Abstract: Digital logic voltage regulators and related methods generate a regulated voltage via controlled switching of a power transistor. A digital logic voltage regulator includes a voltage level comparator, a power transistor, and a charge accumulator. The voltage level comparator generates a digital control signal that alternates between a first voltage level and a second voltage level in response to changes in relative voltage level between the regulated output voltage and the target voltage. The digital control signal causes the power transistor to switch from off to on in response to a reduction of the regulated output voltage relative to the target voltage and causes the power transistor to switch from on to off in response to an increase of the regulated output voltage relative to the target voltage. The charge accumulator decreases variation in the regulated output voltage that would occur without the charge accumulator.

Abstract: A robotic manipulator is described. The robotic manipulator includes a rigid or semi-rigid end effector that engages with objects and a sensor that detects data associated with the object. For example, the sensor can include an optical sensor or a vision-based tactile sensor that detects data associated with the object.

Abstract: A composite polymeric membrane includes polylactic acid polymer and an additive component, wherein the additive component includes activated carbon functionalized with polyethylenimine. A method of filtering a liquid includes contacting a liquid with a composite polymeric membrane, wherein the liquid includes one or more metals and the membrane includes an additive component and a polylactic acid polymer, and wherein the additive component includes activated carbon functionalized with polyethylenimine.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe an ultra-high condition prescreening protein crystallization kit, comprising: (a) gold nanoparticles coated with PEG (polyethylene glycol); (b) ultra-high conditions scaled up to screen; (c) a plurality of cover slips with a recess; (d) a plurality of greased Linbro plates. Embodiments of the present disclosure also describe a modified hanging drop method for protein crystallization.

Abstract: Methods herein disclosed include methods of producing a nanoporous membrane by coating a planar substrate (204) with a solution (solution tank 201) containing a reactive metal adatom. The coated planar substrate can then be perforated by initiating a redox reaction between the reactive metal adatom and the planar substrate that causes the reactive metal adatom to remove material, forming nanoscale pores in the planar substrate that result in a nanoporous planar material. This nanoporous planar material can be formed into a nanoporous membrane.

Abstract: A method of automatically tuning a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller (102) controlling a DC-DC converter (100) includes substituting the PID controller (102) with a modified relay feedback test (MRFT) (104) controller having a threshold parameter (?) and a magnitude parameter (h), iteratively determining a current error signal (e[k]) by measuring an output voltage (Vo[k]) of the DC-DC converter (100) and comparing it to a desired reference output voltage (Vo-ref), input the error signal (e[k]) to the MRFT (104), determining an output value (u[k]) of the MRFT, update the duty cycle (D) based on the output value (u[k]), operating the DC-DC converter (100) using the updated duty cycle (D), exciting oscillations in the loop containing the MRFT (104) and the DC-DC converter (100), measuring a frequency (?0) and amplitude (?0) of the output voltage (Vo[k]), updating PID controller parameters based on the frequency (?0) and amplitude (?0), and substituting the MRFT (104) with the PID controller (102)

Abstract: A gas compressing system including a plurality of n compressors connected in parallel. Each compressor has a suction line connected to a common suction manifold and a discharge line connected to a common discharge manifold configured to deliver compressed gas to a downstream load. The system also includes a process controller configured to control an average speed of the compressors based upon a discharge pressure in the common discharge manifold or a discharge flow through the common discharge manifold. The system further includes an adaptive load sharing optimizing controller configured to determine the speed of each compressor in the plurality of n compressors. A method of controlling a gas compressing system is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for monitoring fluid flow in a rock formation that include utilizing a tracer fluid containing a homogeneous dispersion of ultrastable magnetic nanoparticles which can be injected into the rock formation. A series of EM signals can be emitted in formation by a transmitter at a first plurality of discrete depths along a first path, that can be recorded by a receiver at a second plurality of locations at a second plurality of discrete depth. The received EM signals can be processed to generate a set of EM permeability data that is indicative of variations in magnetic permeability between the first path and the second path. A magnetic permeability map can be generated that is indicative of a location of the tracer fluid.

Abstract: There is provided a structure of a nano memory system. The disclosed unit nano memory cell comprises a single isolated nanoparticle placed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate (301) and an adjacent nano-Schottky contact (303). The nanoparticle works as a storage site where the nano-Schottky contact (303) works as a source or a drain of electrons, in or out of the semiconductor substrate (301), at a relatively small voltage. The electric current through the nano-Schottky contact (303) can be turned on (reading 1) or off (reading 0) by charging or discharging the nanoparticle. Since the electric contact is made by a nano-Scottky contact (303) on the surface and the back contact of the substrate (301), and the charge is stored in a very small nanoparticle, this allows to attain the ultimate device down-scaling. This would also significantly increase the number of nano memory cells on a chip.

Abstract: A glucose sensor includes an insulating metal oxide layer and at least one pair of metallic electrodes arranged on the insulating metal oxide layer and separated by a gap containing the metal oxide layer. In operation, a probe including a voltage supply and current sensor can provide a voltage difference across the first and second metallic electrodes while a sample is present across the gap between the electrodes. A measured current between the first and second metallic electrodes when the voltage difference is provided can be correlated to a glucose level of the sample.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method of selectively monitoring ions in a fluid medium using a graphene sensor, the method comprising the step of adjusting an operating frequency of the graphene sensor to a particular resonant frequency for targeting resonance of specific ions in the fluid medium. In the proposed method, dispersive effect of the fluid medium is used to tune the graphene sensor to a desired frequency, thereby obtaining resonance response for specific ions in the fluid medium. Also, the monitoring of a specific ion in the fluid medium is unaffected by presence of a plurality of other ions in the said fluid medium.

Abstract: A device can be used to implement a neural network in hardware. The device can include a processor, a memory, and a neural network accelerator. The neural network accelerator can be configured to implement, in hardware, a neural network by using a residue number system (RNS). At least one function of the neural network can have a corresponding approximation in the RNS system, and the at least one function can be provided by implementing the corresponding approximation in hardware.

Abstract: A robotic device is described. The robotic device includes segments and arms connected to a platform. A machining or another processing tool can be coupled to the platform. The segments can have one end attached to the platform and the other end attached to an attachment device. The attachment device can include an attachment surface/mechanism that can attach to a workpiece.

Abstract: Techniques for measuring vacuum pressure using a memristor element are described. A vacuum sensor can include a memristor element having a semiconductor substrate, a memristive material layer, and a conductive electrode. The off-state resistance of the memristor element can be sensitive to changes in ambient pressure at the element. The off-state resistance of the memristor element may also exhibit a well-defined increase at pressures below a threshold pressure. Measurement of the off-state resistance may be obtained with low power consumption and without changing the resistance or switching the state of the memristor element. The measurements may be used to both determine a leak rate of the ambient pressure within the volume of interest and determine if the sensor is exposed to vacuum pressure below the threshold pressure.

Abstract: A substrate can be positioned for coating by a deposition device. The deposition device can coat the substrate with photosensitive material. The coated substrate can be positioned for exposure to light from a light source. The light source can expose a portion of the coated substrate to light to produce printed information.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a biomarker-responsive bifocal contact lens comprising a monovision contact lens having a first focal length and a Fresnel contact lens having a second focal length, wherein the Fresnel contact lens comprises a biomarker-responsive hydrogel, and wherein the Fresnel contact lens is disposed on an outer surface of the monovision contact lens, wherein an optical characteristic of the Fresnel contact lens changes in response to the biomarker concentration in the ocular fluid.

Abstract: A system including a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, a modified relay feedback test (MRFT) block, a memory block, a biasing block, a dq0-to-abc transformation block, a switch configured to selectively couple output signal of the biasing block or the PID controller output signal to the input of the dq0-to-abc transformation block, a three phase digital pulse width modulator, electronic switches, a voltage sensor configured to measure the output of each voltage of the three phases on the load and produce voltage data signals (Voa, Vob, Voc), and an abc-to-dq0 transformation block having an input being a representative of the phase voltages on the load, and producing an output being a representative of these voltages in the dq0 format.

Abstract: A method of forming an ophthalmic contact lens using an additive manufacturing apparatus is presented herein. The method providing a first solution comprising HEMA, PEGDA, and a photoinitiator, forming a support structure on a planar print bed of the additive manufacturing apparatus by depositing a first plurality of layers of the first solution and curing the first plurality of layers, and forming an ophthalmic contact lens on the support structure by depositing a second plurality of layers of the first solution and curing the second plurality of layers. The second plurality of layers are arranged such that a disc of the ophthalmic contact lens is oriented generally perpendicular to the planar print bed of the additive manufacturing apparatus.

Abstract: Described herein are coated chloride salt particles, including NaCl/TiO2 and NaCl/SiO2 core/shell particles, along with methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: A supernumerary robotic limb (SRL) system can include a plurality of rigid links, a joint that connects one rigid link to another rigid link in the plurality of rigid arms, and two variable stiffness actuators (VSAs) configured to drive the plurality of rigid links in order to complete at least one task. The VSAs can exhibit infinite rotation and infinite stiffness. The VSAs can include an output link. Additionally, the VSAs can include a set of elastic elements mounted on the output link. The VSAs can include an input link configured to provide kinetic energy for the output link. The VSAs can include a dynamic chassis configured to connect with the input link. Additionally, the VSAs can include a stiffness adjustor included in the dynamic chassis and configured to adjust an elastic transmission between at least one elastic element of the set of elastic elements and the output link.