Abstract: The technology relates to partially redundant equipment architectures for vehicles able to operate in an autonomous driving mode. Aspects of the technology employ fallback configurations, such as two or more fallback sensor configurations that provide some minimum amount of field of view (FOV) around the vehicle. For instance, different sensor arrangements are logically associated with different operating domains of the vehicle. Fallback configurations for computing resources and/or power resources are also provided. Each fallback configuration may have different reasons for being triggered, and may result in different types of fallback modes of operation. Triggering conditions may relate, e.g., to a type of failure, fault or other reduction in component capability, the current driving mode, environmental conditions in the vicinity of vehicle or along a planned route, or other factors.

Abstract: A voice control interactive system and method to provide a hands-free operation for the operator to monitor and control multiple conveyors in a warehouse. The system comprises a first computing device and a second computing device. The first computing device receives an audio signal generated by a second computing device and generates a control signal and a response signal in response to the audio signal. The audio signal comprises information relating to a verbal command spoken by an operator associated with the second computing device. The response signal comprises information relating to a response for the verbal command, wherein the information is generated based on a location of the second computing device. The control signal comprises information to control a conveyor.

Abstract: A method of recycling lithium-ion batteries is disclosed. The method includes isolating a composite electrode that comprises an electrode material adhered to a current collector with a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) binder from a spent lithium-ion battery. The method also includes contacting the composite electrode in a polyol fluid capable of releasing the PVDF binder from the current collector without substantially altering either component. The composite electrode may be a cathode or an anode. The method also includes rapidly delaminating the electrode material from the current collector to give a free electrode material and a free current collector, and recovering each of the free electrode material and the free current collector from the mixture. The free electrode material may be reused to prepare another composite electrode, as well as a lithium-ion battery comprising the same, which are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed in one example a network gateway device, including: a hardware platform including a processor and a memory; a network interface, including network interface hardware; and instructions encoded within the memory to instruct the processor to: receive from an endpoint device, via the network interface, a signed security posture data structure, the signed security posture data structure including information about a security posture of the endpoint device; cryptographically verify the signed security posture data structure; and according to the signed security posture data structure, assign a network security policy to the endpoint device.

Abstract: Provided is a light-emitting device for a display, and a method that includes light sources distributed on one or more strips, several light sources are arranged on each strip, and are electrically connected in a matrix manner, the number of rows and columns of the matrix are greater than 1, and each row and column of the matrix have a control line to receive a control signal; and a control unit that acquires a video signal to be provided to the display screen, from a signal source of the display screen, determines color and brightness of each light source according to the video signal, wherein each light source corresponds to a partial pixel area in the outermost periphery of a display area, and for each matrix, sequentially control each row or column of light sources in the matrix to emit light based on color and brightness within one light-emitting period.

Abstract: The present invention includes systems and methods for continuous fracturing operations across a multichannel fracturing configuration. To swap a first well for a second well while continuously pumping water and/or frac fluid through the fracturing system, the second well may be initially prepared through a pressure equalization process. Once the second well is equalized and open, the first well may be sequentially closed and depressurized. Thus, the first well is swapped for the second well while the water and/or frac fluid continuously flows through the system. A conditional flow control valve may be used to sequentially open and/or close the flow of frac fluid through the frac manifold.

Abstract: An optical device includes a first polarization selective reflector; and a second polarization selective reflector positioned relative to the first polarization selective reflector so that the first polarization selective reflector directs first light having a first polarization toward the second polarization selective reflector and the second polarization selective reflector directs second light having a second polarization toward the first polarization selective reflector. A first plane defined by the first polarization selective reflector intersects a second plane defined by the second polarization selective reflector at a first angle.

Abstract: A catheter pump is disclosed. The catheter pump can include an impeller and a catheter body having a lumen in which waste fluid flows proximally therethrough during operation of the catheter pump. The catheter pump can also include a drive shaft disposed inside the catheter body. A motor assembly can include a chamber. The motor assembly can include a rotor disposed in the at least a portion of the chamber, the rotor mechanically coupled with a proximal portion of the drive shaft such that rotation of the rotor causes the drive shaft to rotate, the rotor including a longitudinal rotor lumen therethrough. The motor assembly can also comprise a stator assembly disposed about the rotor. During operation of the catheter pump, the waste fluid flows from the lumen into the chamber such that at least a portion of the waste fluid flows proximally through the longitudinal rotor lumen.

Abstract: A hitch system for automatically coupling a hitch accessory that has an attachment bar assembly with a hitch receiver. The attachment bar assembly includes a housing bar that is tubular, with a pin-hole through the housing bar. A pin-lever is pivotably mounted in the housing bar and includes a pin configured to retract into the housing bar and to extend out of the pin-hole. A ramp-component is disposed in the housing bar and is engageable with the pin-lever. An actuator selectively moves the ramp-component to retract the pin into the housing bar and to extend the pin out of the housing bar, by selectively enabling pivoting of the pin-lever.

Abstract: A spark plug including a terminal end, a firing end, an axial centerline extending between the terminal end and the firing end, and an insulative core extending between the terminal end and the firing end. The insulative core includes a central bore coincident with the axial centerline extending through the insulative core, and an insulative nose extending along the axial centerline at the firing end of the insulative core, the insulative nose having an axial length and defining an end surface of the insulative core, wherein a cross-sectional area of the insulative nose perpendicular to the axial centerline varies along the axial length of the insulative nose with a cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the axial length being less than a surface area of the end surface so that a perimeter surface along the portion of the axial length of the insulative nose has a concave profile.

Abstract: A tunnel tube cooking pot that substantially improves thermal absorption of an aluminum boiling pot by welding specially designed and tuned pieces of aluminum channel or tubing on the bottom of the pot.

Abstract: A temporary pacing lead has an atraumatic curled distal region with multiple cathodes and distal pressure measurement to allow positioning and repositioning within the heart chamber without fluoroscopic or echo guidance. The curled distal region provides definite contact with two opposing walls of the ventricular chamber to ensure electrical signal capture without trauma to the endocardial surface. A stylet located in the pacing lead lumen assists in introducing, placing, and removing the pacing lead from the heart. The flexible distal region provides safe removal of the temporary lead following completion of use.

Abstract: A head-mounted display device employs light field directional backlighting to provide three-dimensional (3D) pupil steering without mechanical adjustment while maintaining a compact form factor and performance. An example light field directional backlighting unit includes two substantially flat components: an array of light sources and an array of modulators (e.g., a micro lens array (MLA), a stack of transmissive display elements, a pinhole array, and similar ones). By digitally modifying the illumination pattern on the array of light source and pairing to the light field directional backlighting unit to an extra transmissive display element as the main display panel and one or more viewing optical elements, a light field created by the light field directional backlighting unit is moved in three-dimensional (3D) space to correspond to pupil shift without interfering with the display content.

Abstract: An apparatus for subsea environment sensing. In one aspect, the apparatus may include a repeater assembly, disposed in an optical repeater; and an environmental sensor assembly, disposed proximate to the repeater assembly, the environmental sensor assembly being coupled to receive power from the repeater assembly over an optical link.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads, golf clubs, and methods to manufacture golf club heads and golf clubs are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head includes a body portion with a back portion having a back wall portion including a ledge portion defined by a portion of the back wall portion extending outward, a face portion, a filler material in an interior cavity of the body portion, a mass portion, a first port above the ledge portion and a second port below the ledge portion configured to receive the mass portion. The ledge portion extends from a location at a center portion of the back wall portion toward the toe portion edge and toward the heel portion edge. The diameter of the second port is greater than a diameter of the first port. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: The disclosed concept relates generally to a tubular composite structure for the intake, storage, and conveyance of gaseous or liquid media, including but not limited to hydrogen, hydrocarbons, and non-hydrocarbons, and related methods for manufacture. Provided is an internal wheeled drive mechanism for the precise and efficient on-site fabrication of the tubular composite structure.

Abstract: A laser system for treating target tissue layers of an anterior chamber angle of an eye, including a delivery system and various imaging systems is being disclosed here. The system includes novel configurations using small digital cameras, OCT and other diagnostic devices that are integrated with a goniolens to visualize and target the to be treated tissue layers and that in some configurations remain connected and active during the laser treatment. Furthermore, several novel illumination systems and standalone digital camera goniolens systems are being presented here.

Abstract: A method of extending connectivity of a recipient vehicle, which may be executed by a non-transitory computer-readable medium, is provided. During an ignition off state of the recipient vehicle, disabling a recipient cellular network access device (NAD) of the recipient vehicle and connecting to a low power communications source. The method communicates with a centralized location over the low power communications source. The low power communications source may be a recipient Bluetooth low energy (BLE) within the recipient vehicle. The method may connect to a donor vehicle proximate the recipient vehicle. The donor vehicle includes a donor NAD and a donor BLE, such that the donor NAD of the donor vehicle to communicates with the centralized location on behalf of the recipient vehicle.

Abstract: A satellite communication system which supports encrypted DNS at the customer premise equipment terminal to provide the benefits of local DNS caching. Some implementations use Certificate Authority (CA)-signed Transport Layer Security (TLS) certificates. Implementations may provide encrypted DNS service at the CPE, where the system installs CA-signed TLS certificate at the customer premise equipment (CPE) terminal. The same certificate can be used at multiple terminals using a wild-card certificate distributed by the satellite to provide value added services at a CPE as secure web services to off-the-shelf web clients and applications.