Abstract: Active utilization of a robotic simulator in control of one or more real world robots. A simulated environment of the robotic simulator can be configured to reflect a real world environment in which a real robot is currently disposed, or will be disposed. The robotic simulator can then be used to determine a sequence of robotic actions for use by the real world robot(s) in performing at least part of a robotic task. The sequence of robotic actions can be applied, to a simulated robot of the robotic simulator, to generate a sequence of anticipated simulated state data instances. The real robot can be controlled to implement the sequence of robotic actions. The implementation of one or more of the robotic actions can be contingent on a real state data instance having at least a threshold degree of similarity to a corresponding one of the anticipated simulated state data instances.

Abstract: A landing pad for an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) is disclosed. The landing pad includes a support structure, a charging pad, and a plurality of movable UAV supports. The charging pad is coupled to the support structure and able to move relative to the support structure. The UAV supports are also coupled to the support structure and configured to translate along the support structure from a first position to a second position. When the UAV supports are in the first position, the charging pad supports the UAV. When the UAV supports are in the second position, the charging pad is lowered and the UAV supports then provide support to the UAV.

Abstract: A method of transporting proppant to a wellsite can comprise transporting a plurality of trailers to a proppant-loading site, each of the trailers comprising one or more containers. At the proppant-loading site, proppant can be loaded into the container(s) of each of first and second ones of the trailers. A long combination vehicle comprising a truck and the first and second trailers can be formed at least by coupling the first trailer to the truck and the second trailer to the first trailer. The long combination vehicle can be driven from the proppant-loading site to the wellsite after proppant is loaded into the container(s) of each of the first and second trailers at the proppant-loading site. Less than 1% of a distance that the long combination vehicle drives from the proppant-loading site to the wellsite can be on a public road.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and storage media for generating an online analytical processing cube (MAP) are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: receive a cube definition file; access a data-source; generate a data-source property configuration for the data-source using the cube definition file to; determine each of respective parsed data from the data-source is a key, attribute, or measure; and generate the OLAP cube by combining the cube definition file and the data-source property configuration for the determined parsed data from the data-source.

Abstract: Methods concerning the thermal insulation of oil and gas wells are disclosed herein. In some embodiments a thermal insulating fluid is inserted into the well completion sequence for thermally insulating a well at a desired depth to reduce paraffin and precipitate formation, improve oil flow rate, and reduce pressure build up in one or more annuli of the well. In other embodiments, the casing of a desired annulus in a completed well is perforated to permit a thermally insulating fluid to be pumped into the annulus and spotted at a desired depth.

Abstract: The disclosure provides devices and methods of use pertaining to intra joint stabilization. Embodiments include a number of suture returning and suture locking anchors that feature elongated sleeves configured to protect the associated bone tunnels from suture wipering, which results in abrasion and enlargement of the bone tunnel and leads to migration of the suture anchors. Embodiments also include suture locking anchors that lock via an interference fit between the suture strand and a receiver of the anchor and a set screw, where the receiver and the set screw each feature a number of gradual, opposing tapers to facilitate gradual proximal-to-distal gripping and releasing of the suture strand to achieve an optimal locking force while preventing severing of the suture strand. Further embodiments include intra joint reinforcement and stabilization constructs formed using the disclosed devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system can include a position sensor configured to output position data of a HWD. The system can include one or more processors configured to identify a first head angle of the HWD using the position sensor, generate an audio signal using the first head angle, identify a second head angle of the HWD using the position sensor, determine an angle error based at least on the first head angle and the second head angle, and apply at least one of a time difference or a level difference to the audio signal based at least on the angle error to adjust the audio signal. The system can include an audio output device configured to output the adjusted audio signal. By adjusting the audio signal using the angle error, the system can correct for long spatial update latencies and reduce the perceptual impact of such latencies for the user.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to video coding and particularly to methods and systems for providing signaling schemes for jointly coding of motion vector difference. An example method for decoding a current video block of a video bitstream is disclosed. The method includes receiving a coded video bitstream; determining, from the coded video bitstream, a flag for a current video block, wherein the flag indicates whether joint motion vector difference (MVD) coding is applied to the current video block; and in response to the flag indicating that the joint MVD coding is applied to the current video block: obtaining, by the device from the coded video bitstream, a joint MVD for the current video block, deriving, by the device based on the joint MVD, an MVD for the current video block, and decoding, by the device based on the joint MVD and the derived MVD, the current video block.

Abstract: A computing system is configured to perform zero-trust domain name resolution. The computing system includes applications coupled to a zero-trust client. The zero-trust client is configured to receive requests for IP addresses corresponding to endpoint identifiers for internet connected endpoints. The zero-trust client includes a synthetic DNS service configured to identify synthetic IP addresses for the endpoint identifiers. The zero-trust client provides the synthetic IP addresses for the endpoint identifiers to the applications. The zero-trust client sends data traffic from the applications to a zero-trust service with the synthetic IP addresses and sends corresponding endpoint identifiers to the zero-trust service in a fashion that allows the synthetic IP addresses to be correlated to the endpoint identifiers at the zero-trust service.

Abstract: System for heat shrink sealing open-topped containers wherein the system includes a housing or enclosure wherein a majority of a bulk roll of film material is accessible when the cover is open. The system preferably includes two opposing rollers that are configured to engage the film and cause it to move to a dispensing position. In a preferred aspect, the system includes a movable sealing unit that accommodates use of the lidding system with open ended containers having various sizes and shapes. In a more preferred aspect, the system includes an indicia generating device operable to label sealed containers and a knife that generates a perforation in the film during sealing operations.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments pertain to provisioning a virtual payment card for an authorized user in a browser. A primary cardholder can request the addition of an individual as an authorized user on the primary cardholder's account. Further information regarding the individual can be solicited and utilized to compute a risk score associated with adding the individual as an authorized user. Further processing of the request, including whether to terminate or continue, can be based on comparing the risk score to a predetermined threshold. If processing is continued, a virtual payment card linked to the primary cardholder account is generated. Next, the virtual card can be added as a payment method to a browser profile of the individual on a network-accessible computing resource. Subsequently, the authorized user can access the virtual card to make online shopping payments with a web browser personalized with the browser profile.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and storage media for auto-generating an artificial reality environment based on access to personal user content are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: receive consent from a user to access user content on a user device, the user content comprising digital media; generate a user profile based at least in part on the user content; determine user preferences based at least in part on the user profile; generate an artificial reality environment based at least in part on the user preferences; and share the artificial reality environment with contacts of the user.

Abstract: System and methods for operating a vehicle that includes a boosted engine are described. In one example, a spark plug may be adjusted between two operating states to reduce a possibility of pre-ignition and spark plug fouling. A first operating state may be conducive to operating the engine at light loads. The first operating state may be conducive to operating the engine at higher loads.

Abstract: A method for using a distributed game engine includes receiving a request from a user account via a computer network to play a game, identifying processing power assignment for the user account, and determining node assembly for the user account to utilize two or more processing nodes for the play of the game based on the processing power assignment. The method further includes initializing the two or more processing nodes for execution of the game for the user account. The operation of initializing is performed to set up a transfer of processing code for the game from one processing nods to another processing node. The method includes defining an internal communication channel between the two or more processing nodes for exchange of state information of the game. The exchange of state information is performed to enable shared processing of the game by the two or more nodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous electrolyte for use in rechargeable zinc-halide storage batteries that possesses improved stability and durability and improves zinc-halide battery performance (e.g., energy efficiency, Coulombic efficiency, and/or the like). One aspect of the present invention provides an electrolyte for use in a secondary zinc bromine electrochemical cell comprising from about 30 wt % to about 40 wt % of ZnBr2 by weight of the electrolyte; from about 5 wt % to about 15 wt % of KBr; from about 5 wt % to about 15 wt % of KCl; and one or more quaternary ammonium agents, wherein the electrolyte comprises from about 0.5 wt % to about 10 wt % of the one or more quaternary ammonium agents.

Abstract: A system for securing a passenger seat to a track can include a fitting coupled with or forming a portion of the passenger seat; a shear plunger coupled with the fitting including a shear plunger body defining a shear plunger locking surface; a guide pin assembly that may include a guide pin movable along a lift axis between a retracted state and an extended state and a locking member extending laterally from the guide pin that may travel in response to a movement of the guide pin from the retracted state to the extended state and may engage the shear plunger locking surface in response to a rotation of the guide pin in the extended state; and a quick install tool operable to raise and twist the guide pin assembly such that the locking member is held in tension against the shear plunger locking surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to multilayer silo bags that may include a tube comprising at least two layers, a first open end, a second open end, and a first region and a second region disposed between the first and second end. One or more of the at least three layers may comprise an ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer having a density of 0.90 g/cc to 0.965 g/cc and an I2 of 0.1 to 6.0 g/10 minutes, a low density ethylene-based polymer having a density of 0.917 g/cc to 0.935 g/cc and an I2 of 0.1 to 2.0 g/10 minutes, or combinations thereof. The first region may have a thickness of at least 10% greater than a thickness of the second region. The first region may have a surface area that is at least 50% of an overall surface area of the multilayer silo bag.

Abstract: Innovations in use of chroma quantization parameter (“QP”) offsets when determining a control parameter for deblock filtering. For example, as part of encoding, an encoder sets a picture-level chroma QP offset and slice-level chroma QP offset for encoding of a slice of a picture. The encoder also performs deblock filtering of at least part of the slice, where derivation of a control parameter considers only the picture-level chroma QP offset. The encoder outputs at least part of a bitstream including the encoded content. As part of decoding, a corresponding decoder sets a picture-level chroma QP offset and a slice-level chroma QP offset for decoding of a slice of a picture, but derivation of a control parameter for deblock filtering considers only the picture-level chroma QP offset.

Abstract: Implementations are directed to facilitating user device and/or agent device actions during a communication session. An interactive communications system provides outputs, as outlined below, that are tailored to enhance the functionality of the communication session, reduce the number of dialog “turns” of the communications session and/or the number of user inputs to devices involved in the session, and/or otherwise mitigate consumption of network and/or hardware resources during the communication session. In various implementations, the communication session involves user device(s) of a user, agent device(s) of an agent, and the interactive communications system. The interactive communications system can analyze various communications from the user device(s) and/or agent device(s) during a communication session in which the user (via the user device(s)) directs various communications to the agent, and in which the agent (via the agent device(s)) optionally directs various communications to the user.