Abstract: A magnetic antenna structure has a substrate (e.g., a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) carrier), a magneto-dielectric (MD) layer, and an antenna radiator. The MD layer increases electromagnetic (EM) energy radiation by lowering the EM energy concentrated on the antenna substrate. The resonant frequency and antenna gain of the magnetic antenna structure are generally lower and higher, respectively, relative to dielectric antennas of comparable size. Thus, the magnetic antenna structure provides better miniaturization and high performance with good conformability.

Abstract: Described herein is a neural network-based vector control method for the induction motor. The disclosure includes an approach to implement optimal vector control for an induction motor by using an NN; a NN controller to substitute two decoupled proportional-integral (PI) controllers in current loop; and, a mechanism to train the NN controller by using a Levenberg-Marquardt (LM)+forward accumulation through time (FATT) algorithm.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to methods for the harvesting of biomass, in particular algae, from dilute aqueous suspension. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: adjusting the pH of the dilute aqueous suspension to cause disruption of the algal cell walls and exposure of the hydrophobic tails of the algal lipid bilayer; adding at least one organic solvent to the dilute aqueous suspension; and mixing the dilute aqueous suspension. The method may also include the steps of: waiting for formation of an organic layer from the dilute aqueous suspension; and recovering the organic layer. The organic layer rises to the top of the dilute aqueous suspension, allowing for mechanical separation or decanting of the organic layer.

Abstract: Various implementations of an occupant detection system may be used in a vehicle to detect the presence of a living occupant (human or otherwise) and generate a warning. The warning may be communicated to another person(s) or to other vehicle systems to alert people in the vicinity of the vehicle. The system prevents injury and death to people and pets that may be accidentally within a parked car and unable to egress. The system may be integrated into a new vehicle or housed in a separate device that can be plugged into a power outlet within the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems, devices, controllers, and methods for simultaneous transfer of wireless and wired power are described herein. An example device can include a power converter or inverter circuit having a switch, a power inductor, a wired power output loop for delivering wired power to a wired load, and a wireless power output loop for delivering wireless power to a wireless load. The wired power can be a function of a direct current (DC) component of a current of the power inductor, and the wireless power can be a function of an induced and/or switching alternating current (AC) ripple component of the current of the power inductor. In addition, the device can include a controller operably coupled to the power converter or inverter circuit. The controller can include a processing unit and a memory and can be configured to independently regulate the wired power and the wireless power.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for incorporating core materials such as phase change materials or admixtures into building materials like concrete. The methods use cenospheres, which are then etched and loaded with the core material. The composition can also be coated with a thin film. Compositions containing cenospheres loaded with the various core materials are disclosed, as are building materials containing such compositions.

Abstract: A smart beverage container may be used to monitor user hydration. The container has at least one sensor for sensing an amount of liquid within the container. The liquid is monitored over time to determine an amount of liquid consumed by a user, and feedback is provided to the user indicating whether the user's liquid consumption is within a desired range according to a predefined profile of consumption. Such feedback may include information for indicating when the user is to consume additional liquid in order to remain in compliance with a desired liquid consumption regimen, as well as reminders to take additional liquid or warn the user if too much liquid had been consumed.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle docking system can include a docking arm and a docking station. The docking arm can be mounted on the UAV and include a rod with an interface element positioned on top of the rod. The interface element can have charging contacts that are attached to wires that extend down to a charging circuit on the UAV. The docking station can be located separate from the docking arm and have a guidance cone to direct the docking arm to a capture mechanism. Once the interface element is in the capture mechanism, a charging dome is then lowered down onto the top of the interface element to form a circuit between a power source at the docking station and the UAV's battery. Upon completion of the charging process, the charging dome is raised and the capture mechanism releases the interface element of the UAV.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are layered Heusler alloys. The layered Heusler alloys can comprise a first layer comprising a first Heusler alloy with a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure and a second layer comprising a second Heusler alloy with a fcc crystal structure, the second Heusler alloy being different than the first Heusler alloy, wherein the first layer and the second layer are layered along a layering direction, the layering direction being the [110] or [111] direction of the fcc crystal structure, thereby forming the layered Heusler alloy.

Abstract: A method for reducing the net amount of carbon dioxide generated in the manufacture of concrete by pre-carbonating calcium rich cementitious materials prior to the addition of ordinary Portland cement is disclosed. Additionally, a composition of concrete is disclosed, which is manufactured by using a mixture of pre-carbonated cementitious materials and ordinary Portland cement.

Abstract: Described herein is an approximate dynamic programming (ADP) vector controller for control of a permanent magnet (PM) motor. The ADP controller is developed using the full dynamic equation of a PM motor and implemented using an artificial neural network (ANN). A feedforward control strategy is integrated with the ANN-based ADP controller to enhance the stability and transient performance of the ADP controller in both linear and over modulation regions. Simulation and hardware experiments demonstrate that the proposed ANN-based ADP controller can track large reference changes with high efficiency and reliability for PM motor operation in linear and over modulation regions.

Abstract: Disclosed are double salt ionic liquids that include at least one organic cation and at least two metal halide anions. Methods of making the double salt ionic liquids can include combining two or more metal halide containing salts, wherein the metal halide containing salts include at least one organic cation and at least two metal halide anions. The reaction between the two or more salts at any ratio allows fine tuning, rate of dissolution, solubility, and bioavailability of the double salt ionic liquids. The ionic liquids disclosed herein can be used as a catalyst for catalyzing a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction can be an acid catalyzed chemical reaction such as a Lewis acid catalyzed reaction, a Beckmann rearrangement reaction, a Meyer-Schuster rearrangement reaction, a heterocyclic synthesis, a reaction for biodiesel production, a mercury-catalyzed type reaction, or a hydrogen-fluoride catalyzed type reaction.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to lightweight adaptive metal cooled mirrors and methods of producing the same. The metal mirror surface is integrated with and supported by metal channels which are physically incorporated into the mirror surface through an additive manufacturing process. These channels are nominally conformal with the desired mirror surface shape. A liquid or gaseous coolant may be directed through some or all of the channels to cool the mirror surface. The mirrors are produced through an additive manufacturing process which allows for the creation of a unitary optical mirror containing finely spaced channels.

Abstract: Systems comprising a composition where an imidazole is tethered to an amine and a solvent are described herein. Methods of their preparation and use are also described herein. The methods of using the systems include the reduction of volatile compounds from gas streams and liquid stream.

Abstract: Implementations include a dynamic sweep-plow microcantilever (DSPM) device for nano-machining, nano-manufacturing, and nano-imaging using SPMs (e.g., an AFM). The DSPM device includes two elongated cantilevered arms that are spaced apart at their proximal ends and on which a piezoelectric layer is disposed. The distal ends of the arms are coupled together, and a distal tip is coupled to the distal ends and extends below a plane that includes a lower surface of the arms. The DSPM device is mounted on the AFM and applies nano-machining force through vibration that is induced by the piezoelectric layers on the arms. The DSPM device can vibrate such that the tip undergoes one or both of bending and torsional vibrations, which allows the DSPM device to perform both plowing and/or sweeping in nano-scale. The piezoelectric layers can be used for sensing by collecting vibrational feedback at the distal tip using a laser sensor.

Abstract: A reflection optical filter has an ultra-thin semi-transparent layer and a thin layer of semiconductor (or dielectric) layer deposited onto a metal film surface at a certain thickness corresponding to a wavelength of light to be filtered from incoming light. Critical coupling of light to the optical cavity formed by the semi-transparent layer and semiconductor (or dielectric) layer on metal surface results in near perfect absorption of the light at one wavelength and strong absorption in the wavelength region near the peak absorption wavelength. Incoming lights of other wavelengths are mostly reflected by the device so the spectral content of incident light is changed. By controlling the thickness of the semiconductor (or dielectric) layer and/or other factors, such as the extent to which the semiconductor layer is annealed or changing the type of metal beneath the semiconductor (or dielectric) layer, the peak absorption wavelength of the light absorbed in the device can be precisely controlled.

Abstract: An example system for controlling a grid-connected energy source using a neural network is described herein. The example system can include a grid-connected converter (“GCC”) operably coupled between an electrical grid and an energy source, a n-order grid filter (e.g., where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2) operably coupled between the electrical grid and the GCC, and a nested-loop controller. The nested-loop controller can have inner and outer control loops and can be operably coupled to the GCC. A d-axis loop can control real power, and a q-axis loop can control reactive power. Additionally, the inner control loop can include a neural network that is configured to optimize dq-control voltages for controlling the GCC. The neural network can account for circuit dynamics of the n-order grid filter while optimizing the dq-control voltages.

Abstract: A sensor of a brightness limiting system of a vehicle may sense light from light sources around the vehicle and provide a light measurement signal. The light measurement signal may include information about brightness levels and positions of light sources relative to a window of the vehicle. A brightness controller may monitor the light source measurement signal and perform comparisons of brightness levels from the light measurement signal with brightness thresholds. The brightness controller may determine that a brightness level of a light source exceeds a brightness threshold and may provide a brightness control signal to a brightness control layer positioned adjacent to the window of the vehicle. The brightness control layer may receive the brightness control signal and limit the brightness level of light based on the brightness threshold at a brightness control area of the brightness control layer.

Abstract: A specimen testing system has holders that hold a specimen for testing. The holders brace the specimen so that a load may be applied. A load applicator applies a load to the specimen at a location that is between the holders bracing the specimen. A user may adjust the load applicator until it applies the desired load to the specimen. If desired, a user may apply rotation to a specimen while it is experiencing a load by using a specimen rotation system. The user may continue to adjust the load applied to the specimen or continue to rotate the specimen during loading until the specimen fails.

Abstract: A system and method for summarizing video feeds correlated to identified speakers. A transcriber system includes multiple types of reasoning logic for identifying specific speakers contained in the video feed. Each type of reasoning logic is stored in memory and may be combined and configurable to provide an aggregated speaker identification result useful for full or summarized transcription before transmission across a network for display on a network-accessible device.