Abstract: A robotic device is provided. The robotic device includes a first detachable digit, including a first connector piece. The robotic device also includes a digit mounting apparatus, including a first pivot joint and a second connector piece coupled to the first pivot joint, where the second connector piece is configured to mate with the first connector piece of the first detachable digit. The robotic device also includes an actuator configured to pivot the first pivot joint about a first axis to cause the second connector piece of the digit mounting apparatus to mate with the first connector piece of the first detachable digit to attach the first detachable digit to the digit mounting apparatus.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may relate to a system comprising a plurality of optical elements, comprising at least a first optical element and one or more secondary optical elements, a heliostat comprising the first optical element, where the heliostat is operable to move the first optical element to continuously reflect light from a non-stationary light source in a beam towards a first of the secondary optical elements, and where the secondary optical elements are arranged to re-direct the reflected beam of light towards an illumination target. The system further includes a controller configured to receive position data indicative of the position of the non-stationary light source over time, and in response to the position data, control at least the heliostat to continuously direct the beam of light towards the first of the secondary optical elements, such that the beam of light is continuously re-directed towards the illumination target.

Abstract: A power distribution system includes a bidirectional power converter, a battery, and a controller. The bidirectional power converter is operable to (i) convert AC power received at AC terminals to DC power at DC terminals and (ii) convert DC power received at the DC terminals to AC power at the AC terminals. The bidirectional power converter is disposed within a converter stack formed by a plurality of power converters having DC terminals that are coupled to each other in series. The battery is arranged to be selectively couplable to the DC terminals of the bidirectional power converter. The controller is configured to (i) determine that the DC voltage across the DC terminals of the bidirectional power converter is below a threshold voltage and (ii) couple the battery to the DC terminals of the bidirectional power converter based on the determination that the DC voltage is below the threshold voltage.

Abstract: A lift assembly for use during inflation of a balloon envelope is provided. The lift assembly includes a plate structure that has a set of cavities. Each cavity includes one or more openings passing through the plate. One or more pistons are coupled to the plate through at least one of the openings of each cavity in the set of cavities. Each piston has a hollow tube portion projecting lengthwise from the at least one opening, a flange attached to the hollow tube portion and a grabber portion in communication with the flange. The grabber portion includes a plurality of bearings for grabbing a stud attached to an apex of the balloon envelope. A handle portion is coupled to the plate. The handle is arranged to lift the balloon envelope when the bearings have grabbed a given stud.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using a delivery device that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The location of the delivery device can be determined as it is lowered to the ground using image tracking. The UAV can include an imaging system that captures image data of the suspended delivery device and identifies image coordinates of the delivery device, and the image coordinates can then be mapped to a location. The UAV may also be configured to account for any deviations from a planned path of descent in real time to effect accurate delivery locations of released payloads.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to filling and lifting high altitude balloons. For instance, one example system for lifting and filling a balloon having a balloon envelope includes an apparatus for use with the balloon envelope. The apparatus includes a load line, a fill tube having a hollow portion nested within the load line and a termination member attached to the fill tube and load line. The load line is configured to lift the balloon envelope during inflation. The fill tube extends through the load line and is configured to allow lift gas to pass through the hollow portion. The termination member is configured to mate with an opening in the balloon envelope so that lift gas can pass through the hollow portion of the fill tube and into the opening in the balloon envelope.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may help to provide support via a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An illustrative medical-support system may include multiple UAVs, which are configured to provide support for a number of different situations. Further, the medical-support system may be configured to: (a) identify a remote situation, (b) determine a target location corresponding to the situation, (c) select a UAV from the fleet of UAVs, where the selection of the UAV is based on a determination that the selected UAV is configured for the identified situation, and (d) cause the selected UAV to travel to the target location to provide support.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a marketplace for inter-network links between a high-altitude network and a terrestrial data network. An example method may involve a computer-based purchasing agent: (i) determining a demand for inter-network bandwidth between a high-altitude network and a terrestrial data network, (ii) determining one or more offers to provide an inter-network link, wherein the inter-network link provides inter-network bandwidth between the high-altitude network and the terrestrial data network, and wherein each offer is associated with a corresponding client device, (iii) based at least in part on a comparison of: (a) the demand for inter-network bandwidth and (b) the one or more offers to provide an inter-network link, selecting one or more of the offers to provide an inter-network link, and (iv) initiating a process to establish an inter-network link at each client device that corresponds to one of the one or more selected offers.

Abstract: A battery containment pod including a body formed of a lightweight material. The body has an aerodynamic exterior shape and an interior cavity formed in the lightweight material, the size and shape of the interior cavity designed to accommodate one or more battery packs. A smooth exterior coating covers the exterior shape of the body, and an attachment structure formed in or on the body allows the body to be coupled to a flight vehicle. Other implementations are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A method for matching a ground station to an aerial vehicle for establishment of a backhaul link to an airborne network involves: (i) determining location information for a ground station that is configured to provide a backhaul link to an airborne mesh network, (ii) determining flight data for one or more of the aerial vehicles in the airborne mesh network, (iii) based at least in part on the combination of (a) the location information for the ground station and (b) the flight data for the one or more of the aerial vehicles, selecting a flight with which the ground station should establish a backhaul link to the airborne network, and (iv) generating a link-assignment message that comprises instructions for the ground station to establish a backhaul link between the ground station and an aerial vehicle carrying out the selected flight.

Abstract: Example methods and systems for adjusting the beam width of radio frequency (RF) signals for purposes of balloon-to-ground communication are described.

Abstract: A laser device includes: a substrate formed from material transparent at a laser wavelength; a first reflecting layer to reflect at least some incident radiation at the laser wavelength; a layer including a gain medium for providing stimulated emission of radiation at the laser wavelength, and positioned between the first reflecting layer and the substrate; a second reflecting layer on an opposite side of the substrate from the first reflecting layer to reflect at least some incident radiation at the laser wavelength; a spatial light modulator in an optical cavity comprising the first and second reflecting layers, and comprising an array of elements each corresponding to a different path for radiation in the optical cavity; and a computer controller that, during operation, causes the spatial light modulator to selectively vary an intensity or phase of radiation in the optical cavity to provide variable transverse spatial mode output of the radiation.

Abstract: A display including a screen layer for displaying a unified image to a viewer on a viewing side of the screen layer that is opposite a backside of the screen layer, and an illumination layer having an array of light sources. Each light source in the array is configured to emit a divergent projection beam having a limited angular spread. A display layer is disposed between the screen layer and the illumination layer, and includes a matrix of pixlets, a spacing region disposed between the pixlets in the matrix, wherein the array of light sources are positioned to emit the divergent projection beams having limited angular spread to project sub-images displayed by the pixlets as magnified sub-images on the backside of the screen layer, the magnified sub-images to combine to form a substantially seamless unified image, and one or more components positioned on the display layer in the spacing region.

Abstract: An example system includes: (i) a resin container defining a cavity; (ii) a plurality of rods extending from an inner base surface of the resin container and into the cavity; (iii) a plurality of light sources arranged to emit radiation into the plurality of rods, such that when the cavity contains liquid resin, radiation passing through a given one of the rods cures liquid resin that surrounds the given rod; and (iv) a control system configured to: (a) receive data specifying a three-dimensional structure; (b) determine a shape for a layer of a plurality of layers that collectively form the three-dimensional structure; and (c) determine one or more of the light sources that correspond to the shape of the layer; and (d) form the layer by operating the one or more determined light sources that correspond to the shape of the layer.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms to form a reinforcement structure including dirt processed during drilling of a tunnel. In an embodiment, a device includes a drill head to drill an underground tunnel, where a housing of the device takes in dirt produced by such drilling. A mixer and other components of the device variously condition the dirt to produce a casing material that is subsequently provided to a compactor of the device. The compactor extrudes the casing material through a die. The extruded casing material is eliminated from the device to form a reinforcement structure at one or more sides of the tunnel. In another embodiment, a fiber optic cable is paid out from the device into the tunnel during the drilling, or is pulled into the tunnel by the device during the drilling.

Abstract: A balloon apparatus is provided having (1) a cage structure that includes (a) a plurality of vertical tendons, where each of the vertical tendons includes a first end and second end, where the first ends of the vertical tendons are all connected to one another and where the second ends of the vertical tendons are all connected to one another and (b) one or more horizontal tendons, where each horizontal tendon is attached to each of the vertical tendons at a corresponding level of the cage structure and (2) a balloon envelope, where the balloon envelop is arranged inside the cage structure and inflatable within the cage structure.

Abstract: Example implementations relate to robotic operations libraries. An example library may include sets of operation instructions and other information for robotic devices to use to complete desired tasks. For instance, a respective set of operation instructions is determined based on successive simulations in which a virtual robotic device comprising an adjustable configuration initially based on the given configuration of a robotic device performs operations related to a task in an adjustable virtual environment until one or more simulations result in the virtual robotic device performing respective operations that complete the task at a success level that satisfies a predefined threshold. The library may provide a set of instructions for performing operations to a robotic device based on a query received from the robotic device that includes information indicative of a configuration and an environment of the robotic device.

Abstract: In response to a request to package item(s), embodiments determine characteristic data for the item(s), which include an indication of a volume of each item. Container(s) for packaging the item(s) is determined based at least on the volume of each item. An arrangement of the item(s) in the container(s) is determined. One or more protective structures including one or more features are configured to position the item(s) in the container(s) according to the arrangement. Relative positions are determined for a plurality of modular elements to form the one or more protective structures. Subsets of the plurality of modular elements are deposited to corresponding relative positions to form at least one of the protective structures. The item(s) are packaged in the container(s) with the one or more protective structures to position the item(s) in the container(s) in the arrangement.

Abstract: Example implementations may relate to a computing device configured to operate a robotic system. In particular, the device receives input data that is generated by a hand-holdable controller including a knob, where the knob includes touch sensors arranged to detect touch on surfaces of the knob. Based on the input data, the device detects that the controller is within a first threshold distance from a first component of the robotic system and responsively operates the first component of the robotic system based on the input data. The device then receives subsequent input data that is generated by the controller. Based on the subsequent input data, the device subsequently detects that the controller is within a second threshold distance from a second component of the robotic system and responsively operates the second component of the robotic system based on the subsequent input data.

Abstract: A balloon system including a balloon envelope and a ballonet positioned within the balloon envelope, and a plurality of internal panels extending within the balloon envelope between the ballonet and the balloon envelope, wherein the plurality of internal panels are attached to an outside of the ballonet and attached to an inside of the balloon envelope to support the ballonet within the balloon envelope during inflation of the ballonet.