via low voltage motors, relative to a loading table, e.g., 90 degrees, and extend linearly through a side door of the machine for loading and unloading product parts. The loader arm may include a pair of pneumatic grippers configured for picking up and releasing product parts.

Abstract: Methods of creating additive manufactured parts include selectively dispensing a second composition onto a top surface of a first composition in a vat. The second composition is dispensed in a shape area according to a layer of a part to be created by additive manufacturing. Polymerization components for formation of the layer are kept separate from each other until the dispensing, with at least one of the polymerization components being in the second composition. The top surface is illuminated to expose the first composition and the second composition to light having a polymerization wavelength, thereby causing polymerization of the layer of the part only in the shape area where the second composition was dispensed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the techniques described herein relate to photoreactive 3D printing systems and methods. The 3D printing system can include: a moveable print platform; a resin tub with a membrane; resin contained within the resin tub; an illumination system; a force sensor, and a print recipe including information for layers in a 3D printed part to be built on the print platform. The photoreactive 3D printing system can be configured to: project an image through the membrane into the volume of resin using the illumination system; move the print platform in a z-direction; measure a force on the print platform using the force sensor, and update a print platform movement in the print recipe during a printing run based on the force on the print platform.

Abstract: A torque sensor comprises a transducer plate having a center area and periphery connected by a plurality of spokes and instrumentation beams. The transducer plate exhibits mechanical compliance under axial torque, but stiffness under off-axis loads. Strain gages attached to instrumentation beams detect deformation caused by axial torques. The instrumentation beams may be asymmetric, allowing strain gages to be placed in regions of high sensitivity to axial torques and low sensitivity to off-axis loads. The strain gage responses from some off-axis loads are designed to be coupled to, or linearly dependent on, the strain gage responses of other off-axis loads. This reduces the number of strain gages necessary to resolve the loads. The spokes and beams are cost-effectively formed by removing adjacent transducer plate material in simple shapes.

Abstract: A vehicle charging adapter including a connector configured to engage with a charging port of a vehicle, and a receiver coupled to the connector. The receiver includes a receiver charging surface, an indicator provided on the receiver charging surface, an inner radial wall extending from the receiver charging surface and defining a receiver cavity extending along an insertion axis, and one or more receiver electrical contacts provided on the inner radial wall within the receiver cavity. The one or more receiver electrical contacts are electrically connected to the connector.

Abstract: A self-contained no-feed-roll computer controlled corrugated board or paperboard sheet feeder apparatus 200 is configured to upgrade an installed corrugated board processing machine (e.g., 10) and includes a feed table surface 210 for boards (e.g., 2) having drive wheels (222W, 224W, 226W) in an initial variable velocity zone 220 which drives the board in a first motion profile through a first vacuum zone, and a second velocity zone 230 which then drives the board in a second motion profile through a second vacuum zone Retrofittable sheet feeder 200 also includes a controller 300 configured to receive predetermined velocity signals from the host machine 10 and generate (i) a first initial variable velocity control signal for initial variable velocity zone 220 and (ii) a second velocity control signal for second velocity zone 230 in response.

Abstract: A motor control determines if a motor is rotating at steady state velocity and then populates a table with information about each individual motor sector. At steady state velocity, the duration of the motor within an electrical sector is measured. The duration of the complete mechanical rotation of the motor is determined. The controller determines a ratio of the measured duration of the sector to a duration of a complete mechanical rotation of the motor. The ratio of sector duration to rotation duration is stored in a table. The controller is configured for controlling the motor using the table values.

Abstract: To substantially eliminate torsional freeplay in a robotic tool changer having a ball-lock coupling mechanism, scallop-like features in the form of cross-contact recesses are formed in at least one of, and preferably both of, a bearing race in a tool assembly at the points of contact of rolling members, and in the opposing inner surfaces of bores containing the rolling members in a master assembly. The cross-contact recesses are sized and shaped to receive a rolling member, but have a central void, or channel, perpendicular to the rolling member's motion in torsional freeplay, which does not contact the rolling member. The cross-contact recess contacts the rolling member at contact areas on either side of the central void.

Abstract: A parking system including a plurality of automated guided vehicles (AGVs), a bay, and a controller. The controller is configured to send instruction to an AGV to move into the bay to receive a target vehicle in response to receiving a parking reservation from a user device, send instruction to the AGV to navigate the target vehicle to a target parking space, and send instruction to at least a subset of the AGVs to rearrange the target vehicle based on a pick up time indicated in the parking reservation.

Abstract: A parking system including a plurality of trays, a plurality of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) configured to transport the plurality of trays, a plurality of bays, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a bay configuration ratio based on collected parking data, each bay being configured into one of an insert-ready state and a retrieve-ready state in accordance with the bay configuration ratio. When a bay is in the insert-ready state, a tray is placed within the bay and an outward-facing door of the bay is in an open position. When a bay is in the retrieve-ready state, the outward-facing door of the bay is in a closed position, an inward-facing door of the bay is in an open position, and no tray is positioned within the bay.

Abstract: A device and method for communicating between networked devices that define a path having a plurality of device positions includes designating a source device for a communication stream wherein the source device has a first port to communicate in a first direction of the path and a second port to communicate in a second direction in the path with devices networked to the source device. A port is selected from one of the first port or the second port of the source device for defining a direction of the communication stream from the source device. A hop count is provided indicating a relative location of a destination device for the communication stream, the hop count being an integer number of network device positions from the source device to the destination device along the path from the selected port.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to attachment of bands such as, e.g., collar or neck bands, sleeve bands, wrist bands, waist bands and ankle bands, etc. to a garment opening. In one example, among others, a band can be attached to a garment by loading the band between rollers in a joining position, positioning an opening of a garment extending between control surface mandrels over the band, and attaching the band to the garment along the edge of the opening.