Abstract: A method of controlling the stability of a power converter in a closed-loop control system. The method includes inputting a variable to be controlled such as an output voltage of the power converter to a compensator or mathematical function for processing; determining, using the compensator, an error signal representative of a difference between the output voltage and a reference voltage; evaluating an energy content in a short-time Fourier transform spectrogram of the error signal from the compensator and/or evaluating the sinusoidality shape of the error signal; updating a transfer function of the compensator and other system parameters in accordance with the energy content or sinusoidality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the continuous production of low thermal conductivity endless filament yarns with a compact, homogeneous structural morphology. The presently disclosed methods utilize safe and recyclable ionic liquids to produce carbon fiber precursors from cellulose. The fibers are produced by the carbonization of cellulose carbon fiber precursors. The precursor fiber filaments have an increased tear resistance with simultaneously sufficient elongation, a round or crenulated cross-section, and homogeneous fiber morphology. The filament yarns exhibit performance characteristics similar to those produced from traditional viscose rayon. The resulting fibers are especially suited for aerospace applications in composite materials used at the limits of high temperatures, for instance in structures found in rocket nozzles or atmospheric reentry heat shields on spacecraft.

Abstract: A MAC design for Ku-band mobile wireless mesh network with multi-beam smart antennas is disclosed. This MAC includes an overlay control that separates the collision domain. It also has lower layer CSMA-like scheme. The disclosed design includes an enhanced PCF and an enhanced DCF for two purposes: (1) exploiting multi-beam concurrent communication capability (2) supporting QoS and mission-based communications. An efficient time synchronization scheme is also disclosed to ensure all beams can concurrently send data to the star node. Finally, ARMA or HMM based prediction schemes are disclosed to predict future traffic profile in each beam. This helps the star node to better prepare the queue content and schedule information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rehabilitation of limb motion are described herein. An example system can include a thermal imaging device for imaging a subject or a plurality of sensors for sensing force or pressure exerted by a portion of the subject's body. The system can also include a processor and a memory operably coupled to the processor. The processor can be configured to receive force or pressure data measured by the sensors or image data captured by the thermal imaging device, and calculate a quantitative measure of the subject's limb motion based on the force or pressure data or the image data.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of acylating an aryl substrate comprising combining a substituted aryl substrate with an acylating agent in the presence of a catalyzing medium, thereby acylating the substituted aryl substrate in the para position, wherein the catalyzing medium is an ionic liquid comprising at least one cation and at least one metal halide anion.

Abstract: An antenna module (22) has an antenna (21) that is formed on a ferrite substrate (31), and the ferrite substrate is positioned within a small direct current (DC) magnetic field. The magnetic loss tangent of the ferrite is controlled by application of the small DC magnetic field, thereby improving antenna radiation efficiency and increasing the bandwidth of the antenna.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for making monolithic carbon materials as single bodies containing networks of pores in the mesopore and macropores that incorporate nanoparticles of various metals and metal oxides. The disclosed methods have the advantage that such single bodies can be made by mixing the carbon precursors and metal salts together in a single pot followed by appropriate processing. The materials produced are particularly suitable for use as heterogeneous catalysts, particularly in fixed bed and monolithic reactors.

Abstract: A flow of air induces vibration of a tip of an airflow sensor. A cantilever coupled to the tip vibrates as the tip is displaced, and a piezoelectric element associated with the cantilever generates an electrical signal in response to mechanical stress or strain induced by vibration of the cantilever. A control element that is in communication with the piezoelectric element of the cantilever receives the electrical signal and derives at least one parameter indicative of the flow of air sensed by the sensor. The control element communicates or otherwise transmits an output signal that is indicative of the parameter to an output device to display sensor data to a user as desired.

Abstract: Various implementations include a fully collapsible and portable tent. For example, in various implementations, the tent includes a frame assembly that includes two or more frame members and two hubs spaced apart from each other. Ends of the frame members are coupled to the hubs. At least one of the frame members is pivotably coupled to the hubs via pivotable brackets. The pivotably coupled frame member pivot about a first axis extending through each end of the pivotably coupled frame member and the respective pivotable bracket, and the pivotable brackets pivot about a second axis extending through the pivotable bracket and the respective hub, wherein the first axis is spaced apart from the first axis. The pivotable brackets allow the tent to be moved between the collapsed and expanded positions quickly and with minimal effort.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are insoles useful for treating skin injuries on a foot, for instance ulcers. The insoles are customizable for each patient's foot and can include various portions of differing softness, depending on the needs of the patient. For instance, it can be beneficial for certain sections of the foot to contact a firmer material, whereas other sections contact a softer material. Some, or all, of the materials can include one or more biofidelic skin simulant materials. Thus, various implementations include one or more regions that can include the same or different materials. For example, a custom insole can include a heel support region, a midfoot support region, and a forefoot support region, and the support regions can be subdivided into medial and lateral support regions or toe regions. One or more regions may have a custom isolation segment to prevent the progression of ulcers and/or expedite wound healing.

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: An optical filter has a layer of silicon film deposited onto a metallic substrate surface at a silicon film thickness corresponding to a wavelength of light to be filtered from incoming light. The critical coupling of light to the optical cavity formed by the silicon film on metal surface results in a strong and near perfect absorption of the light at a resonance wavelength and strong absorption in the wavelength region near the peak absorption wavelength. Other wavelengths of the incoming wave are reflected by the device so the spectral content of light is changed. By controlling the thickness of the silicon film and/or other factors, such as the extent to which the silicon film is annealed or the type of metal beneath the silicon film, the wavelength of the light absorbed by the silicon film can be precisely controlled.

Abstract: A computer system may track the user's eye gaze on a display device over time using an eye tracker. When the computer system detects a risk associated with a graphical object and determines that the user's gaze is close to the graphical object, it may display a warning message indicating the risk. The computer system may display the warning message at a location that corresponds to the graphical object associated with the risk. Furthermore, when the computer system detects a risk and determines that the user's gaze is not at the graphical object that needs the user's immediate attention, it may display a warning message near the user's current gaze to notify the user. If desired, the warning message may be hidden based on the user's gaze, such as when the user moves his gaze away from the detected risk.

Abstract: A low-profile multi-band antenna for telematics applications is described, where the antenna has multiple resonant frequencies. A single feed connects multiple transceivers to the antenna. The antenna has a height less than a centimeter and a surface area of around 60 square centimeters. The resonant frequencies of the antenna are determined by a center sub-patch and additional sub-patches that surround the center sub-patch. Ferrites, placed between the sub-patches and a ground plane, are used for tuning the resonant frequencies.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods directed to routing in the wireless mesh network (WMN) with multi-beam directional antennas (MBDAs). The disclosed systems and methods describe Ripple-Diamond-Chain (RDC) shaped routing, systematic link quality modeling and artificial intelligence (AI) augmented path link selection. In simulations, real-time video as well as other types of traffic types are used to validate the high-throughput, quality of service (QoS)-differentiated, multi-beam routing efficiency of the disclosed systems and methods, as well as the intelligent path determination in dynamic WMN environments.

Abstract: Disclosed and described herein is a system and a method for thermal detection of static and moving objects.

Abstract: A cutting blade for use in a lawnmower or other cutting device has a contoured leading edge profile that forms a series of protrusions and contoured notches. Each contoured notch has a surface that is smooth and contoured such that air is funneled through the contoured notch by the adjacent protrusions, thereby causing the air to form vortices at the surface of the blade. The formation of the vortices helps the airflow to adhere to the blade surface rather than separate from it, thereby creating a more laminar streamlined flow that merges with air flowing over the opposite side of the blade at the trailing edge. By preventing the airflow from separating from the blade surface over a substantial portion of the blade, turbulence is significantly reduced. Thus, noise generated by the blade is significantly reduced as well. In addition, the blade experiences less drag, and the performance of the blade and lawnmower is generally increased.

Abstract: Methods of separating chitin from a chitinous biomass that contains chitin and non-chitin material by a chemical pulping process that uses a protic ionic liquid or a composition comprising acid and base precursor molecules are described. Also described are methods for purifying chemically pulped chitin resulting in a pure chitin material with a high molecular weight and a higher degree of acetylation in comparison to traditional pulping and ionic liquid extraction based methods.

Abstract: Disclosed are hypergolic salts with borane cluster anions that ignite spontaneously upon contact with nitric acid (from 70% to 100% in water) with short ignition delay. The salts, when added as trigger additive to combustible solvent or ionic liquids, make the resulting formulation hypergolic. The salts with borane cluster anions also shorten ignition delay in hypergols, such as RP-1, and additionally allow nitric acid to be used to replace liquid oxygen as an oxidizer. In some examples, the borane salts are formed in situ in an ionic liquid.

Abstract: Various implementations include systems and methods for automatically and continuously dissociating spheres of cells. In particular, one such system includes a peristaltic pump in fluid communication via tubing with a bioreactor in which cells are cultivated. A plurality of conduits are disposed within a portion of the tubing such that fluid flowing between the bioreactor and the pump passes through the conduits. The conduits have an inner diameter that is sized to provide a shear stress to the fluid of between about 5 to about 60 dynes/cm2, which is sufficient for dissociating the spheres of cells passing through the conduits. For example, each conduit may have an inner diameter of between about 50 and about 250 micrometers.