Abstract: Systems and methods for autonomous vehicle motion planning are provided. Sensor data describing an environment of an autonomous vehicle and an initial travel path for the autonomous vehicle through the environment can be obtained. A number of trajectories for the autonomous vehicle are generated based on the sensor data and the initial travel path. The trajectories can be evaluated by generating a number of costs for each trajectory. The costs can include a safety cost and a total cost. Each cost is generated by a cost function created in accordance with a number of relational propositions defining desired relationships between the number of costs. A subset of trajectories can be determined from the trajectories based on the safety cost and an optimal trajectory can be determined from the subset of trajectories based on the total cost. The autonomous vehicle can control its motion in accordance with the optimal trajectory.

Abstract: An exemplary treatment system can be provided which can include a laser system configured to emit at least one laser beam, and an optical system configured to focus the laser beam(s) to a focal region at a selected distance from a surface of a tissue. The focal region can be configured to illuminate at least a portion of a target. The optical system can cause an irradiation energy transferred to the focal region of the laser beam(s) to (i) generate a plasma in a first region of the tissue adjacent to the target, and (ii) avoid a generation of a plasma in a second region of the tissue. The optical system has a numerical aperture that is in the range of about 0.5 to about 0.9. An exemplary method can also be provided to control such treatment system.

Abstract: A method of forming a heater assembly of an e-vaping device includes bending a wire to form a first lobe and bending the wire to form a second lobe. The first lobe and the second lobe form a generally sinuously-shaped heater having a first set of lobes and a second set of lobe. A first apex of the first lobe is generally opposite a second apex of the second lobe. The method may also include curling the first set of lobes towards the second set of lobes to form a heater having a substantially tubular form. The heater defines an opening there through.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining neural network architectures. One of the methods includes generating, using a controller neural network, a batch of output sequences, each output sequence in the batch defining a respective architecture of a child neural network that is configured to perform a particular neural network task; for each output sequence in the batch: training a respective instance of the child neural network having the architecture defined by the output sequence; evaluating a performance of the trained instance of the child neural network on the particular neural network task to determine a performance metric for the trained instance of the child neural network on the particular neural network task; and using the performance metrics for the trained instances of the child neural network to adjust the current values of the controller parameters of the controller neural network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reducing stream data according to a data streaming protocol under a multi-access edge computing. In particular, an IoT device, such as a video image sensing device, may capture stream data and generate inference data by applying a machine-learning model trained to infer data based on the captured stream data. The inference data represents the captured stream data in a reduced data size based on performing data analytics on the captured data. The IoT device formats the inference data according to the data streaming protocol. In contrast to video data compression, the data streaming protocol includes instructions for transmitting the reduced volume of inference data through a data analytics pipeline.

Abstract: Sound-producing acoustic receivers are disclosed. The acoustic receiver includes a receiver housing with a first internal volume and a second internal volume, a first diaphragm separating the first internal volume into a first front volume and a first back volume such that the first front volume has a first sound outlet port, a second diaphragm separating the second internal volume into a second front volume and a second back volume such that the second front volume has a second sound outlet port, a motor disposed at least partially inside the housing such that the motor including an armature mechanically coupled to both the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, an acoustic seal between the first front volume and the second back volume such that the acoustic seal accommodates the mechanical coupling of the armature to one of the first diaphragm or the second diaphragm.

Abstract: Billions of low-cost autonomous sensors and actuators are expected to join 5G and 6G networks. Most of them will use DRX (discontinuous reception) to save power. However, if an incoming message arrives while the device is in sleep-mode, a complex process is required for the device to obtain its message. Instead, a fast, lean polling method is provided, in which the base station can inform the user devices periodically of their messages on hold, using an encoded matrix of bits, one bit per user device in the network. When a user device wakes up and receives the matrix, it can determine, according to its bit position, whether it has messages waiting. If so, the user device can then transmit a very brief signal in an allocated reply region, at a specific location corresponding to its bit position in the matrix, thereby requesting the message or messages on hold.

Abstract: Metallic matrix composites are synthesized by mixing a first reactant, a second reactant and a nucleator compound to obtain a reaction mixture, and heating the reaction mixture to an auto-activation temperature to initiate a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis reaction between the first and second reactants. The metallic matrix composite can include a metallic matrix and an in situ formed reinforcement. The reinforcement can be formed of discrete particles substantially uniformly dispersed within the metallic matrix. Each of the particles can have a reinforcement constituent disposed about a core formed of the nucleator compound.

Abstract: At least some embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of product scanning systems and arrangements used within a retail venue. In an embodiment, the present invention is a data capture system that includes a scanner pod housing a plurality of scanners, each configured to capture product data; a data capture module communicatively coupled to the scanner pod, the first data capture module configured to capture, via a mobile device associated with a customer, customer data; and a server communicatively coupled to at least one of the scanner pod and the first data capture module, the server being configured to, upon the first data capture module capturing the customer data associated with the customer, associate one of the plurality of scanners with at least one of the customer and the customer data associated with the customer, resulting in an associated data capture device.

Abstract: A waterfowl decoy deployment system includes a thrust device and a hub coupled to the thrust device. The waterfowl decoy deployment system also includes a plurality of arms coupled to the hub such that the plurality of arms extend radially outward from the hub. The thrust device is configured to rotate about an axis to induce a substantially circular motion to the hub and the plurality of arms.

Abstract: Improved heat exchangers according to several embodiments are provided. The heat exchangers provide improved heat transfer for air flow in wet and dry operating conditions, while minimizing pressure drop across the heat exchanger in some applications. According to one embodiment, an improved heat exchanger includes a plurality of metal foam fins between adjacent heat exchange conduits, the heat exchange conduits being arranged parallel to each other to define parallel flow paths between an inlet header and an outlet header. The metal foam fins occupy a cross-flow region between adjacent conduits, the fins having a fixed angular orientation or being rotatable in unison to vary the thermal capacitance of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums for video encoding/decoding. An apparatus includes processing circuitry that receives metadata associated with a coded video bitstream. The metadata includes labeling information of one or more objects detected in a first picture that is coded in the coded video bitstream. The processing circuitry decodes the labeling information of the one or more objects in the first picture that is coded in the coded video bitstream. The processing circuitry applies the labeling information to the one or more objects in the first picture.

Abstract: A pulse analysis system or method includes a frequency filter that receives an ultrafast pulse under test and disperses the pulse under test over a frequency range. The frequency filter separates the pulse under test into component frequency slices and provides the frequency slices to a detector coupled to a digitizer, which processes the digitized signal and collects a sonogram characteristic of the pulse under test. The frequency slices are arranged to overlap. Ptychography is performed on the sonogram to obtain characteristics of the pulse under test.

Abstract: A method for one or more meeting-facilitating machines to provide access to a remote meeting comprises assessing a capability metric of a meeting-participant computer device; selecting an access-option set including a combination of mutually compatible access modes, each access mode characterized by (a) an expense metric comparable to the capability metric and (b) a richness metric indicating a relative level of richness the access mode contributes to the remote meeting, the access-option set selected to maximize a net richness of the remote meeting while preventing a net expense of the access-option set from exceeding the capability metric; and providing the meeting-participant computer device access to the remote meeting using the access-option set.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for unified high-bandwidth, low-latency data services. In one embodiment, a network architecture having service delivery over at least portions of extant infrastructure (e.g., a hybrid fiber coaxial infrastructure) is disclosed, which includes standards-compliant ultra-low latency and high data rate services (e.g., 5G NR services) via a common service provider. In one variant, parallel MIMO data streams supported by 3GPP 5G NR are shifted in frequency before being injected into the single coaxial cable feeder, so that frequency diversity (instead of spatial diversity) is leveraged to achieve the maximum total carrier bandwidth that 3GPP 5G NR chipsets. Intermediate Frequencies (IF) are transmitted over the media in one implementation, (i.e., instead of higher frequencies), and block-conversion to RF carrier frequency is employed subsequently in the enhanced consumer premises equipment (CPEe) for 3GPP band-compliant interoperability with the 3GPP 5G NR chipset in the CPEe.

Abstract: Implementations of various computer methods to couple a computerized ball device which acts as a mobile computing device to record the users environment and project light towards waveguide eyeglasses or contacts which then allows a user to view imbedded light structure holograms in the waveguide while viewing the actual world. The computer ball device additionally has the ability to be docked in a drone cradle which creates a database map of the user's environment while not being utilized by the user for an immediate task. The device may also attach to a wrist band for mobility. The device also has the ability to couple the projected light structures so that a plurality of users may view the same light structure content to build an environment of trust. The device decouples the traditional design of head mounted virtual and mixed reality that place together the camera with the head mounted device.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein that are capable of tracking an eye of a user using multiple lasers. Light from the lasers is scanned across respective partially overlapping portions of a region that includes an eye of a user during respective time periods. Portion(s) of the light that are reflected from the eye are detected by respective photodetector(s). In an example implementation, a signal corresponding to the detected portion(s) is provided in a pixel of a frame buffer based at least in part on a current angle of a mirror used to scan the light across the region. In a second implementation, digital state(s) are provided based at least in part on difference(s) between a reference signal and signal(s) corresponding to the detected portion(s), and a time value indicating a time at which a glint is detected by a photodetector is provided when a digital state triggers an interrupt handler.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods useful for increasing the outer diameter of a tool string at a desired location in the tool string involve a spacer tool having a mandrel releasably engageable with at least one other tool of the tool string and a gauge ring distinct from and releasably, non-threadably engageable with the mandrel. The gauge ring extends radially outwardly from the mandrel to provide the spacer tool with a maximum outer diameter that is greater than the maximum outer diameter of at least one other tool in the tool string.

Abstract: Techniques manage a storage system. Along these lines, a failed storage device is detected among storage devices included in a resource pool of the storage system, and the storage devices belong to a first group and a second group in the resource pool respectively. An extent in the failed storage device assigned for building a stripe in the storage system is determined. A spare reserved extent is selected from respective reserved extents included in respective storage devices among the storage devices based on a mapping relation between the stripe and a plurality of extents in the stripe. The respective reserved extents are shared among the first group and the second group. Data in the extent are rebuilt to the selected spare reserved extent. A reserved storage area can be shared among various storage devices in the resource pool, so as to increase allocatable space in storage devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described for automated optimization and personalization of customer-specific communication channels using feature classification. A server captures historical interaction data comprising a channel type, a user identifier, an interaction date, and a user response value. The server generates a channel feature vector for each combination of channel type, user identifier, and interaction date. The server identifies features from the channel feature vectors for each different channel type and aggregates the features into a common feature vector. The server executes a trained classification model on the common feature vectors to select user identifiers for each different channel type that have an engagement probability value at or above a corresponding threshold.