Abstract: A thermoacoustic refrigeration assembly includes a resonating tube having a first end and a second end; a first mechanical oscillator at the first end; a second mechanical oscillator at the second end; and a thermoacoustic stack sandwich disposed along a length of the resonating tube through which gas travels. The stack sandwich includes a first outboard heat exchanger on a first side of the stack sandwich facing the first mechanical oscillator, a second outboard heat exchanger on a second side of the stack sandwich facing the second mechanical oscillator, and a center heat exchanger disposed between the first outboard heat exchanger and the second outboard heat exchanger.

Abstract: In an example, a ventilator includes a first container and a second container in fluidic communication with each other via a liquid. The second container includes a second container space surrounded by the second container and a second liquid surface. A hydrostatic pressure in the second container space results from a pressure differential defined by a difference between the first liquid surface elevation in the first container and the second liquid surface elevation. The second container space increases in size with an increase in the breathing gas supplied from a gas supply line to the second container space. An inhalation line is configured to open to permit a flow of the breathing gas from an inhalation inlet in the second container space to an inhalation outlet outside of the liquid and outside of the second container and coupled to a patient, causing the second container space to decrease in size.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described, and an example system includes a transport bin configured to carry a baggage item and having spatial reference frame marking detectable by electromagnetic scan and by machine vision. The system includes a robotic arm apparatus at an inspection area, and includes a switched path baggage conveyor that, responsive to electromagnetic scan detection of an object-of-interest (OOI) within the baggage item, conveys the transport bin to the inspection area. The electromagnetic scan generates OOI geometric position information indicating geometric position of the OOI relative to the spatial reference frame marking. The robotic arm apparatus, responsive to receiving the transport bin, uses machine vision to detect orientation of the spatial reference frame marking, then translates OOI geometric position information to local reference frame, for robotic opening of the baggage item, and robotic accessing and contact swab testing on the OOI.

Abstract: In an example, a sample collection apparatus to collect sample from a detection subject disposed in a sample collection zone includes a circumferential ring tubing surrounding an interior and configured to be moved between first ring tubing position and second ring tubing position. The circumferential ring tubing includes air nozzles along a circumferential length of the ring tubing to direct targeted air flow within the sample collection zone as the ring tubing is moved between the first ring tubing position and the second ring tubing position, to blow air toward the detection subject in the sample collection zone in the interior and to push a sample of the detection subject via an air flow toward a receptacle. Adjustable actuators are affixed along a periphery of the circumferential ring tubing to adjust the circumferential length of the circumferential ring tubing between a first circumferential length and a second circumferential length.

Abstract: A bag unlocking method includes receiving, by a bag handling system, a bag during a check-in process. The bag handling system identifies, from a travel carrier system, traveler information corresponding to the bag. A securing device of the bag is programmed, using an unlock code pertaining to the traveler information. The bag handling system reads a bag tag of the bag at a baggage inspection station and determines the unlock code pertaining to the bag tag. The bag handling system transmits the unlock code to cause the securing device to unlock at the baggage inspection station.

Abstract: An example method to characterize an anomaly includes obtaining information about an item using a first mode scan and detecting whether the item contains an anomaly based on the information. The method further includes determining, responsive to detecting the anomaly, an area of interest of the item corresponding to a location of the anomaly, and determining a strategy including a procedure to obtain other information of the area of interest. The method refines a characterization of the anomaly based on the other information, and compares the characterization of the anomaly to a predetermined criterion. The method iteratively revises the strategy to perform additional available procedures, to further refine the characterization of the anomaly. When the characterization of the anomaly meets the predetermined criterion corresponding to a prohibited item, the method identifies the anomaly as prohibited.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic stack includes an outer wall which is cylindrical and has a length extending between a first end and a second end. An internal wall structure is disposed inside the outer wall. The internal wall structure includes a plurality of spaced adjacent wall surfaces extending along the length of the outer wall to provide open flow passages between the spaced adjacent wall surfaces. A first cross member extends across the outer wall at the first end and is connected to the outer wall and the internal wall structure at the first end.

Abstract: A stopped vehicle information remote retrieval method includes an emergency personnel or first responder vehicle (FRV) establishing a vehicle connection between an infotainment system of a stopped vehicle and the FRV. The FRV sends a vehicle information request to the infotainment system of the stopped vehicle, via the vehicle connection, seeking release of vehicle information. The FRV obtains authentication of the vehicle information received in response to the vehicle information request. The FRV determines occupant status based on the vehicle information. The FRV communicates the passenger status to a first responder.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed towards a system and method to dispense an explosive compound onto a substrate. An example device includes a solvent having the explosive compound dissolved in the solvent to form a sample. A delivery mechanism dispenses the sample in a dispersed manner to sufficiently vaporize the solvent to prevent wicking while dispersing a residue of the explosive compound on the substrate to enable detection by explosive detection tools.

Abstract: A kit-of-parts for assembling an apparatus for verifying Explosive Trace Detector responses includes an alignment tool and a dispenser. The alignment tool has a body with a top cavity open on a top side and configured to receive the dispenser housing or a sampling medium head of a sampling medium. The sampling medium head has a sample collection area. The body has a bottom cavity to receive a hammer arm. The body has one or more sampling media cavities disposed between the top cavity and the bottom cavity, each configured to receive another sampling medium having a respective sample collection area. The top cavity and sampling media cavities are in communication with each other via a common slot. The top cavity and sampling media cavities are configured to receive different sampling media and to align the dispenser housing with the sample collection area of each of the different sampling media.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described, and an example system includes a transport bin configured to carry a baggage item and having spatial reference frame marking detectable by electromagnetic scan and by machine vision. The system includes a robotic arm apparatus at an inspection area, and includes a switched path baggage conveyor that, responsive to electromagnetic scan detection of an object-of-interest (OOI) within the baggage item, conveys the transport bin to the inspection area. The electromagnetic scan generates OOI geometric position information indicating geometric position of the OOI relative to the spatial reference frame marking. The robotic arm apparatus, responsive to receiving the transport bin, uses machine vision to detect orientation of the spatial reference frame marking, then translates OOI geometric position information to local reference frame, for robotic opening of the baggage item, and robotic accessing and contact swab testing on the OOI.

Abstract: Systems and methods and an example method including storing, in an access control memory of an access control computer system a set of access control identity records, receiving from an individual a proffered biographic information, and comparing the proffered biographic information to the access control identity records. In response to the comparing indicating a subset of than one access control identity records having biographic information having similarity to the proffered biographic information exceeding a threshold, generating and sending to a central resource computer system a biometric comparison request. The request includes the proffered biographic information of the persons, an indication of the biometric information of the person, and indication of biographic information in the identity records in the subset.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described, and an example system includes, in association with an intermediate, a server and a validation module on the server. The server receives a communication from a mobile device, carrying a customs information. The validation module performs a validation on the customs information and in association with an affirmative validation outcome stores the customs information as a validated information. Upon an occurrence, optionally an event and optionally a time, the validation module sends the validated information to an authorization authority server for vetting. The intermediate server receives an electronic receipt from the authorization authority server, the receipt including an indication of a result of the vetting, and communicates, via the network, the receipt to the mobile device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described, and an example method includes a training an artificial intelligence (AI) classifier of electromagnetic (EM) scanned items, including obtaining a training set of sample raw EM scans. The set includes a population of sample in-class raw EM scans, which include blocks of EM sensor data from EM scans of regions having in-class objects, and the set includes a population of sample not-in-class raw EM scans, which include blocks of EM sensor data from EM scan of regions without in-class objects. The example includes applying the AI classifier to sample raw EM scans in the training set, measuring errors in the results, and updating classifier parameters based on the errors, until detecting a training completion state.

Abstract: In an example, a sample collection apparatus to collect sample from a detection subject disposed in a sample collection zone includes a circumferential ring tubing surrounding an interior and configured to be moved between first ring tubing position and second ring tubing position. The circumferential ring tubing includes air nozzles along a circumferential length of the ring tubing to direct targeted air flow within the sample collection zone as the ring tubing is moved between the first ring tubing position and the second ring tubing position, to blow air toward the detection subject in the sample collection zone in the interior and to push a sample of the detection subject via an air flow toward a receptacle. Adjustable actuators are affixed along a periphery of the circumferential ring tubing to adjust the circumferential length of the circumferential ring tubing between a first circumferential length and a second circumferential length.

Abstract: A cover device for a regulator, which has a purge button and a mouthpiece connected to the regulator, includes a body having a mouthpiece housing to receive the mouthpiece through an access opening which presents a friction fit to squeeze the mouthpiece passing therethrough in a squeezed state to enter and exit a hollow interior of the mouthpiece housing. The hollow interior is configured to store the mouthpiece in a relaxed state. A button cover is connected to the mouthpiece housing to cover the purge button on a top surface of the regulator when the mouthpiece is inserted into the hollow interior of the mouthpiece housing. The button cover is narrower in width than the mouthpiece housing.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed toward systems and methods relating to security screening. For example, a screening system includes chamber scanners oriented to scan different heights corresponding to different respective portions of a user, to identify whether the user is carrying an item that is to be divested. The screening system also includes a divestment scanner configured to obtain a detailed item characterization of the item divested from the user.

Abstract: In an example, a ventilator includes an outer container containing liquid, an inverted container submerged in the liquid to provide inverted container space between a closed top and an inner container liquid level; gas supply line to supply breathing gas to the inverted container space; and inhalation line having an inlet in the inverted container space to provide breathing gas to patient. The inverted container moves upward from a first elevation when the inverted container space reaches a hydrostatic delivery pressure and volume of the inverted container space increases. The inverted container stops moving upward and the gas supply line stops supplying when the inverted container reaches a second elevation above the first. Based on a breath demand signal or preset timing, the inhalation line opens to permit flow of breathing gas to the patient at the hydrostatic delivery pressure, lowering the inverted container due to lost buoyancy resulting in sinkage.

Abstract: In an example, a kit for assembling a scalable body armor for a wearer's body includes hard ballistic plates, soft ballistic panels, a plate carrier including a front plate carrier and a rear plate carrier connected by shoulder straps and having front and rear plate carrier pockets for receiving the hard ballistic plates, a front panel carrier having a front outward facing side joinable to an inward facing side of the front plate carrier by contact and a front panel carrier pocket to receive one of the soft ballistic panels, and a rear panel carrier having a rear outward facing side joinable to an inward facing side of the rear plate carrier by contact and a rear panel carrier pocket to receive another one of the soft ballistic panels.

Abstract: In an example, a method of detecting cyanide exposure of an individual comprises measuring a thiocyanate level of the individual, and comparing the measured thiocyanate level to a preset thiocyanate threshold to determine whether the measured thiocyanate level is above the preset thiocyanate threshold indicating a level of cyanide poisoning requiring immediate medical assessment.