Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfluidic flow process for making polymers, polymers made by such processes, and methods of using such polymers. In such process, a novel reagent delivery setup is used in conjunction with microfluidic reaction technology to synthesize anionic polymerization reaction products from superheated monomer orders of magnitude faster than is possible in batch and continuous syntheses. The aforementioned process does not require the cryogenic temperatures which are required for such syntheses in batch or bulk continuous. Thus the aforementioned process is more economically efficient and reduces the environmental impact of linear polymer production.

Abstract: A robotic fleet platform for configuring robot fleets with additive manufacturing capabilities includes a fleet resources data store that maintains a fleet resource inventory indicating additive manufacturing systems that can be provisioned with fleet resources and, for each additive manufacturing system, a set of 3D printing requirements, printing instructions that define configuring an on-demand production system for 3D printing, and a status of the additive manufacturing system. The platform includes additive manufacturing system provisioning rules that are accessible to an intelligence layer to ensure that provisioned additive manufacturing systems comply with the provisioning rules. The platform receives a request for a robotic fleet to perform a job and determine a job definition data structure based on the request. The job definition data structure defines a set of tasks for the job. The platform deploys the robotic fleet based on the robotic fleet configuration data structure to perform the job.

Abstract: A remotely controlled inswing portable door lock apparatus having a blade including a barb at a distal end and a tang at a proximal end. The barb being configured to be disposed within an aperture of a strike plate. The body having a top and a bottom, wherein the body is operably coupled to the tang of the blade. A paddle being moveably coupled to the body and configured to selectively move between a first orientation substantially flush with the top of the body and a second orientation protruding from the top of the body. The apparatus further including a remotely controllable electronics module coupled to the body and configured to operate an electromechanical electromechanical actuator in cooperation with the paddle, and configured to remotely and selectively position the paddle between the first orientation and the second orientation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to core shell liquid metal encapsulates comprising multi-functional ligands, networks comprising such encapsulates and processes of making and using such encapsulates and networks. When subjected to strain, such network's conductivity is enhanced, thus allowing the network to serve as a healing agent that restores at least a portion of the conductivity in an adjacent conductor.

Abstract: The invention relates to cross-linkable oligoimides, processes of making such cross-linkable oligoimides and products comprising such cross-linkable oligoimides. Such cross-linkable oligoimides provide articles made by an AM process with the desired process ability that permits filament formation, post cure increased strength, the desired in use temperature stability and the desired thermo-oxidative stability.

Abstract: The invention relates to wireless repeater systems and methods. In embodiments, such systems and methods involve receiving a wireless transmission signal; and processing the wireless transmission signal using a digital signal processing facility (DSP); wherein the DSP is adapted to filter at least one sub-band of the wireless transmission signal using a digital bandpass filter.

Abstract: A torque sensor according to the present invention includes a strain body, first structure Y-axis connecting portions, second structure X-axis connecting portions and a detection element. The first structure Y-axis connecting portions are disposed on a positive side and a negative side of a Y-axis relative to the strain body, and the second structure X-axis connecting portions are disposed on a positive side and a negative side of an X-axis relative to the second structure. The strain body includes four deformable bodies each including a displacement portion that is displaced in a Z-axis direction by elastic deformation. The deformable bodies are respectively disposed in a first quadrant, a second quadrant, a third quadrant, and a fourth quadrant. The detection element includes a capacitive element that detects a change in capacitance value by a displacement of the displacement portion of each of the deformable bodies in the Z-axis direction.

Abstract: A hybrid neural network for rider satisfaction includes a first neural network to detect a detected satisfaction state of a rider occupying a vehicle through analysis of data gathered from sensors deployed in the vehicle for gathering physiological conditions of the rider. The hybrid neural network further includes a second neural network to optimize, for achieving a favorable satisfaction state of the rider, an operational parameter of the vehicle in response to the detected satisfaction state of the rider.

Abstract: Personal hydration systems with cooling and/or warming capability, and the components thereof are disclosed. The personal hydration systems may include a liquid transport system for transporting cooling or heating fluid between a reservoir and a pad, which pad is configured for wearing adjacent to a wearer's body. A pump is provided for pumping the liquid through the system. A drinking tube is connected to the system for removing liquid from the system. Liquid can be removed from the system for drinking by sucking on the end of the drinking tube. A check valve is used to bypass the pump so the user will not have to suck the liquid through the pump. Alternatively, liquid can be removed by spraying the liquid out of the drinking tube using the power of the pump.

Abstract: The systems and methods generally include a nuclear power plant unit assembled in a shipyard from a plurality of structural modules, each of the structural modules having manufactured components for use in power production when moored or fixed to a floor at least one of in and proximal to at least one of an offshore marine environment, a river environment and a coastal marine environment. The nuclear power plant unit is subdivided into at least one arrangement of structural modules that includes an electrical interface for one of transmitting electrical power generated by the nuclear unit and powering a system of the unit, a communications interface for communications internal or external to the unit, a user interface that is configured to permit a user to access a system of the unit, and a network interface for data communications to or from the unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and system to develop finite element (FE) models of as-manufactured turbomachinery blades using a combination of optical topography measurements, mesh morphing and strain gauge measurements. The method and system improves strain gauge to blade tip timing correlation using as-manufactured blade dimensions with finite element modeling.

Abstract: Single-domain antibodies (SAbs) against three Yersinia pestis surface proteins (LcrV, YscF, and F1), nucleic acid sequences encoding the SAbs, and polypeptides comprising two or more SAbs capable of recognizing two or more epitopes and/or antigens. The present invention further includes methods for preventing or treating Y. pestis infections in a patient; methods for detecting and/or diagnosing Y. pestis infections; and devices and methods for identifying and/or detecting Y. pestis on a surface and/or in an environment.

Abstract: A method of enhancing an electromechanical coupling coefficient of a microelectromechanical (“MEMS”) device. The method includes applying, to a fully fabricated MEMS device, heavy particle ion radiation to the MEMS device at a fluence of at least 1×1014 cm?2. According to other embodiments of the present invention are directed to a bandpass filter comprising a plurality of MEMS devices fabricated in accordance with the methods provided. The MEMS of the plurality are electronically or mechanically coupled.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for modifying a data collection trajectory for conveyors are described. An example system may include a data acquisition circuit to interpret a plurality of detection values, each corresponding to at least one of a plurality of input sensors communicatively coupled to the data acquisition circuit. The system may further include a data storage circuit to store specifications and anticipated state information for a plurality of conveyor types and an analysis circuit to analyze the plurality of detection values relative to specifications and anticipated state information to determine a conveyor performance parameter. A response circuit may initiate an action in response to the conveyor performance parameter.

Abstract: A system for managing propellant and pressurant for in-space propulsion of a spacecraft is provided. The system includes a conformal fuel tank having an ullage operatively connected for pressurization and a propellant management device (PMD) to wick propellant to a liquid port of the conformal fuel tank. The system further includes a pneumatic circuit including a tank pressurant vent valve for adjustment of operating pressure prior to refueling operations; a vent to release excess pressurant; a pressurant metering vent valve to provide control and safety relief for the pressurant; a check valve to prevent backflow; a pressurant cat bed for decomposing propellant into pressurant; a repressurizing valve to release pressurant once cooled; a burst disk to provide overpressure safety relief; a series of propellant extraction valves to intake a predetermined quantity of propellant for decomposition; and a pressure regulator that delivers proper pressure to a series of thrusters.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a therapy boot for treatment of the ankle or lower leg. The therapy boot comprises a hard outer shell having an open anterior portion, a base portion, a posterior portion, two oppositely disposed side portions, and a pocket with an opening provided in each of the side portions. The therapy boot also comprises an air bladder comprising two inflatable chambers, a corresponding one of the two inflatable chambers being disposed on an inside of each of the side portions. Respective gel packs are also provided which are adapted to be inserted into one of the respective openings of the pockets in between the air bladder and at least one of the lower leg or the ankle. The gel packs are pressed against at least one of the lower leg and the ankle by the corresponding inflatable chamber of the air bladder.

Abstract: A system may include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for execution and one or more processors that execute the instructions. The instructions may cause the one or more processors to configure at least one parameter of a crowdsourcing request related to obtaining information relating to a collateral for a loan, publish the crowdsourcing request related to obtaining the information relating to the collateral for the loan to a group of information suppliers, collect and process a response from an information supplier of the group of information suppliers, where the response includes information on a condition of the collateral for the loan, process the response provided by the information supplier to determine whether an information supply event relating to the response is successful, and respond to a determination of a successful information supply event.

Abstract: A repeater for maintaining wireless line of sight communications. The repeater is autonomously repositional in both absolute location and azimuthal orientation. The repeater has at least two vibratory motors, or other vibration sources, which provide oscillations to depending legs against a support surface. By selectively operating one or more of the vibration sources together or independently, the repeater may be moved as helpful to maintain line of sight communication with another repeater or other operational hardware. A command signal from a remote base station controls the locomotion of the repeater to provide both a change in absolute position relative to the surroundings and a rotational change in azimuthal orientation as necessary to maintain communication under dynamic conditions.

Abstract: Provided are a high-performance composite coating and a preparation method and use thereof, which relates to the field of composite coating materials. The method includes steps: (1) ball milling a Cu powder, a Ti3AlC2 powder, an organic adhesive, a dispersant, and water to obtain a mixed slurry; (2) subjecting the mixed slurry obtained in step (1) to spray granulation to obtain granules, and sintering the granules to obtain a composite powder; and (3) spraying the composite powder obtained in step (2) onto a substrate material to obtain the high-performance composite coating.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inserting a broach or stem into a bone, the broach and stem having an associated handle for impaction. The apparatus includes: a closed loop impactor configured to provide a series of impacts on the handle: at least one sensor configured to sense the series of impacts, including sensing the bone stress and to provide real-time feedback of a condition of the bone to the impactor's impact force, displacement and impact frequency; and a processor operably connected to the at least one sensor and configured to receive the real-time feedback therefrom, and operably connected to the impactor to control the rate and force of the impacts that the impactor applies to the broach.