Abstract: A method for coupling a number of utilities between a first system and a second system is provided. A first interface that couples the number of utilities between the first system and the second system is created between the first system and a utilities unit. The first interface is activated. A second interface between the second system and the utilities unit is deactivated, while the first interface remains activated.

Abstract: Method, system and computer program product are provided for estimating a circadian phase of a subject by: obtaining a sensed biological signal for the subject; and using, by one or more processors, adaptive frequency tracking to adaptively estimate the circadian phase of the subject from the sensed biological signal. Circadian phase estimation may be accelerated by providing a feedback loop for the adaptive frequency tracking, which utilizes, in part, a circadian phase model in automatically ascertaining a phase correction for the adaptive frequency tracking. The circadian phase estimation may be used in automatically constructing a light-based circadian rhythm model for the subject using a linear parameter-varying (LPV) formulation, and once constructed, the circadian rhythm model for the subject may be used to provide light-based circadian rhythm regulation.

Abstract: Techniques are described for generating power from airflow powered smart vents associated with security and automation systems. One method includes monitoring a rate of airflow through an air vent in a centralized heating and cooling system, generating, at a sensor at the air vent, power based at least in part on the rate of airflow through the air vent, storing the generated power in the sensor at the air vent, providing the stored power to one or more motors associated with the sensor at the air vent, and utilizing the stored power to perform communication between the sensor at the air vent and a control panel of the home automation system, wherein the control panel is located at a location different from a location of the sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a pump for feeding fluid (F) into a heating system (1000). The heating system has a hot fluid tank (HFT) receiving fluid from an associated fluid reservoir line (5) with an incoming fluid mass flow rate (dmcw/dt). A pump (P) receives fluid from the line, and pumps the received fluid with a mass flow rate (dmc/dt). A heat exchanging unit (HX) transfers heat (Q) to the fluid (F) from a medium (R). The transferred heat (Q) is maximized by controlling the pump (P1) in response to this information indicative of the transferred heat (Q), the fluid mass flow rate delivered by the pump thereby having a minimum as a function of the incoming fluid mass flow rate (dmcw/dt) when maximizing the transferred heat. The invention provides significantly improved heat transfer to the fluid and power savings for the pump. The invention also relates to a heating system, e.g. a heat pump system.

Abstract: A controller of an additive manufacturing system including an extruder nozzle is programmed to: cause the extruder nozzle to deposit one or more first material segments with at least one first locking portion having a first shape; and cause the extruder nozzle to deposit one or more second material segments with at least one second locking portion having a second shape; wherein the second shape of the at least one second locking portion engages with the first shape of the at least one first locking portion, whereby the at least one second locking portion forms an interlock with the at least one first locking portion.

Abstract: An automated system including a control target device and a control device which controls the control target device, in which it is possible to accurately estimate whether maintenance of the control target device is required and a portion requiring maintenance. The control device is an adaptive control device including a position control system, an adaptive identifier which estimates a parameter indicating a state of a control target device based on a control command and a control target output from the control target device, and an adaptive compensator which, based on the parameter which is estimated by the adaptive identifier, compensates the control command from the position control system to the control target device such that the control target device performs a planned operation regardless of a change in the parameter.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes providing a first digital representation of a first member and a second digital representation of a second member. The first member and the second member are configured to be joined. The method also includes aligning the first digital representation and the second digital representation in a same coordinate system. Further, the method includes determining, in the coordinate system, a virtual deformation corresponding to at least one of the first digital representation or the second digital representation corresponding to an applied loading. Also, the method includes determining shim dimensions for a shim to be interposed between the first member and the second member based on the virtual deformation. The method further includes fabricating a shim having the shim dimensions.

Abstract: A computer numerically controlled machine may include a movable head configured to deliver electromagnetic energy to a part of a working area in which the movable head may be commanded to cause delivery of the electromagnetic energy. The interior space may be defined by a housing and may include an openable barrier that attenuates transmission of light between the interior space and an exterior of the computer numerically controlled machine when the openable barrier is in a closed position. The computer numerically controlled machine may include an interlock that prevents emission of the electromagnetic energy when detecting that the openable barrier is not in the closed position. The commanding may result in the computer numerically controlled machine executing operations of a motion plan for causing movement of the movable head to deliver the electromagnetic energy to effect a change in a material at least partially contained within the interior space.

Abstract: A numerical controller carries out acceleration/deceleration control over an interpolation pulse produced based on command blocks. This numerical controller exercises acceleration/deceleration control processing over the interpolation pulse based on an acceleration/deceleration setting which corresponds to the command blocks, and outputs a first speed pulse. The numerical controller exercises acceleration/deceleration control processing over the first speed pulse such that command blocks overlap each other, based on an overlapping shared acceleration/deceleration setting which does not depended on the command blocks, and outputs a second speed pulse.

Abstract: An example device includes a processor configured to receive a plurality of voltage values corresponding to voltage nodes in a first portion of a power system and determine, for each voltage node, a respective value of first and second voltage-constraint coefficients. The processor is also configured to receive a power value corresponding to a connection point of the first portion of the power system with a second portion of the power system and determine for the connection point, a respective value of first and second power-constraint coefficients. The processor is also configured to cause at least one energy resource connected to the first portion of the power system to modify an output power of the at least one energy resource based on the value of the first and second voltage-constraint coefficients for each voltage node and the value of the first and second power-constraint coefficients.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of devices within a property, and processing insurance policies associated therewith. A property is populated with a plurality of smart devices, smart appliances, and/or other devices that are connected to, and/or in wired or wireless communication with a central controller, such as a smart home controller or insurance provider remote processor, whereby the plurality of devices and/or property are covered by an insurance policy. The central controller may collect sensor data from the plurality of devices and/or determine whether the property is occupied or not. The central controller may also identify a desired operating state of a device, generate a command according to the desired operating state, and/or transmit the command the device to facilitate prevention or reduction of risk or damage to the property. The central controller may also generate and/or process insurance claims associated with damage to the devices and/or property.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an electronic device based on environmental information are provided. The electronic device includes sensors functionally connected to the electronic device; and at least one processor configured to: receive, at least one sensor of the sensors, environmental information corresponding to a surrounding area of the electronic device, determine a risk level based on the environmental information, perform a first function if the risk level satisfies a first condition, and perform a second function if the risk level satisfies a second condition different from the first condition.

Abstract: A food processing machine, such as a filling machine and/or twisting line for the manufacture of foods, particularly sausages, and a corresponding operating method, having at least one function module and at least one control section for controlling the corresponding function modules. Through at least one activation device, and after the input of an access authorization, at least one function module can be activated and/or one performance range from a plurality of possible performance ranges of at least one function module can be activated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic irrigation for a micro-climate areas and subterranean soil modeling are provided herein. Some methods include receiving collection of micro-climate data having weather data from a weather station that is proximate a target area, canopy imaging for the target area, depth-specific soil data for the target area, plant health data that includes stomatal conductance and evapotranspiration for plants in the target area, and selectively adjusting operation of an irrigation system so as to increase or decrease water applied to the target area based on analysis of the micro-climate data.

Abstract: Provided are an electronic device and a method for controlling an operation of the electronic device. The method may include sensing a temperature of at least one component forming a portion of the electronic device and generating a first signal based on the sensed temperature; sensing at least one of a movement of the electronic device, an approach state of an object to the electronic device, and a contact state of the object with the electronic device and generating a second signal based on at least one of the movement of the electronic device, the approach state of the object, and the contact state of the object; and controlling an operation of the at least one component based on at least one of the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to substructures for 3D objects are described. In an example, a method for providing a three-dimensional halftone threshold matrix is described. The method may comprise receiving a substructure model representing a three-dimensional material structure and populating each location in the substructure model at which the structure exists with a halftone threshold value.

Abstract: An additive management system is disclosed. The system includes an additive selection system, which selects an additive for dispensing into a working fluid. The system also includes an additive dispensing system having a fluid sensing chamber with sensors. The system also includes an additive delivery system, which delivers the selected additive to the additive dispensing system, and a processor which causes the fluid sensing chamber to receive a sample of the working fluid, receives measurement signals from the one or more fluid parameter sensors corresponding with the values of fluid parameters of the working fluid, and determines values for fluid parameters of the working fluid based on the measurement signals. The processor also causes the additive delivery system to deliver the selected additive to the additive dispensing system and causes the additive dispensing system to dispense the selected additive into the working fluid through the fluid sensing chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a corrugated paperboard box making machine which comprises a feeding control mode setting unit for setting a feeding control mode to one of a first feeding control mode for controlling a sheet feeding apparatus and a second feeding control mode for controlling the sheet feeding apparatus such that the sheet feeding operation is performed plural times during the period of time in which the printing rotor is rotated 360 degrees, and a control apparatus for controlling the sheet feeding apparatus according to the set feeding control mode. The control apparatus is operable to execute a sheet feeding stop control processing of, when the second feeding control mode is set, controlling the sheet feeding apparatus such that the sheet feeding operation is stopped at least once after execution of the sheet feeding control processing.

Abstract: A temperature of a portion of which the temperature is difficult to directly measure is accurately estimated in a simple method. In S1, information about a coolant discharging/stopping state is obtained. As the information about the coolant discharging/stopping state, a flag is used such that the flag represents 1 for the discharging state and the flag represents 0 for the stopping state. Next, in S2, temperature data is obtained from temperature sensors provided in components of a machine tool, a machining space, and a coolant tank. Next, in S3, lag process is performed for the coolant discharging/stopping state flag, and coefficients for measured temperatures of the coolant and the structure are calculated. Next, in S4, the measured temperatures are multiplied by the coefficients, and an estimated temperature of a portion to which the temperature sensor is not attached is calculated.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a self-retracting lifeline (SRL) comprising one or more electronic sensors, the one or more electronic sensors configured to generate data that is indicative of an operation of the SRL; and at least one computing device comprising one or more computer processors and a memory comprising instructions that when executed by the one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to: receive the data that is indicative of the operation of the SRL; apply the data to a safety model that predicts a likelihood of an occurrence of a safety event associated with the SRL; and perform one or more operations based at least in part on the likelihood of the occurrence of the safety event.