Abstract: A worker monitoring system. The system comprises a processor, a display, a data store, a non-transitory memory, and an application stored in the non-transitory memory. The application stores definitions of associations of electronic monitors to workers in the data store, receives information from the electronic monitors via a wireless communication link, based on accessing the data store, analyzes information from a plurality of electronic monitors associated with one of the workers, corroborates information from a first electronic monitor associated with the one or the workers using information from a second electronic monitor associated with the one of the workers, and based on the corroboration of the information from the first electronic monitor, and presents an alarm indication on the display.

Abstract: An actuator assembly having an outer section and an inner section that are moveable relative to each other has a clutch assembly mounted on the outer section. The clutch includes a clutch housing, a clutch motor, and a plurality of pins. The clutch housing is rotatable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The clutch motor is coupled to the clutch housing and is configured to rotate the clutch housing between the engaged position and the disengaged position. The pins are disposed within, and extend radially inwardly from, the clutch housing, and each pin is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. When the clutch housing is rotated into the engaged position, the pins are moved to, and retained in, the extended position, and when the clutch housing is rotated into the disengaged position, the pins are movable to the retracted position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a gas valve assembly and/or combustion appliance may include identifying a flow rate of gas to a burner of a combustion appliance and determining if the flow rate is sufficient for a burner load of the combustion appliance. If the flow rate is sufficient for a burner load, a position of the valve member of the valve assembly and/or the burner load may be adjusted such that the flow rate of gas meets a target flow rate of gas for the current burner load. If the flow rate is insufficient to meet the current burner load, the valve member of the valve assembly may be positioned in a fully open position to at least partially meet the current burner load. If the flow rate is below a minimum flow rate threshold, the valve member may be moved to a fully closed position.

Abstract: A particle detection system is provided. The particle detection system comprises at least one transmitter; at least one receiver; a first interrogation volume formed by a first intersection of a first pair of a transmitter beam of a transmitter and a receiver field of view of a receiver; and a second interrogation volume formed by a second intersection of a second pair of a transmitter beam of a transmitter and a receiver field of view of a receiver.

Abstract: A thermal insulation device includes a first plate, a second plate formed to nest adjacent the first plate with a gap between the first and second plates, a porous material disposed in the gap between the plates, a sealing layer disposed between the first and second plates such that the porous material is sealed from ambient at a pressure less than ambient, and a vapor generating material disposed in the gap.

Abstract: A system for obtaining air data for a vehicle comprises a laser device that emits laser light pulses, and transmit optics that transmits the light pulses into an external air volume adjacent to the vehicle. The system also includes receive optics that collects scattered portions of the light pulses from the external air volume, and a whispering gallery mode (WGM) frequency discriminator that receives the scattered portions of the light pulses from the receive optics. The WGM frequency discriminator includes at least one WGM resonator that outputs a selected portion of the light pulses at one or more optical signal frequencies via tuning the WGM resonator other than by an electro-optic effect. An optical detector samples the selected portion of the light pulses from the WGM frequency discriminator, and converts the sampled light pulses to scalar values. A processing unit receives and records the scalar values from the optical detector.

Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA comprising a waist pad bumper system. The waist pad bumper system may comprise a soft rubber gasket located between the waist pad and the backplate of the SCBA, operable to compress to cushion the movement of the backplate with respect to the waist pad; a hard rubber gasket located between the waist pad and the backplate operable to compress to cushion the movement of the backplate with respect to the waist pad; one or more magnets located on the waist pad; and one or more magnets located on the backplate operable to interact with the one or more magnets located on the waist pad, wherein the magnets of the waist pad have the same polarization as the magnets of the backplate and therefore repel each other.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless network service provider selection are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: determining when there is there a positive balance of an unutilized allowance for at least one of a plurality of available wireless network service providers; when there is a positive balance of an unutilized allowance, designating one service provider from the plurality of available wireless network service providers as a selected wireless network service provider based at least in part on the unutilized allowance; and adjusting operation of one or more radio communication transceivers to establish a communication link via the selected wireless network service provider.

Abstract: A method of forming an abrasive nickel-based alloy on a turbine blade tip includes producing or obtaining a metal powder that is mixed with a carbon powder to form a carbon-enriched metal powder. The metal powder includes a refractory element. The method further includes bonding the carbon-enriched metal powder to the turbine blade tip. The step of bonding includes raising the temperature of the carbon-enriched metal powder past its melting point, thereby causing the carbon to combine with the refractory elements to form abrasive carbide particles.

Abstract: A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) based sensor device includes a MTJ element and processing circuitry. The MTJ element includes a free layer, a pinned layer, and a tunnel barrier, the tunnel barrier being arranged above the pinned layer, wherein the free layer is adapted to flex away from the tunnel barrier during gyroscopic motion. The processing circuitry is configured to measure a resistance at the MTJ element and determine gyroscopic motion based on the resistance at the MTJ element.

Abstract: A method of verifying graphical objects using color invariant feature matching is provided. The method comprises determining, for each of a plurality of primary color channels, a color value for each inlier pixel in an actual object for that primary color channel; determining, for each color channel, a color difference factor (CDF) for an expected object by comparing, for each of the plurality of primary color channels, the color value for each inlier pixel in the expected object to the color value for each corresponding inlier pixel in the actual object; determining a false point value for the expected object from the CDF; and determining that the expected object matches the actual object when the false point value for the expected object is lower than the false point value for other expected objects.

Abstract: A method of supplementing a satellite based augmentation system approach during low visibility conditions is provided. The method includes acquiring satellite range measurements and additional measurements from at least one additional onboard independent sensor. Core sigma values are assigned for satellite range measurements and for each additional measurement from the at least one additional onboard independent sensor. A weighted position solution is determined using the acquired satellite range measurements, the acquired additional measurements and the assigned core sigma values. A discriminator is applied that utilizes vehicle positions derived from the acquired satellite range measurements and from the additional measurements to determine if a fault is present in the weighted position solution. An alert is generated if an output of the discriminator is outside a set tolerance value needed for low visibility operation.

Abstract: A system assesses the integrity of a digital image by detecting an edge in the digital image and defining a patch of pixels encompassing the edge. The system then generates data relating to intensity and gradient magnitude for pixels in the patch, analyzes the data relating to intensity and gradient magnitude, and determines that the digital image has been forged or the digital image has not been forged based on the analysis of the data relating to intensity and gradient magnitude.

Abstract: Methods for reducing asphalt pavement thickness are provided. A method for producing thin asphalt pavement includes combining a base asphalt, an oxidized polyolefin, and an aggregate to form an asphalt paving material. A layer of the asphalt paving material is deposited on a substrate layer and compacted to a thickness.

Abstract: A Wi-Fi mesh fire detection system and methods therefor are provided. The system can include a plurality of access points, where each access point in the plurality of access points is wirelessly connected to at least two other access points in the plurality of access points. For example, a first access point can be assigned as a primary parent device to a third access point, and a second access point can be assigned as a secondary parent device to the third access point. The third access point can transmit a message to the secondary parent device when the third access point fails to confirm that the primary parent device successfully received the message transmitted by the third access point.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting security threats during vehicle operations. For instance, retrieving a route plan for a route of a vehicle from a database of the vehicle; identifying either a portion of the route or a portion of the route plan as a security threat based on an analysis of the route plan; and in response to identifying the portion of the route or the portion of the route plan as the security threat, transmitting an alert of the security threat.

Abstract: A method includes verifying that firmware of a device is trusted and contains a root of trust. The method also includes verifying that a protected storage of the device contains a private or secret key associated with a device certificate that is stored in a persistent storage of the device. The method further includes verifying the device certificate of the device using the root of trust. In addition, the method includes, in response to verifying that the protected storage contains the private or secret key associated with the device certificate and verifying the device certificate, determining that the device is a genuine device. The root of trust could include a trusted certificate or a trusted public key.

Abstract: An embodiment of an amplifier circuit includes first, second, and third amplifiers. The first and second amplifiers are configured to amplify a differential input signal with a non-inverting gain. And the third amplifier, which can be a transconductance amplifier, is configured to cause the first and second amplifiers to amplify a common-mode input signal with a gain that is less than unity. The third amplifier can also be configured to cause the first and second amplifiers to generate a common-mode output voltage that is substantially independent of the common-mode input voltage. Consequently, in addition to presenting a high input impedance and a low noise factor, such an amplifier circuit has a configurable common-mode output voltage and has a lower common-mode gain (e.g., less than unity, approaching zero) than other non-inverting differential amplifiers.

Abstract: A method for hot isostatic pressing includes the steps of providing or obtaining an article of manufacture, which optionally includes a copper or nickel alloy, disposing the article of manufacture in a shroud, the shroud defining an enclosed volume wherein the article of manufacture is disposed, the shroud being configured as a multi-piece joined structure to retard gaseous mass transport from outside the shroud to inside the enclosed volume, disposing the shroud in a containment vessel of a hot isostatic pressing apparatus and disposing a getter material in the shroud and/or in the containment vessel, and introducing an inert gas at an elevated temperature and pressure into the containment vessel for hot isostatic pressing.