Abstract: A motion prediction system for predicting the motion of a random animate subject. A first neural network is a markerless motion capture network, trained to receive video data of the subject and to process the video data to generate a time sequence of musculoskeletal motion capture data. A second neural network is a motion prediction network, trained to receive the musculoskeletal motion capture data and to process the data to generate a prediction of the subject's location based on position change in position of joints and/or muscles.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston engine, comprising an engine block having a piston cylinder; a piston disposed in the piston cylinder; an intake port to the piston cylinder, an intake valve to open and close the intake port to the piston cylinder; a rotatable crankshaft; a flywheel connected to the crankshaft which is rotatable with the crankshaft, the flywheel having a circumferential profile; and a cam lobe forming a portion of the circumferential profile of the flywheel wherein, during rotation of the crankshaft, the cam lobe acts on the intake valve to open the intake valve.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing the temperature of the charge air provided to a turbocharged internal combustion engine. A supercharger is installed on the air intake path, upstream the turbocharger's compressor. A secondary charge air cooler is installed between the supercharger and the main compressor. This over-compresses the intake air, so that an expansion turbine installed downstream the turbocharger's compressor can cool the charge air and still provide sufficient charge air pressure into the intake manifold.

Abstract: A method of generating an ROI profile for a fuel injector using machine learning and a constrained/limited training data set is disclosed. The method includes receiving a first plurality of measurement sets for a fuel injector when operating at a first target set point. Preferably, at least two measurement sets of the first plurality of measurement sets are selected to generate a first averaged ROI profile for the first target condition. The at least two selected measurement sets are then used to train a machine learning model that can output a predicted ROI profile for a fuel injector based on a desired pressure value and/or desired mass flow rate value. Training of the machine learning model preferably includes a predetermined number of iterations that induces overfitting within the model/neural network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the design, fabrication and applications of three-dimensional (3D) bioreactor for cell expansion and cell secreted substance production. The bioreactors have relatively low levels of potentially cytotoxic compounds, can be coated with substituted or unsubstituted poly(p-xylene) type coatings and can also be separately formed from liquid crystal photopolymerizable monomers.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes first and second road surface image obtaining devices that are located on a bottom surface of the vehicle body and obtain images of a road surface below the vehicle body, respectively. The autonomous vehicle also includes a memory unit that stores a map image of the road surface, the map image being associated with geographical location information. The autonomous vehicle further includes first and second self-location estimating units that each compare a feature extracted from the image of the road surface obtained by corresponding one of the first and second road surface image obtaining devices with a feature extracted from the map image, thereby estimating a self-location of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A large reflector inflatable telescope. The telescope has an inflatable hull with a conical lower portion and a hemispherical upper portion. The conical portion is transparent to electromagnetic waves so that radio or light waves can reach an inner reflector, which is interposed between the conical portion and the hemispherical portion. The presence of the inner reflector allows the conical portion and the hemispherical portion to be inflated at different pressures such that the reflector becomes spherical or parabolic. If desired, the reflector can be made adjustable with a membrane behind the reflector that provides electro-static force to shape the reflector.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an application-independent estimation of the state of health (SOH) of a battery. A battery terminal voltage, under a non-zero load, when a specific amount of charge has been drawn from the battery is compared to stored terminal voltage test data obtained under the same conditions. An estimate of SOH is provided in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A burner-based exhaust replication system that includes mechanisms for rapidly exchanging exhaust aftertreatment devices for testing. The exhaust replication system has a test leg for delivering exhaust to an exhaust aftertreatment device and a bypass leg for bypassing exhaust around the test leg. The test leg is equipped with a rotating drum that holds a number of exhaust aftertreatment devices. The drum is rotatable to selectively align the aftertreatment devices with the test leg and is moveable laterally in a direction parallel to the test leg to aid in sealing the test leg to the aftertreatment device.

Abstract: A dosing composition and method for treatment of reductant urea solutions utilizing organometallic catalyst precursors in combination with one or more surfactants to promote decomposition of relatively high molecular weight deposits which deposits may otherwise reduce selective catalytic reduction efficiency.

Abstract: A method of using a combustor for high temperature combustion. The combustor is equipped with a showerhead type micromix air-fuel injector. The injector faceplate has its ports concentrically arranged into “banks”, to which delivery of fuel can be controlled on a bank-by-bank basis. During combustor operation, the temperature of the air into the combustor is monitored. If the temperature is above a predetermined threshold, fuel is delivered to fewer than all banks of ports. As a result, the bank(s) of ports to which fuel is not delivered inject only air into the combustion chamber, and the other bank(s) of ports inject the air-fuel mixture as usual.

Abstract: A method of magnetostrictive (MS) guided wave testing of a ferromagnetic structure. One or more MS transmitters, each configured as a patch of ferromagnetic material, are acoustically coupled to the structure. Each MS transmitter is magnetized to produce a bias magnetic field in the patch. One or more MS receivers are acoustically coupled to the structure in a location remote from the MS transmitter(s). An alternating current (AC) is applied to the structure, thereby producing time-varying magnetic fields and MS vibrations in the MS transmitter(s) resulting in guided waves in the structure. MS response signals are received at the MS receiver(s), indicating whether the structure has any anomalies.

Abstract: A dress pack manager for use with a robotic arm having an end-of-arm tool supplied with power or working fluid via a dress pack. A pair of rollers are spaced apart such that the dress pack may pass between them, and such that rotation of the rollers applies friction to the dress pack and causes the dress pack to move. An electric motor rotates one of the rollers in both a forward and backward rotation and is torque-controlled to maintain a constant tension applied to the dress pack by the rollers.

Abstract: Technologies for producing an exhaust gas stream with controlled hydrocarbon species are disclosed. In some embodiments the technologies include an apparatus for producing an exhaust gas stream. The apparatus may include a burner for combusting primary fuel and produce an exhaust gas stream, and an exhaust pipe coupled to the burner to receive the exhaust gas stream. One or more supplemental fuel inlets may be coupled to the exhaust gas pipe for the addition of supplemental fuel to the exhaust gas stream. In embodiments, the speciation and total concentration of hydrocarbon compounds in the exhaust gas stream may be adjusted by controlling the relative amount of supplemental fuel added to the exhaust gas stream. Methods for producing an exhaust gas stream are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for discriminating and mitigating spoofing signals incoming to a satellite navigation system. Beam steering techniques are used to steer a null toward a legitimate satellite signal that is being spoofed. The spoofing signal is then tracked and its angle of arrival measured. A null is steered toward the measured angle of arrival of the spoofing signal, and the spoofing signal is confirmed by determining if there is a signal remaining with nulls on both the legitimate satellite signal and the spoofing signal. The null toward the legitimate satellite signal is then replaced with unity gain.

Abstract: A mobile radio direction finding (RDF) calibrator, and a method of using it to calibrate an RDF system aboard a vehicle. The calibrator has a GPS (global positioning satellite) or other GNSS (global navigation satellite system) receiver, which permits the calibrator to make its location known to the calibration process of the RDF-equipped vehicle. During calibration, the calibration process controls the calibrator remotely. As the RDF-equipped vehicle moves in a circle, it collects calibration response data, as well as location data, so that the calibration response data can be mapped to the correct azimuth.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein integrate a supercritical fluid power generation system with a LNG production/NGL separation system. A heat exchanger thermally couples the supercritical fluid power generation system with the LNG production/NGL separation system. A relatively cool heat transfer medium, such as carbon dioxide, passes through the heat exchanger and cools a first portion of extracted natural gas. The relatively warm heat transfer medium returns to the supercritical fluid power generation system where a compressor and a thermal input device, such as a combustor, are used to increase the pressure and temperature of the heat transfer medium above its critical point to provide a supercritical heat transfer medium. A second portion of the extracted natural gas may be used as fuel for the thermal input device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for producing a metal-containing powder useful for additive manufacturing. The metal-containing powder includes a plurality of metal-containing platelets having a defined physical geometry and a defined aspect ratio. The metal platelets may be produced by depositing a metal layer on a substrate that includes one or more recessed or raised surface features. The one or more recessed or raised surface features create a fracture pattern in a metal layer deposited across at least a portion of the one or more surface features. By separating the metal layer from the substrate and fracturing the metal layer along the fracture pattern, a plurality of metal platelets are produced. In some embodiments, a release agent may be disposed between the metal layer and the substrate to facilitate the separation of the metal layer from the substrate.

Abstract: Described herein is a beads-free bioprocessor as an automated and cost-effective T cell processing and manufacturing platform. T cells are a core component in CAR T cell therapies for cancer treatment, but are difficult to manufacture to scale in clinically relevant quantities. The 3D bioprocessor provides an alternative device that is scalable, beads-free, easy-to-use, and cost-effective for using CAR T cell therapy in cancer immunotherapy. Besides CAR T cell application, this platform technology has potential for many other applications such as cancer cell isolation.

Abstract: A method of improving cold starting of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with an on-board microwave generation system that generates and delivers microwaves into the combustion chamber of each cylinder via an antenna associated with each cylinder. The microwaves are delivered immediately prior to cold start of the engine, causing the combustion chamber and interior elements of the chamber to be warmed.