Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for controlling an aerial vehicle. An exemplary method may include receiving data indicating a location and an altitude of the aerial vehicle, receiving data indicating an objective of the aerial vehicle, receiving prevailing wind pattern data, selecting a heading for the aerial vehicle based on the location, the altitude, the objective, and the prevailing wind pattern data, and causing the aerial vehicle to adjust the altitude of the aerial vehicle based on the selected heading.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for controlling an aerial vehicle. An exemplary method may include receiving data indicating a location and an altitude of the aerial vehicle, receiving prevailing wind pattern data regarding winds at the location and the altitude of the aerial vehicle, selecting a heading for the aerial vehicle based on the prevailing wind pattern data, and causing the aerial vehicle to adjust the altitude of the aerial vehicle based on the selected heading.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for controlling an aerial vehicle. An exemplary method may include receiving data indicating a location and an altitude of the aerial vehicle, receiving data indicating a destination of the aerial vehicle, determining a vector from the location of the aerial vehicle to the destination of the aerial vehicle, receiving prevailing wind pattern data regarding winds at the location and altitude of the aerial vehicle, planning a path for the aerial vehicle to move along the vector based on the prevailing wind pattern data, and causing the aerial vehicle to adjust the altitude of the aerial vehicle based on the prevailing wind pattern data and the planned path.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for controlling an aerial vehicle. An exemplary method may include receiving data indicating a location and an altitude of the aerial vehicle, receiving data indicating a destination of the aerial vehicle, receiving prevailing wind pattern data regarding winds at the location and altitude of the aerial vehicle, determining that the aerial vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the destination, determining a speed at which the aerial vehicle is moving, and causing the aerial vehicle to adjust the altitude of the aerial vehicle based on the prevailing wind pattern data and the determined speed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving brain activity data of a user from a brain wave sensor. Identifying Alpha wave activity from the brain activity data. Determining a synchronization timing for presenting content to the user such that the content appears on a display device during a predetermined phase of the Alpha wave activity based on the Alpha wave activity. Causing the content to be displayed on the display device according to the synchronization timing, where the content includes a first content item and a second content item that is associated with the first content item.

Abstract: A flexible sensor that includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a capacitive structure on the PCB, and mechanical coupling sites. The PCB includes a slot extending from an outer edge of the PCB to an inner portion of the PCB, and the slot defines a first edge and a second edge facing the first edge. The first and second edges are separated by a gap when the PCB is in an unflexed state. The slot is configured to permit the PCB to flex so as to vary a relative position of the first edge with respect to the second edge. The capacitive structure on the PCB includes a first edge electrode on a portion of the first edge of the PCB, and a second edge electrode on a portion of a second edge of PCB. The second edge electrode is aligned with the first edge electrode across the slot.

Abstract: Examples are provided that describe a model free power detector. In one example, a method includes receiving, by one or more computing devices, a measurement of electrical power to a robotic device. The method also includes receiving, by the one or more computing devices, a measurement of mechanical power by the robotic device. Based on combinations of the electrical power to the robotic device being one of positive, negative, or about zero, and the mechanical power by the robotic device being one of positive, negative, or about zero, the method includes determining possible states of operation of the robotic device. The method also includes providing, by the one or more computing devices, the possible states of operation of the robotic device to a detector.

Abstract: An example torque controlled actuator includes a frame, and one or more timing belt stages coupled in serial on the frame. The timing belt stages include an input stage for coupling to a motor and an output stage for coupling to a load, and the timing belt stages couple rotation of the motor to rotation of an output of the output stage. The torque controlled actuator also includes one or more belt idlers coupled to the frame that contact a timing belt of the output stage, and a strain gauge coupled to the frame to determine a tension of the timing belt of the output stage based on force applied by the timing belt of the output stage to the one or more belt idlers.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving data from one or more sensors that detect one or more environmental parameters associated with an autonomous submersible structure, determining one or more navigation parameters based on the one or more environmental parameters and one or more viability profiles associated with cargo contained within the autonomous submersible structure and that specify constraints on the one or more environmental parameters, and controlling, based on the one or more navigation parameters, a propulsion system of the autonomous submersible structure.

Abstract: An example method may include identifying (i) a first group of reactions that corresponds to a first set of precursors and a first set of reaction products and (ii) a second group of reactions that corresponds to a second set of precursors and a second set of reaction products. No precursor in the first set of precursors is also in the second set of precursors, no reaction product in the first set of reaction products is also a precursor in the second set of precursors, and no reaction product in the second set of reaction products is also a precursor in the first set of precursors. The method may also include executing a first processing thread to iteratively calculate respective quantities of the precursors in the first set of precursors and executing a second processing thread to iteratively calculate respective quantities of the precursors in the second set of precursors.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and techniques for inspecting seals for high altitude balloons. In one example, a system may include a reflective surface, a translucent material on the reflective surface, and a movable light source configured to move along the reflective surface and provide light to the reflective surface. The light is provided such that it is reflected from the reflective surface and through the translucent material in order to backlight a balloon envelope seal for inspection. A method for inspecting a balloon envelope seal may include placing balloon envelope material on a table, forming a seal between portions of the material, moving a light over the seal, shining light onto a reflective portion of the table below the seal to backlight the seal, and inspecting the seal using the backlighting of the seal.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first data packet on a first polarization portion of an optical signal from a second communication terminal through a free space optical link during a first time period and receiving a first data packet replica on the first polarization portion of the optical signal during a second time period. The second time period is delayed in time relative to the first time period. The method also includes determining receiving powers for the optical link during both the first time period and the second time period based on at least one of the received first data packet and the received first data packet replica. The method also includes selecting the one of the first data packet or the first data packet replica that is associated with the highest receiving power for the optical link as surviving data for maintaining the optical link.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related to aviation communications are included. A computing device can receive position data indicating a position of an aerial vehicle. The position can include an altitude. The computing device can determine, from a plurality of possible airspace classifications, a first airspace classification at the position of the aerial vehicle, where each airspace classification specifies one or more communication parameters for communication within an associated airspace. The computing device can select, from a plurality of communication repositories, a first communication repository that is associated with the first airspace classification, where each communication repository specifies a set of pre-defined communication components for at least one associated airspace classification. The computing device can generate a communication related to the aerial vehicle using the first communication repository. The computing device can send the generated communication to at least one recipient.

Abstract: Examples are provided that describe a cycloid transmission with a chain link ring. An example cycloid transmission includes a motor shaft attached to a disc. The motor shaft may be used for rotating the disc. The cycloid transmission also comprises an outer chain link ring that surrounds the disc. The outer chain link ring includes rollers that are inserted at given interfaces between links of the outer chain link ring. The rollers contact the disc as the disc rotates. The cycloid transmission also comprises a housing. The links of the outer chain link are coupled at the given interfaces. The rollers are inserted at the given interfaces and into the housing.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms to form a semi-rigid structure from a flexible sheet. In an embodiment, a portion of the flexible sheet includes layer portions and one or more compartments each disposed between said layer portions. The one or more compartments each having disposed therein a first fluid compound that is reactive—e.g., when exposed to oxygen, heat, ultraviolet (or other) light, or a different fluid compound—to form a solid. In another embodiment, a graphic printed on the flexible sheet indicates a location of the one or more compartments. Activation of the one or more compartments and bending of the flexible sheet portion at the activated one or more compartments aids in the formation of a shelter or other semi-rigid structure.

Abstract: A system and method for a mobile hybrid transmitter/receiver (TX/RX) node for wireless resonant power delivery is disclosed. A hybrid TX/RX can be configured to travel to remote, wirelessly-powerable receivers and deliver power to them wirelessly. A hybrid TX/RX device can include a transmitter component (TX), a receiver (RX) component, and a power store for storing power for supply to remote receivers. The TX/RX device can be configured in an autonomous unmanned vehicle operational to travel between a fixed source transmitter devices and one or more specified locations that may be host to one or more remote receivers. In the location of the one or more remote receivers, the TX component may function to wirelessly transfer power from the power store to the one or more remote receivers. In the location of the fixed source transmitter device, RX component can be configured to receive power via wireless power transfer, and to use the received power to at least partially replenish the power store.

Abstract: A process for producing a light emitting diode device, the process including: forming a plurality of quantum dots on a surface of a layer including a first area and a second area, the forming including: exposing the first area of the surface to light having a first wavelength while exposing the first area to a quantum dot forming environment that causes the quantum dots in the first area to form at a first growth rate while the quantum dots have a dimension less than a first threshold dimension; exposing the second area of the surface to light having a second wavelength while exposing the second area to the quantum dot forming environment that causes the quantum dots in the second area to form at a third growth rate while the quantum dots have a dimension less than a second threshold dimension; and processing the layer to form the LED device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for determining, based on a task to be performed by a robot and past behavior by robots while performing tasks similar to the task, a suggested task-level movement parameter for application to movement of the robot while performing the task; providing output indicative of the suggested task-level movement parameter; receiving input indicative of user selection of the suggested task-level movement parameter or a user-defined task-level movement parameter; determining, based on the received input, an actual task-level movement parameter to be applied to movement of the robot while performing the task; and identifying, based on the actual task-level movement parameter, a plurality of component-level movement parameters to be applied to a plurality of motion primitives implemented by one or more operational components of the robot to perform the task.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for optimizing robot-implemented tasks based at least in part on historical task and location correlated duration data collected from one or more robots. Historical task and location correlated duration data may, in some implementations, include durations of different tasks performed in different locations by one or more robots in one or more particular environments, and knowledge of such durations may be used to optimize tasks performed by the same or different robots in the future.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for an antenna system. The antenna system includes a main reflector, a phased array feed, and a mechanical steering system. The phased array feed is configured to receive and/or transmit signals reflected off the main reflector and to electronically steer a transmitted signal on a first axis. The main reflector and the phased array feed are both attached to the mechanical steering system, and the mechanical steering system is configured to move the transmitted signal along a second axis.