Abstract: Methods and systems for selecting a velocity profile for controlling a robotic device are provided. An example method includes receiving via an interface a selection of a robotic device to control, and receiving via the interface a request to modify a velocity profile of the robotic device. The velocity profile may include information associated with changes in velocity of the robotic device over time. The method may further include receiving a selected velocity profile, receiving an input via the interface, and determining a velocity command based on the selected velocity profile and the input. In this manner, changes in velocity of the robotic device may be filtered according to a velocity profile selected via the interface.

Abstract: A tileable display panel includes an illumination layer, a display layer, and a screen layer. The display layer is disposed between the screen layer and the lamp layer and includes pixelets. Each of the pixelets is positioned to be illuminated by lamp light from the illumination layer and to project a magnified image sub-portion onto the screen layer such that the magnified image sub-portions collectively blend together to form a unified image on the screen layer. Each of the pixelets includes core pixels and peripheral pixels surrounding the core pixels on one or more sides which provide a higher image resolution in overlap regions on the screen layer when the magnified image sub-portions overlap on the screen layer.

Abstract: A robotic system may include an incremental encoder coupled to a joint of the system. The robotic system may include a memory configured to store representations of angular positions of the joint. The robotic system may include a motor coupled to the joint, where rotation of the joint while the motor is powered off (i) causes rotation of the motor such that electric power is generated, and (ii) updates the angular position of the joint. The robotic system may use the electric power to power on the incremental encoder and the memory while the robotic system is powered off. One or more processors may obtain, when the robotic system powers on after being powered off, the updated angular position of the joint from the memory, where the incremental encoder provides the updated angular position to the memory while the robotic system is powered off.

Abstract: A motor pylon system adapted for use with an airborne power generations system is disclosed. The pylons may support turbine driven generators for wind based electrical power generation which also function as electric motors in some aspects. The pylons may be designed to provide side force useful for turning a tethered flying wing flying in a circular cross wind flight path. The pylons may be designed to minimize air flow disruptions over the main wing.

Abstract: A system includes: a tension member having a first end and a second end, where the first end of the tension member is connected to a first loading member and the second end of the tension member is connected to a second loading member; a first actuator configured to translate the first loading member, such that a tensile load is applied to the tension member along a first direction; a second actuator configured to translate the second loading member in two or more second directions that are substantially transverse to the first direction; and a control system that is configured to control the second actuator, such that the second loading member oscillates between the two or more second directions, where the oscillation of the second loading member causes the tension member to vibrate at a frequency.

Abstract: A display panel includes a carrier substrate, a system interconnect, and a plurality of display modules disposed across the carrier substrate. The display modules are each communicatively coupled to the system interconnect to each output a different portion of an overall image communicated via the system interconnect. Each of the display modules includes an array of direct emission display pixels and a module interconnect to couple the array of direct emission display pixels to the system interconnect. The array of direct emission display pixels of a given display module of the plurality of display modules is distinct and separate from the array of direct emission display pixels of other display modules of the plurality of display modules.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the use of an optimal altitude controller for super pressure aerostatic balloon in connection with a balloon network. The aerostatic balloon includes a bladder containing a gas that is lighter than the air present in the environment of the balloon. Additionally, the aerostatic balloon includes an envelope filled with air. A mass-changing unit configured to selectively add or remove air may control the amount of air in the envelope. Further, the balloon has a communication module configured to transmit data relating to a current balloon state, and receives data relating to a desired balloon state. Additionally, the balloon includes a processor configured to control the mass-changing unit based on the desired balloon state. The mass-changing unit of the aerostatic balloon may be powered by a renewable energy source, such as solar power. The mass-changing unit adds or removes air with an impeller.

Abstract: The present application discloses implementations that involve shutdowns of a robotic system. An example may include controlling, by a robotic system, a plurality of motors of the robotic system with a central processing unit (CPU). The example may also include determining, by the robotic system, an error condition of the robotic system, where the error condition prevents the CPU from controlling at least one of the plurality of motors. The example may also include causing a plurality of motor driver boards to control the plurality of motors of the robotic system in response to determining the error condition of the robotic system. The example may also include receiving, by the plurality of motors, one or more commands from the plurality of motor driver boards to move the robotic system to a stationary position and park the robotic system in the stationary position.

Abstract: A fixed housing that is configured to be coupled to a balloon envelope and an impeller housing disposed within the fixed housing, wherein the impeller housing and the fixed housing form a seal in a closed position, wherein the impeller housing is moveable into the balloon envelope relative to the fixed housing in an open position, and wherein the impeller housing defines an unobstructed airflow passageway between an internal chamber in a balloon envelope and the atmosphere in the open position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wirelessly communicating data that receives electromagnetic (“EM”) radiation incident upon an antenna of a mobile device from a base station is described. The antenna is an element of the mobile device that serves an additional purpose than just as a reflective antenna for backscatter communications. A radar cross-section of the antenna is modulated between two or more states using a backscatter tag coupled to the antenna. Data is encoded onto a backscatter channel of the EM radiation via the modulating. The data is transmitted to the base station over the backscatter channel.

Abstract: The locations of flowers on a plant, rather than the locations of agricultural products produced from such flowers, are used to facilitate the performance of harvesting and other agricultural operations in robotic agricultural applications. In some implementations, the identified location of a fruit-producing flower may be used by a robotic device to apply an indicator tag to a flowering plant proximate the flower for later identification when performing various types of directed and automated agricultural operations. In other implementations, the identified location of a fruit-producing flower may be used by a robotic device to anchor a stem of a flowering plant to a predetermined location such that the location of the flower, and of any fruit(s) later produced by such flower, are controlled and/or known when performing subsequent agricultural operations.

Abstract: Transmission apparatus for beam expansion are disclosed. A transmission apparatus includes a light source configured to emit an optical signal, a first feature comprising a diffractive element and a reflective element, and a second feature that is substantially aligned with the first feature. The diffractive element is substantially aligned with the light source to receive the optical signal. The second feature includes an inner surface that is partially reflective and partially transmissive. The first feature is located between the light source and the second feature. The diffractive element is configured to diffract the optical signal, the second feature is configured to: (a) reflect a first portion of the diffracted optical signal and (b) transmit a second portion of the diffracted optical signal to a destination balloon; and the second feature is further configured to transmit at least part of the first portion of the diffracted optical signal to the destination balloon.

Abstract: A tileable display panel includes an array of display pixels including central display pixels near a center of the array having a center pixel pitch and perimeter display pixels along a perimeter of the array. A perimeter region surrounds the array. The perimeter region includes a first side that is joinable to a second side of another instance of the tileable display panel to form a multi-panel display. The perimeter region has a width that is greater than at least half the center pixel pitch such that a gap between adjacent perimeter display pixels of the tileable display panel and the other instance of the tileable display panel when forming the multi-panel display is greater than the center pixel pitch. The gap is visually masked by increasing a characteristic of the perimeter display pixels adjacent to the gap relative to the same characteristic of the central display pixels.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods operable in a balloon network. The method can include determining that a balloon is at a location associated with a legally-defined geographic area. An area profile of the legally-defined geographic area may identify geographically-restricted data that must not be removed from the legally-defined geographic area. The method can also include determining that the balloon contains at least some of the geographically-restricted data. The method can also include determining that the balloon is likely to move out of the legally-defined geographic area. The method can also include removing the geographically-restricted data from the memory of the balloon.

Abstract: In the context of a balloon network, embodiments described herein may help to maintain an optical communications link between two balloons. For example, an illustrative balloon may include auxiliary photodetectors that are arranged around the photodetector in the balloon's optical receiver system. The balloon may detect intensity differences between the auxiliary photodetectors on opposite sides of an optical receiver, and adjust the positioning in an effort to reduce the intensity difference, and by so doing, better align the optical receiver with the optical transmitter of the transmitting balloon.

Abstract: A multi-layer projection screen includes a transparent substrate having first and second sides, a stray light rejection layer, and a lens array. The stray light rejection layer is disposed across the first side of the transparent substrate. The stray light rejection layer includes an array of pillar structures, wherein each pillar structure of the array of pillar structures includes an entrance aperture, an exit aperture, a substantially transparent pathway extending from the entrance aperture to the exit aperture, and an opaque side wall surrounding the transparent pathway. The lens array is disposed across the second side of the transparent substrate and optically aligned to the array of pillar structures. The stray light rejection layer blocks display light received from the lens array having an oblique trajectory that is greater than a threshold angle from a normal of the second side of the transparent substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method operable in a balloon network. The method can include determining that a balloon is at a location associated with a first legally-defined geographic area, wherein an area profile identifies a list of geographically-prohibited data that is restricted from being cached in the first legally-defined geographic area. The method can also include receiving first data. The method can also include using the list of geographically-prohibited data to determine whether or not the first data is geographically-prohibited data. If the first data is geographically-prohibited data, then the method can further include refraining from storing the first data in data storage at the first balloon.

Abstract: Example methods and systems for determining failure modes of balloons within a balloon network are described. One example method includes: (a) determining at least one cohort balloon of a first balloon, where the first balloon is operating as part of a balloon network and where each cohort balloon shares at least one property with the first balloon, (b) determining at least one expected failure mode based at least in part on at least one failure of at least one cohort balloon, (c) determining a predicted failure mode of the first balloon based at least in part on the at least one expected failure mode, and (d) causing the first balloon to operate within the balloon network based at least in part on the predicted failure mode of the first balloon.

Abstract: Multirobotic management can involve communications between a command or leader robot and one or more client or follower robots through a cloud computing system. In an example implementation, a leader robot can receive first sensory data captured by a first follower robot and second sensory data captured by a second follower robot, determine a command function based on at least one of the first sensory data and the second sensory data, and communicate with at least one of the first follower robot and the second follower robot based on the command function.

Abstract: Example embodiments may facilitate altitude control by a balloon in a balloon network. An example method involves: (a) operating a balloon in a first mode, wherein the balloon includes an envelope and a fuel cell, (b) while the balloon is operating in the first mode: (i) drawing ambient air from outside the envelope into the envelope through a first opening, (ii) using solar energy to heat the air in the envelope such that a buoyancy of the balloon is increased, and (iii) releasing air from inside the envelope to outside the envelope through a second opening such that the buoyancy of the balloon is decreased; (c) transitioning to operating the balloon in a second mode; and while operating the balloon in the second mode, using a portion of power generated by the fuel cell to heat the air in the envelope such that the buoyancy of the balloon is increased.