Abstract: A smart mask includes a first material layer, at least one display, a first sensor, and a control module. The first material layer is configured to cover a portion of a face of a person. The at least one display is connected to the first material layer and configured to display images over a mouth of the person. The first sensor is configured to detect movement of the mouth of the person and generate a signal indicative of the movement of the mouth. The control module is configured to receive the signal and display the images on the display based on the movement of the mouth.

Abstract: A method for performing automatic visual inspection includes: capturing visual information of an object using a scanning system including a plurality of cameras; extracting, by a computing system including a processor and memory, one or more feature maps from the visual information using one or more feature extractors; classifying, by the computing system, the object by supplying the one or more feature maps to a complex classifier to compute a classification of the object, the complex classifier including: a plurality of simple classifiers, each simple classifier of the plurality of simple classifiers being configured to compute outputs representing a characteristic of the object; and one or more logical operators configured to combine the outputs of the simple classifiers to compute the classification of the object; and outputting, by the computing system, the classification of the object as a result of the automatic visual inspection.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a system for media playback can include a first media playback device configured to receive a media stream from a media casting device over a data network, the first media playback device being a member of the media playback group and a second media playback device configured to receive the media stream, the second media playback device being a member of the media playback group. The first media playback device and the second media playback device can be collectively configured to designate one of the first media playback device and the second media playback device as a leader playback device of the media playback group. The playback device not designated as the leader playback device can be designated as a follower playback device of the media playback group. The first media playback device and the second media playback device can be further collectively configured to determine a clock offset between the leader playback device and the follower playback device.

Abstract: A modular, solar energy system comprising one or more modular solar panels. The solar panels include a pair of general planar, plates that are secured together to form a narrow channel therebetween for the circulation of a liquid. The solar panels have inlet and outlet fluid lines in fluid communication via manifolds with a cold fluid supply line and a warm fluid return line, respectively. The plates are preferably constructed of aluminum and one plate has a photovoltaic cell matrix affixed thereto to face the sun. The plates have dividers or partitions that enhance the heat transfer characteristics with respect to the liquid flowing though the channel between the plates.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for obtaining initial parameters for ultrasonic transducers around a calibration target. The calibration target can include a fish-shaped structure, sensors placed at different locations of the fish-shaped structure, a processor that receives sensor values from the sensors, and a transmitter that outputs sensor data from the calibration target based on the sensor values. The calibration target can be fixed at a particular position relative to the ultrasonic transducers by a filament coupled to both the calibration target and a support structure. Sensor data can be obtained from the calibration target at the particular position relative to the ultrasonic transducers, and relative locations of the sensors can be determined. Parameters for the ultrasonic transducers around the calibration target can be adjusted based on the sensor data and the respective locations of the sensors.

Abstract: Apparatuses comprising cascaded or series configurations of Mach-Zehnder electrooptic modulators, where the nonlinearities of the cascaded and series configurations of Mach-Zehnder electrooptic modulators increase signal bandwidth and boost signal fidelity in electronic digital to analog converters. The Mach-Zehnder electrooptic modulators are combined with photodiode detectors that are used to convert signals from the optical domain to the electrical domain.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a foam bead. The foam bead is formed from a composition containing (A) a silane-functionalized ethylene/?-olefin multi-block interpolymer. The present disclosure also provides a sintered foam structure. The sintered foam structure is formed from foam beads that are formed from a composition containing (A) a silane-functionalized ethylene/?-olefin multi-block interpolymer.

Abstract: Systems and methods of verifying trigger keywords in acoustic-based digital assistant applications are provided. A system can receive, from an application developer computing device, a request to generate a voice-based software application. The request can include a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with a service provided by the voice-based software application and an identifier corresponding to the URL. The system can identify a plurality of links that include the URL as a target. The system can determine a subset of the plurality of links having a respective character string that includes a reference to the identifier for the URL. The data processing system can compare the subset of the plurality of links to a threshold to determine a match level, and can determine a verification status of the request based on the match level.

Abstract: An assembly of an electric propulsion system with power harvesting system and a method of manufacturing the electric propulsion system are disclosed. The electric propulsion system may include a propulsor configured to generate thrust. The electric propulsion system may include an electric motor configured to power the propulsor. The electric motor may include a stator configured to produce a magnetic field, wherein the stator may include a winding comprising an electrically conductive material. The electric motor may further include a rotor configured to be rotated by the magnetic field from the stator, wherein the rotor may include a coil attached to the rotor configured to induce an electric potential and an airgap between the stator and the coil.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that combine a write duty cycle adjuster with write training to reduce detection and duty cycle errors in memory devices. Various embodiments herein perform write duty cycle adjuster operations to adjust a duty cycle of a clock signal that coordinates a data signal with a data operation on the memory device based on an error in the duty cycle, and performs write training operations to detect a skew between the data signal and the clock signal and adjust a sampling transition of the duty cycle of the clock signal to align with a valid data window of the data signal.

Abstract: A pump comprising an impeller having a hub base and an impeller body. The impeller body comprises a base which is concentric relative to a rotational axis of the impeller, and at least one eccentric apex.

Abstract: A rechargeable energy storage system may include a series arrangement of a plurality of batteries coupled to a first DC bus at a first DC voltage. A DC to DC converter may include a multi-input DC input stage coupled to a multi-output DC output stage. The multi-input DC input stage may include multiple distributed DC inputs, each distributed DC input being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of batteries. The multi-output DC output stage may include multiple aggregated DC outputs. At least one controllable switch may couple one or more of the multiple aggregated DC outputs to one or more other DC buses.

Abstract: A voting system comprises at least one voting machine comprising: at least one voting machine processor performing voting machine operations comprising initializing a vote blockchain with a vote blockchain genesis block, the vote blockchain genesis block comprising a voting machine identifier and a genesis block hash value; creating a data structure comprising a plurality of votes and a hash value of a preceding block; determining a new block hash value of the data structure; appending a new block comprising the data structure and the new block hash value to the vote blockchain; and storing the vote blockchain in the at least one voting machine memory.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a system for midair deployment of payload may include an aerostat including an inflatable structure, at least one tether, and a trigger, the at least one tether extending between the inflatable structure and the trigger, and at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including wings, the at least one tether mechanically coupling the at least one UAV to the inflatable structure, and the trigger actuatable to release mechanical coupling of the at least one tether between the at least one UAV and the inflatable structure in midair.