Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrochemical energy storage for high-power and high-energy autonomous applications, including autonomous electric vehicles having remote active drive cycle monitoring and/or governance and thermal management control, are described. For autonomous vehicles, the apparatus includes: at least one high-power, low-energy density tertiary storage battery having low cost, and designed to wear and be replaceable; at least one high energy density core battery; at least one intermediate power and energy density secondary battery for buffering the load on the core battery; and a battery controller. The autonomous vehicle energy requirement and consumption rate are provided in such a manner that performance degradation over the life of the system is reduced.

Abstract: A swab roller formed from an elongated stem having a first end terminating with a covering and a second end terminating with a covering. A casing tube placed over a portion of the elongated stem is sized to allow the rotation of the elongated stem within the casing tube. The covering is formed from an absorbent material such as cotton or foam. The swab roller can be constructed of inexpensive components, such as paper for general use or from medical grade materials or sterile packaging for specialty use.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel composition of the elution mobile phase for virus purification by immunoaffinity chromatography which is consisting of one or more amino acids: L-serine, L-asparagine, or L-glutamine, or their salts with pharmaceutically acceptable acids; one or more auxiliary ingredients: L-arginine, glycine or imidazole, or their salts with pharmaceutically acceptable acids; one or more pharmaceutically acceptable pH adjusting agents for correcting the pH value of the mobile phase from pH=6.0-8.0; and purified water, up to 100% w/w of the mobile phase composition. The invention provides the use of immunoaffinity chromatography as a key step in the production of viral vaccines and/or viral vectors, in separation of infectious from non-infectious viral particles, and for enrichment of the viral suspension in infectious viral particles.

Abstract: A process for the purification of influenza virus or derivative thereof requires providing a source of influenza virus or derivative thereof, optionally subjecting the source to a pre-purification step, followed by subjecting the source to at least one chromatographic step on chromatographic material selected from the group consisting of porous particles having mean pore sizes of at least 20 nm, perfusion particles, gel-in-a-shell particles, tentacle like particles, membrane adsorbers, and monoliths, and collecting fractions eluted from the chromatographic material that contain the influenza virus or derivative thereof, excluding sulfuric ester of cellulose or cross-linked polysaccharides.

Abstract: A device comprises a fixed element, a mobile element, a physical measurement sensor secured to the mobile element and a link allowing a transmission of information between the sensor and the fixed element, the sensor generating a primary signal representative of the physical measurement. The device further comprises a converter of the primary signal into a light signal. The converter is secured to the mobile element. The link is an optical path. The light signal is propagated freely between the fixed element and the mobile element along the optical path. The sensor comprises a power supply module receiving energy from the fixed element without contact.

Abstract: A method includes receiving and storing, at a server, retail product data related to a retail product offered for sale at a retailer, the retail product data including text data corresponding to a description of the retail product, price data corresponding to a price of the retail product, and image data corresponding to a graphical image of the retail product. The method also includes receiving, at the server, links to content generated by a content-generating user, the content being associated with retail products. The method also includes identifying, at the server, a link from the plurality of links that corresponds to content associated with the retail product offered for sale at the retailer. The method also includes generating, at the server, a web page that displays the product data, including the text data, the price data, and the image data for the retail product offered for sale at the retailer and that displays the identified link.

Abstract: The invention relates to a humanoid robot comprising two elements connected by a spherical joint with three degrees of freedom in rotation, the joint being moved by three actuators each acting in one of the three degrees of freedom. The invention is of particular use in the production of humanoid robots coming as close as possible to the human anatomy. According to the invention, the first and the second of the actuators act in parallel and the third of the actuators acts in series with the first and the second of the actuators.

Abstract: A process for producing at least one photonic component (32, 33, 35, 39, 41), includes inserting the photonic component (32, 33, 35, 39, 41) into a surface layer (12) of a semiconductor wafer and/or within a semiconductor wafer, especially of a semiconductor chip (11, 31, 34, 38, 40) for the simpler and more cost-effective production with the most desired possible three-dimensional structures. At least one laser beam (22) is coupled into the material of the surface layer (12) and/or of the semiconductor wafer, in which the laser beam (22) is focused at a predetermined depth in the material. At least one property of the material and/or the material structure is changed in the area of focus (23, 36).

Abstract: A humanoid robot includes a spherical joint with three degrees of freedom in rotation about three axes, the spherical joint connecting a first element and a second element of the robot, and three actuators for moving the spherical joint. The three actuators include a first actuator coupled to the first element, a second actuator coupled to the second element and the first actuator, and a third actuator coupled to the second element and the first actuator. The second actuator and the third actuator act in parallel and coupled together. The first actuator acts in series with the second actuator and the third actuator about a first axis of the three axes. An angular range of movement about the first axis is greater than an angular range of movement about either a second axis or a third axis of the three axes.

Abstract: A converter for converting mechanical energy into hydraulic energy and a robot implementing the converter are disclosed. The converter includes a shaft rotated about a first axis relative to a casing, a hub defining a bore about a second axis, the shaft rotating in the bore. The first axis is parallel to the second axis, and a distance between the first axis and second axis defines an eccentricity. At least two pistons are movably disposed in radial housings of the shaft with the at least two pistons bearing against the bore. Movement of the pistons feed a hydraulic fluid into one of two annular grooves of the casing arranged in an arc of a circle about the first axis, and the hub is configured to translate along a third axis to modify the value of the eccentricity between two extreme values.

Abstract: A method includes receiving and storing, at a server, retail product data related to a retail product offered for sale at a retailer, the retail product data including text data corresponding to a description of the retail product, price data corresponding to a price of the retail product, and image data corresponding to a graphical image of the retail product. The method also includes receiving, at the server, links to content generated by a content-generating user, the content being associated with retail products. The method also includes identifying, at the server, a link from the plurality of links that corresponds to content associated with the retail product offered for sale at the retailer. The method also includes generating, at the server, a web page that displays the product data, including the text data, the price data, and the image data for the retail product offered for sale at the retailer and that displays the identified link.

Abstract: A method includes receiving and storing, at a server, a project listing associated with a project that includes at least one shopping-related activity and providing access to the project listing to users. The method also includes receiving, at the server, a request for participation in the project from a user and receiving, at the server, approval for an approved user to participate in the project, based on the request. The method also includes receiving, at the server, a link to content generated by the approved user, the content being associated with the approved user's performance of the at least one shopping-related activity and the content including at least one of text content, image content, and video content. The method also includes providing, at the server, access to the link to the users.

Abstract: A hexapod platform and a jack that can be used in the hexapod platform are provided. The jack includes a body, a piston capable of translational movement with respect to the body and a rod connected to the piston to follow its translational movement and by means of which the jack applies load. The rod is connected to the piston by means of a ball joint. The hexapod platform comprises six jacks according to the invention.

Abstract: A process for producing at least one photonic component (32, 33, 35, 39, 41), includes inserting the photonic component (32, 33, 35, 39, 41) into a surface layer (12) of a semiconductor wafer and/or within a semiconductor wafer, especially of a semiconductor chip (11, 31, 34, 38, 40) for the simpler and more cost-effective production with the most desired possible three-dimensional structures. At least one laser beam (22) is coupled into the material of the surface layer (12) and/or of the semiconductor wafer, in which the laser beam (22) is focused at a predetermined depth in the material. At least one property of the material and/or the material structure is changed in the area of focus (23, 36).

Abstract: A foot for a humanoid robot includes a sole having an upright secured thereto, toes, a motorized connection, independent of the ankle, in rotation between the sole and the toes, wherein the toes are able to move on an angular travel about an axis of the connection, an actuator formed of a linear jack coupled to the upright and the toes, allowing the connection to be motorized, and means for controlling the actuator in a standalone manner. The foot is of particular utility in the production of humanoid robots coming as close as possible to the human morphology.

Abstract: A hexapod platform and a jack that can be used in the hexapod platform are provided. The jack includes a body, a piston capable of translational movement with respect to the body and a rod connected to the piston to follow its translational movement and by means of which the jack applies load. The rod is connected to the piston by means of a ball joint. The hexapod platform comprises six jacks according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a humanoid robot using a spherical joint with coupled actuators and a method using the spherical articulation. The invention is of particular utility in the production of humanoid robots coming closest to human anthropomorphism. The joint connects two elements of the robot. The joint is moved by three actuators of which a first joint and a second joint act in parallel and are coupled together, and of which a third actuator acts in series with the first two actuators about an axis. According to the invention, the axis of the third actuator is the axis of which the angular range of movement must be the greatest in order to come close to human anthropomorphism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a foot and a humanoid robot having the foot. The invention is of particular utility in the production of humanoid robots coming as close as possible to the human morphology. According to the invention, the foot includes: a sole, toes, a motorized connection, independent of the ankle, in rotation between the sole and the toes, the toes being able to move on an angular travel about an axis of the connection, an actuator allowing the connection to be motorized, and means for controlling the actuator in a standalone manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a humanoid robot comprising two elements connected by a spherical joint with three degrees of freedom in rotation, the joint being moved by three actuators each acting in one of the three degrees of freedom. The invention is of particular use in the production of humanoid robots coming as close as possible to the human anatomy. According to the invention, the first and the second of the actuators act in parallel and the third of the actuators acts in series with the first and the second of the actuators.

Abstract: The invention relates to a converter for converting mechanical energy into hydraulic energy and to a robot implementing said converter. The invention can particularly be used in the production of humanoid robots in which autonomy is to be improved. The converter includes a shaft rotated by mechanical energy about a first axis relative to a casing, a hub comprising a bore formed about a second axis, the shaft rotating in the bore, the two axes being parallel and a distance between the axes forming an excentricity, at least two pistons capable of movement in a radial housing of the shaft, the piston bearing against the bore.