Abstract: A hoist positioning system includes an accelerometer attached to a hoist, a control unit for processing signals from the accelerometer and comparing the processed signals with reference data to determine a position of the hoist, a drive system for moving the hoist up and down, and a relay that is switched ON and OFF by a control signal from the control unit. When the relay is switched ON, power is supplied to the drive system from a high-voltage power source and the hoist is driven up or down. When the relay is switched OFF, power from the high-voltage power source to the drive system is cut off and the hoist stops moving up or down.

Abstract: A stabilized platform system includes a platform, a chassis subject to external vibration, first and second servomechanisms fixed to the chassis, first support having an end rotatably coupled to the first servomechanism and an other end rotatably coupled to the platform, a second support having an end rotatably coupled to the second servomechanism and an other end rotatably coupled to the platform, a third support having an end fixed relative to one of the chassis and an other end rotatably coupled to the platform, one or more sensors fixed to the platform, and a controller coupled to the one or more sensors and the first and the second servomechanisms. The controller causes the servomechanisms to adjust the inclination angles of the platform to maintain a desired orientation of the platform.

Abstract: A multi-purpose alarm operates in a motion-detected alarm mode and a motion-expected alarm mode. In the motion-detected alarm mode, when the multi-purpose alarm is touched or moved, an alarm is issued. In the motion-expected alarm mode, when the multi-purpose alarm has not been touched or moved for a period of time, an alarm is issued. The multi-purpose alarm employs an accelerometer to sense the presence or absence of movement and is attachable to an object being monitored through various attachment means including a spring clamp, an adhesive, and a magnet.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for determining fruit maturity is disclosed. The method includes measuring acceleration data associated with an impulse response signal of a target fruit to an excitation force applied to such a target fruit, computing a frequency response of the impulse response signal based on digitized acceleration data, determining a first order resonance frequency from the frequency response, and non-destructively determining a level of maturity for the target fruit based on one or more physical properties of the target fruit and the first order resonance frequency.

Abstract: A wireless monitoring system and method carries out wireless communication is carried out according to the ZigBee standard. The ZigBee standard allows for low-cost, low-power and high-density implementation of the wireless monitoring system and method, so that wireless monitoring system and method may be rolled out on a large scale to provide patient monitoring and other types of monitoring.