Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatus for a system includes a main vehicle and a secondary vehicle configured to couple to the main vehicle. The secondary vehicle includes a wheel configured to move the secondary vehicle and a body coupled to the wheel. The body includes a first set of retractable bars. The first set of retractable bars are configured to extend into receivers of the main vehicle in a deactivated state. The first set of retractable bars are further configured to be disposed in the body in a retracted state. The first set of retractable bars are further configured to extend into a pod and lift the pod in an attached state.

Abstract: A sensing system for hand or body part positioning detection on an object, particularly on a rim of a steering wheel, includes at least one electrically conducting signal line that is arrangeable on a surface of the object with a priori knowledge about a relation between a distance of any portion of the at least one signal line from a reference point and information on a position on the object, a signal voltage source for providing a time-dependent measurement signal to be traveling along the signal line, and a control and evaluation unit. From a received reflected measurement signal, the control and evaluation unit determines a position or positions on the object of a portion or portions of the signal line at least partially reflecting the measurement signal. Based on the determined position or positions, a hand or body part positioning on the object is determined.

Abstract: A device for generating pressure waves of high amplitude, in particular for boiler cleaning, has a pressure-resistant container (21, 40) with a combustion chamber (121) inserted therein, which can be filled with a flowable burn-off material via supply lines. The pressure-resistant container has a discharge opening (306) for the directional discharge of gas pressure generated by ignition of the combustible material. A piston (70) closes the discharge opening, can release it for directional discharge and can be pushed back into the initial position by a spring device.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle system includes a controller. The controller may be programmed to perform operations including identifying a subject in a conflict zone in a parking area by a sensor, determining a trajectory of a vehicle and a trajectory of the subject, determining a suggested trajectory for the vehicle based on a comparison of the trajectory of the vehicle and the trajectory of the subject, and transmitting the suggested trajectory to the vehicle.

Abstract: The inventors have implemented in a columnar in-memory database and studied access patterns of a large production enterprise system. To obtain accurate cost estimates for a configuration, the inventors have used the what-if capabilities of modern query optimizers. What-if calls, however, are the major bottleneck for most index selection approaches. Hence, a major constraint is to limit the number of what-if optimizer calls. And even though the inventive approach does not limit the index candidate set, it decreases the number of what-if calls because in each iteration step the number of possible (index) extensions is comparably small which results in a limited number of what-if calls.

Abstract: A computing system may include a processor. The computing system may include a memory having a set of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the computing system to determine paths in an abstract state for a first robot to progress from an origin to a destination, determine a cost for each respective path of the paths based on a congestion measurement of the respective path and a measurement of the abstract state, select a selected path from the paths that is associated with a lowest cost from the costs, and compute a motion plan for the first robot to traverse the selected path.

Abstract: An exhaust pipe lifting apparatus includes a support frame and a lift table assembly including a lift frame configured to move vertically relative to the support frame. The support frame including a roller rotatably connected thereto that rolls against the lift frame as the lift frame moves between raised and lowered positions and interlocks with a locking feature on the lift frame in the raised position.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to altering a robot command instruction set to address operating inefficiencies of the robot. In one embodiment, a system includes a processor and a memory storing machine-readable instructions. The machine-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to 1) continuously monitor an electrical current used by a motor of a robot and 2) compare the electrical current to a secondary electrical current used by the robot. The machine-readable instructions also, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to 1) identify, from the electrical current and the secondary electrical current, an operating inefficiency of the robot command instruction set and 2) generate an alteration to the robot command instruction set, the alteration addresses the operating inefficiency.

Abstract: An example operation includes one or more of: determining, by a vehicle, a type of sign that is proximate a road, based on received data from at least one sensor on the vehicle; and directing, by the vehicle, at least one portion of at least one headlight of the vehicle to illuminate the sign, wherein at least one of an intensity or a color of the illuminating is based on the type of sign.

Abstract: A seat for a vehicle includes a frame. The frame includes a headrest portion. The seat for a vehicle also includes an energy absorption spacer coupled to the frame; a seat garnish positioned over the energy absorption spacer and the frame; and a seat trim cover. The seat trim cover has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the seat trim cover is coupled to the headrest portion, and the second portion of the seat trim cover extends between the energy absorption spacer and the seat garnish.

Abstract: A system for controlling an adaptive cruise control system can include a processor and a memory. The memory can store an override ascertainment module, an intent ascertainment module, and an intent utilization module. The override ascertainment module can include instructions that cause the processor to determine, during an operation of the adaptive cruise control system, that an action, performed by an operator of an ego vehicle, is an override of the adaptive cruise control system. The intent ascertainment module can include instructions that cause the processor to determine, during the override, an intent of the operator to change a setting of a mechanism, of the adaptive cruise control system, to control a motion-related aspect of the ego vehicle, from a current setting to a preferred setting. The intent utilization module can include instructions that cause the processor to cause the adaptive cruise control system to utilize information about the intent.

Abstract: An electronic carburetor injection system is provided for an internal combustion engine. The electronic carburetor injection system is a standalone, user programmable fuel injection system that delivers additional fuel to the engine whenever a lean fuel/air mixture is delivered by a carburetor. The electronic carburetor injection system includes a fuel injector that delivers liquid fuel in the form of a spray discharge. A plate supports the fuel injector between the carburetor and an intake manifold of the engine. The plate includes an injector port that allows the spray discharge to enter the intake manifold without interfering with operating the carburetor. An engine control unit operates the fuel injector according to signals received from an oxygen sensor that is disposed within an exhaust system of the engine. During operation, the electronic carburetor injection system maintains the fuel/air mixture within a proper range across multiple driving conditions and changing environmental conditions.

Abstract: Thermal imaging may be used for obtaining measurements of a tribological testing apparatus including a contact temperature. For example a method of calculating a contact temperature may include: introducing a testing sample into a contact zone of a tribological testing apparatus; engaging a testing operation of the tribological testing apparatus; measuring a contact emission of a testing surface of the tribological testing apparatus with an infrared camera; and calculating a contact temperature of the testing sample in the contact zone from the contact emission; wherein the tribological testing apparatus has a carbon coating on the testing surface of the contact zone, wherein the carbon coating has a first infrared emissivity, wherein the testing sample has a second infrared emissivity, and wherein the first infrared emissivity is within +/?20% of the second infrared emissivity.

Abstract: A semiconductor package structure includes a circuit pattern structure, an encapsulant and an anchoring structure. The encapsulant is disposed on the circuit pattern structure. The anchoring structure is disposed adjacent to an interface between the encapsulant and the circuit pattern structure, and is configured to reduce a difference between a variation of expansion of the encapsulant and a variation of expansion of the circuit pattern structure in an environment of temperature variation.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) air filter to remove airborne molecular contaminants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from air within building spaces. The air filter comprises a support frame having a shape and size suitable to orient the air filter within a HVAC system. A compound filter medium is retained within the support frame to remove the airborne molecular contaminants and VOCs from air flowing through the HVAC system. A portion of the first media layer is pleated and may comprise a combination of media layers configured to exhibit a relatively high filtration efficiency and a low air pressure drop across the filter medium. A second portion of the filter medium is coupled to the first portion and maintains a uniform distribution of the pleats with the first portion.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to implementing predictive, risk-aware control barrier functions, the effects of which certify using predicted future trajectories the probability of vehicles (such as tractor-trailers) becoming unsafe over a time interval remains bounded by a user-specified value.

Abstract: Bicomponent carbon fibers may comprise an inner region that is at least partially surrounded by an outer sheath, each comprising at least one carbonized pitch. The inner region comprises 70 wt % or greater mesophase pitch that has been carbonized, and the outer sheath comprises up to 70 wt % mesophase pitch that has been carbonized. An amount of mesophase pitch in the outer sheath is lower than in the inner region. The bicomponent carbon fibers may be formed by extrusion of first and second pitch compositions having the requisite amounts of mesophase pitch, followed by carbonization.

Abstract: Heat pump 10 has heat-absorbing section 12 that receives heat from an outside and heat-releasing section 13 that releases heat to the outside, for transferring heat between heat-absorbing section 12 and heat-releasing sectioning 13 by reinforcing and reducing a magnetic field applied to a primary working fluid circulating between heat-absorbing section 12 and heat-releasing section 13, wherein the primary working fluid is magnetic particle dispersion 11 containing magnetic particles 11 dispersed in a dispersion medium.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for removing thermal stratification generated by turbulent penetration by using a rotation of an inner ring and an outer ring. The apparatus for removing thermal stratification removes thermal stratification formed in a branch pipe branching from a main pipe through which a high-temperature fluid flows, the apparatus including: a hollow body portion coupled to the branch pipe; an inner ring being magnetic and arranged inside the body portion so that an inner circumferential surface thereof is in contact with a fluid; and an outer ring arranged outside the body portion to face the inner ring, the outer ring being magnetic of a polarity opposite to a polarity of the inner ring, wherein, when the outer ring is rotated, the inner ring rotates by a magnetic force.