Abstract: A transfer case for a utility terrain vehicle includes a housing. An input gear is rotatably coupled to the housing on a first rotational axis. An idler gear assembly is rotatably coupled to the housing on a second rotational axis offset from the first rotational axis. The idler gear assembly includes a major idler gear engaged with the input gear and a minor idler gear. An output gear assembly including an output shaft and an output gear is rotatably coupled to the housing on a third rotational axis offset from the second rotational axis. The output gear is engaged with the minor idler gear of the idler gear assembly.

Abstract: A system for improving firearm safety is provided comprising a firearm comprising a trigger mechanism for discharging the firearm, a trigger safety member to prevent accidental discharging of the firearm, and an electronic housing contained in a pistol grip of the firearm. The housing receives a message from a mobile device, determines that the message contains an instruction associated with an owner of the firearm, and transmits, based on the instruction, a command regarding the trigger safety member. The electronic housing transmits the command along an internal cable to a motor embedded in the trigger mechanism and receives the message via a transceiver component of the electronic housing. The motor, based on the command, turns an eccentric component to one of block and unblock the trigger safety member. The electronic housing further comprises an externally visible LED indicating one of engaged and disengaged status of the eccentric component.

Abstract: A system for improving firearm safety is provided. The system comprises a firearm with a trigger mechanism for firing and a trigger safety member proximate the trigger to prevent accidental firing. The system also comprises a locking assembly associated with the trigger mechanism and safety member comprising a transceiver that receives a message from a remote wireless device. The locking assembly further comprises a motor that activates based on processing of the message received by the transceiver. The locking assembly further comprises an eccentric that executes a first turning motion based on action of the motor.

Abstract: A configurable belt conveyor for manufacturing comprising first belt and an adaptable border adjacent to the belt. The adaptable border having a first configuration in which a first width of the belt is available for supporting a pallet on the conveyor belt, and a second configuration in which a portion of the belt is covered by the adaptable border, such that the second width of the belt is sized for supporting a printed circuit board (PCB). In one embodiment, the configurable belt conveyor may be configured to form a dual stream conveyor.

Abstract: A method includes receiving raw data and generating a manufacturing data packet (MDP) that includes at least a portion of the raw data. Generating the MDP includes associating metadata with the raw data and associating a timestamp with the raw data. The timestamp is synchronized to a common reference time. A data model associated with the MDP is obtained. The data model includes one or more predefined data types and one or more predefined data fields. A first data type from the one or more predefined data types is determined based at least in part on characteristics of the raw data. An algorithm is determined based at least in part on the first data type. The MDP is processed according to the algorithm to produce an output. The first data type is associated with the raw data. The output is associated with a data field of the first data type.

Abstract: A robotic cell calibration method comprising a robotic cell system having elements comprising: one or more cameras, one or more sensors, components, and a robotic arm. The method comprises localizing positions of the one or more cameras and components relative to a position of the robotic arm using a common coordinate frame, moving the robotic arm in a movement pattern, and using the cameras and sensors to determine robotic arm position at multiple times during the movement. The method includes identifying a discrepancy in robotic arm position between a predicted position and the determined position in real time, and computing, by an auto-calibrator, a compensation for the identified discrepancy, the auto-calibrator solving for the elements in the robotic cell system as a system. The method includes modifying actions of the robotic arm in real time during the movement based on the compensation.

Abstract: A last round hold open (LRHO) apparatus comprising a first lever having a first end and a second end; a second lever having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second lever in contact with the second end of the first lever; a bolt catch in contact with the second end of the second lever, and with a bolt carrier; and a follower in contact with the first end of the first lever, such that when the follower pushes up on the first end of the first lever, the second end of the first lever pushes down on the first end of the second lever, and the second end of the second lever pushes up on the bolt catch, resulting in activation of the bolt catch and opening the bolt carrier to alert an operator of the firearm that the firearm is out of ammunition.

Abstract: A robotic end of arm tool to effectuate loaded case closure is provided. The tool includes a loaded case flap folding assembly to effectuate folding of flaps extending from a first case panel of a loaded case and, advantageously, loaded case squaring assemblies. The folding assembly includes flap engaging elements, a linkage and an actuator, the flap engaging elements operatively united with the linkage, the linkage actuatable via the actuator in furtherance of causing the flap engaging elements to engage the flaps extending from the first case panel. Flap engaging elements include a first flap engaging element for engagement with a first flap extending from the first case panel of the loaded case, and second and third flap engaging elements for engagement with second and third flaps opposingly extending from the first case panel, each of the second and third flaps adjacent the first flap.

Abstract: A billet pushout system is provided for an electric induction billet heating line with long length revolute jointed pushout rods forming a non-jamming pushout rod assembly that is stored in a linear enclosure connected to an arcuate enclosure that deploys and retracts the pushout rod assembly to and from the electric induction billet heating line.

Abstract: A machine-vision system for monitoring a quality metric for a product. The system includes a controller configured to receive a digital image from an image acquisition device. The controller is also configured to analyze the digital image using a first machine-vision algorithm to compute a measurement of the product. The system also includes a vision server connected to the controller, and configured to compute a quality metric and store the digital image and the measurement in a database storage. The system also includes a remote terminal connected to the vision server, and configured to display the digital image and the quality metric on the remote terminal.

Abstract: A folding knife with pocket clip has a knife frame, a flexible elongated resilient pocket clip having a first end connected to the knife frame and a second free end proximate the knife frame, the flexible elongated resilient pocket clip defining a plurality of louvers, each louver defining a slit transverse to the length of the flexible elongated resilient pocket clip and having an elevated edge, and each elevated edge facing toward the second free end. The louvers may be parallel to each other. The louvers may be at an intermediate location spaced apart from the first end and second free end. The knife frame may have a pivot end to which a blade is pivotally attached, and the elevated edges may face toward the pivot end.

Abstract: A multimodal sensing architecture utilizes an array of single sensor or multi-sensor groups (superpixels) to facilitate advanced object-manipulation and recognition tasks performed by mechanical end effectors in robotic systems. The single-sensors/superpixels are spatially arrayed over contact surfaces of the end effector fingers and include, e.g., pressure sensors and vibration sensors that facilitate the simultaneous detection of both static and dynamic events occurring on the end effector, and optionally include proximity sensors and/or temperature sensors. A readout circuit receives the sensor data from the superpixels and transmits the sensor data onto a shared sensor data bus.

Abstract: An orchard fertilizer spreader has rearwardly positioned conveyors that are independently laterally extendable between a minimum width transport position and a maximum width operating position to deliver fertilizer from a supply tank to the orchard trees. The conveyors are mounted in a longitudinally spaced configuration to permit a diverter box to supply fertilizer to either conveyor or to both conveyors simultaneously through manipulation of diverter panels. The conveyors are mounted on a support pan formed with a plurality of rollers to facilitate the lateral extension of the conveyors. The support pan is pivotally mounted on a frame to forma a breakaway that enables the conveyors to rotate in the event of impact between a conveyor and an object. The reset of the conveyors into the laterally extended position is accomplished with a hydraulic cylinder. The conveyors can be laterally extended manually, or via a hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A harvesting machine is disclosed along with a method of operation. The harvesting machine includes a frame having a flail cutter mounted on a first end of the frame. The flail cutter can cut the stems of growing plants. A housing surrounding a portion of the flail cutter for directing the cut plants rearward. An idler roller is positioned rearward of the flail cutter. First and second moisture removal mechanisms are positioned downstream of the cutting mechanism, and each includes a suction roll and a press roll. A moving belt forms a closed loop around the idler roller and the pair of suction and press rolls, and has a plurality of apertures formed therethrough. The moving belt forms first and second nips between each pair of suction and press rolls for squeezing moisture out of the cut stems as the stems are routed therebetween.

Abstract: A method for the integrated use of a secondary cloud resource, provided by a secondary cloud service software function executed on secondary hardware, from a primary cloud service, provided by a primary cloud service software function executed on primary hardware which is remote to said secondary hardware including provision step operative to provide a primary integration interface and a secondary integration interface, a resource request step operative to identify a set of secondary user data and request said secondary cloud resource from the secondary cloud service, a resource allocation step for allocating the requested secondary cloud resource and providing corresponding secondary cloud resource allocation information, an information association step for associating said secondary cloud resource allocation information with said secondary cloud user data and a set of primary user data, and a user authentication step for authenticating the primary cloud service user access to said secondary cloud resource.

Abstract: A system for monitoring manufacturing includes one or more sensors and a controller in communication with the one or more sensors. The controller may include one or more processors that determine a quality metric represented by machine data collected from one or more machine data sensors and identify a correlation value between the machine data and environmental data collected from one or more environmental data sensors. The controller may further include determine if the correlation value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and if the correlation value exceeds the predetermined threshold value, report at least one of the correlation value and the quality metric.

Abstract: A sensing system is provided. The system comprises a microprocessor (or computing device) with a memory, means of transmitting information wirelessly, an antenna, a power supply, and a sensor configured to measure at least one environmental parameter.

Abstract: A method for exchanging molds in a concrete products forming machine (CPM) comprises moving a first mold cassette assembly along a linear path to a mold receiving position adjacent to a concrete products forming machine. The first mold is then moved out of the CPM along a mold-transfer path perpendicular to the linear path of the first mold cassette assembly. The first mold is then mounted within the first mold cassette assembly which then moves along the linear path out of the mold-receiving position. The second mold cassette assembly, and pre-mounted second mold, are then moved along the linear path to the mold-extracting position. The second mold is then demounted from the second mold cassette assembly and moved along the mold-transfer path to the concrete products forming machine to effect a mold change within the CPM.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically modifying a live image of a subject using an automated interactive system is provided. The system includes a motorized platform including at least one actuator, a control unit including a processor and a storage device, and a payload including one or more sensors and a camera. The method includes (i) collecting sensor data about at least one of the subject and an environment, (ii) moving the camera along or around at least one degree of freedom, (iii) capturing the live image of the subject in at least one position from with the camera, (iv) storing the live image of the subject in the data storage device, (v) sending instructions to physically move the payload, (vi) applying at least one environment modification rule to modify the live image of the subject, and (vii) displaying a modified live image of the subject on a display unit.

Abstract: An empirical data management system (EDMS) includes an application server, an environmental sensor unit, a process instrument, a data storage system, and a correlation module. If a correlation exists between two or more of process data, environmental data, and specified environmental operating ranges of the process instrument, a user is prompted with a specific message such as a recommendation, warning and/or query.