Abstract: An irrigation controller is disclosed together with associated methods and computer program products. User input specifying a requested start time may be received. A total desired watering time may be calculated. A total permissible watering time may be calculated. The start time may be moved back relative to the requested start time in response to determining that the total permissible watering time is less than the total desired watering time.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods to monitor and control operation of an aquatic facility comprising a water basin, a water supply subsystem, and other subsystems. A simplified, centralized, scalable control subsystem comprises a base controller including with inputs and outputs and a human-machine interface. Sensors are operatively connected to the base controller and adapted to directly or indirectly sense one of a pre-selected set of parameters related to the operation of the aquatic facility. Actuators are operatively connected to the base controller and adapted to directly or indirectly actuate one of a pre-selected set of operations of the aquatic facility. The base controller is programmable relative to setpoints or other operational criteria of the aquatic facility; and actuation of at least a base subset of the actuators and graphical representation of the facility and the water supply, and the at least one subsystem, and the pre-selected operations of the aquatic system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for configuring a modular building control system. An illustrative method may include entering a configuration mode in a base module and in each of the expansion modules. While in the configuration mode, the base module may collect information from each of the expansion modules. A system configuration may be created for the modular building control system based at least in part on the collected information and includes configuration parameters for the base module and each of the expansion modules. The base module may transmit to each of the expansion modules their respective configuration parameters. The base module and each of the expansion modules may install their respective configuration parameters, exit the configuration mode, and enter an operation mode. While in the operation mode, the base module and each of the expansion modules may control the modular building control system.

Abstract: A control method according to the present disclosure is executed by a first server of servers in a system including one or more IoT devices and the servers. The method includes: obtaining first transaction data including malfunction information indicating that one of the IoT devices is malfunctioning, and time information indicating a time when the IoT device has obtained the malfunction information; transferring the obtained first transaction data to second servers different from the first server; executing, together with the second servers, a first consensus algorithm for an agreement on an authenticity of the first transaction data; and recording a block containing the first transaction data in a distributed ledger of the first server, when the authenticity of the first transaction data is verified by the first consensus algorithm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of Internet of Things (IoT), and provides a gas leakage detection method based on a compound IoT and an IoT system. According to the gas leakage detection method based on the compound IoT and the IoT system provided by the present invention, whether a gas pipeline of a user has gas leakage or not is judged via a user participation manner, the judgment manner is intelligent, the judgment result is accurate and thus the gas safety of the user is guaranteed.

Abstract: A method of operating an HVAC system using a controller includes predicting a first predicted temperature of an enclosed space during an unoccupied time with the HVAC system off. The controller determines if the first predicted temperature is less than a set-point temperature. Responsive to a determination that the first predicted temperature is less than the set-point temperature, the controller predicts a second predicted temperature of the enclosed space if the HVAC system is operated for a first runtime. The controller determines if the second predicted temperature is less than the set-point temperature and, responsive to a determination that the second predicted temperature is not less than the set-point temperature, the controller operates the HVAC system for the first runtime.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling the time dependent transfer of electrical power between a first electrical network and a second electrical network is disclosed. The first electrical network is operable to provide instantaneous electrical power to the second electrical network located at a location, the second electrical network includes electrical generating capacity at the location based on stored energy accessible at the location. The method and system involves receiving at the second electrical network pricing information from the first electrical network, the pricing information associated with the future supply of electrical power by the first electrical network to the second electrical network and then modifying substantially in real time the transfer of electrical power between the first and second electrical networks in accordance with the pricing information and the electricity demand characteristics of the location.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plausibility checking method for rapid prototyping devices, in particular for stereolithography devices. In this connection, input data (14) is checked which is present particularly in the form of graphics data and of which every file renders a layer. Every layer comprises a plurality of pixels. The component to be printed in the respective layer is produced based on output data by the rapid prototyping device. The input data of two consecutive layers is checked and the sum of all pixels to be exposed is determined for every layer. A signal (22) is output in particular as a warning signal (26) when the pixel sum of a following layer is larger than in the previous layer by a predetermined factor.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system (110) for performing an action is disclosed. In one arrangement and embodiment, the system (110) comprises: a tool (118) operable to perform at least the action; a controller (122); storage (124) storing electronic program instructions for controlling the controller (122); and an input/output means (126). In one form, the controller (122) is operable, under control of the electronic program instructions, to: receive input via the input means; process the input, and on the basis of the processing, control the tool to perform the action. In one embodiment, the action comprises a hydraulic tuning action in respect of a system, such as a hydraulic pump (114), comprising a hydraulic circuit.

Abstract: A queue control system controls a queue structure of a queue in an amusement park. The queue control system includes a controller and a queue structure control associated with the queue structure. The controller receives, from an input device that monitors a queue characteristic of the queue, data feedback indicative of the queue characteristic. The queue characteristic is indicative of a queue length, queue wait time, queue rate, or queue throughput. The controller also outputs a control command based on the data feedback. The queue structure control receives the control command and changes at least one aspect of the queue structure based on the control command.

Abstract: A method includes identifying time values for a length of time to carry out process fluid delivery within multiple processing chambers that concurrently process multiple substrates; translating each time value to a recipe parameter for execution of an operation of a processing recipe; and causing the operation to be performed using each recipe parameter as a control value to control valves of a fluid panel of the multiple processing chambers. For each processing chamber of the multiple processing chambers: causing the process fluid to flow to the processing chamber for a first period of time corresponding to a first time value; and causing the process fluid to flow to a divert foreline of the processing chamber for a second period of time, the second period of time being based on a timestep of the operation and the time value.

Abstract: A mobile robot is configured for vending consumable items. The robot includes a mobile base; a body comprising an item space; a plurality of support elements located in the item space and configured to support consumable items; an item sensor configured to detect presence of one or more consumable items supported by each of the support elements; and an insert configured to removably fit into the item space, and wherein the insert comprises the support elements and the item sensor. A method for vending consumable items uses the mobile robot.

Abstract: A device-system comprises parallel operating devices (105-107) for driving an operating quantity towards a target value, and a control system for controlling each device at least partly based on a device-specific integral term relating to a time integral of a device-specific error signal that is indicative of a deviation of the operating quantity from the target value. The control system comprises a stabilizing system that computes an arithmetic average of the device-specific integral terms and corrects the device-specific integral terms towards the computed arithmetic average. The correction of the device-specific integral terms makes it possible to avoid unwanted drifts in the device-specific integral terms in a situation where there are differences between the device-specific error signals. The devices can be peers to each other and thus redundancy is achieved because one device can be removed from or added to the device-system without actions from the other devices.

Abstract: A control system for use in controlling operation of an electrical appliance, including: an electrical appliance housing having a control module; and a power source; a control knob including: an attachment element configured for releasably attaching the control knob to an outer surface of the housing; and an input/output module; a wireless power transfer system configured for wirelessly transferring power from the power source through the electrical appliance housing and to the input/output module for use in powering the input/output module; and a wireless control signaling module configured for wirelessly communicating a control signal from the control knob through the housing to the control module within the electrical appliance housing, said control signal received by the control module being indicative of an operational position/state of the control knob, and whereby said control module is configured for controlling operation of the electrical appliance by reference to the received wireless control signal

Abstract: An apparatus is described for energy-efficient execution of a safety function used for safeguarding a technical installation. A safety device detects a triggering event of the safety function, and a processing unit executes a safety-related reaction of the safety function based on the detection by the safety device. The apparatus is selectively operable in a first operating mode and a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, the safety device and the processing unit operate according to a first quality level, and, in the second operating mode, at least one of the safety device and the processing unit operates according to a second quality level. The second quality level is lower than the first quality level and at least one of (a) the safety device and (b) the processing unit is operable with a reduced capacity in the second operating mode to save energy.

Abstract: A data conversion system includes an interface to receive path data, a memory to store a computer-executable program including a lattice full algorithm and a dynamic programming algorithm, a processor, in connection with the memory, configured to execute the computer-executable program.

Abstract: An air conditioning system includes one or more cameras, one or more air conditioning operation units, and an air conditioner control unit that obtains, via the one or more cameras, images of a surrounding environment of the air conditioning operation units, and determines a first set of factors, including a layout of the surrounding environment, based on analysis of the images through predefined machine learning models. The control unit, in accordance with the first set of factors that has been determined based on the analysis of the images through the predefined machine learning models, selects a first operation profile from a plurality of predefined operation profiles to control the air conditioning operation units.

Abstract: The present disclosure belongs to the field of marine engineering, and in particular relates to a method and system for guaranteeing the safety of offshore oil well control equipment. The method comprises: identifying the state of a main structure of the offshore oil well control equipment, identifying the state of a hydraulic control unit of offshore oil well control equipment, identifying the state of an electronic control unit of offshore oil well control equipment, predicting the state of the offshore oil well control equipment and making a real-time decision based on existing information; and the system for guaranteeing the safety of the offshore oil well control equipment comprises a state identification subsystem of a main structure, a state identification subsystem of the hydraulic control unit, a state identification subsystem of the electronic control unit and a state prediction and real-time decision subsystem.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for managing the movements of a robot configured to treat a surface, said device including: acquisition means for acquiring a three-dimensional representation (Re) of said surface to be treated; and determination means for determining a sequence of movements on the basis of said three-dimensional representation (Re) of said surface to be treated; said determination means comprising at least one three-dimensional generic model (m1-m3) for which a plurality of sequences of movements (Tx) are known; said device including adjustment means for adjusting said generic model (m1-m3) with said three-dimensional representation (Re) of said surface to be treated that are able to deform said generic model (m1-m3) and known sequences of movements (Tx) so as to correspond to said three-dimensional representation (Re) of said surface to be treated.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a ceramic ball automatic sorting system and method. The system automatically sucks a ceramic ball on a ceramic ball feeding track for image acquisition, identifies whether the ceramic ball is defective according to the acquired image information, and determines a ball storage device into which the ceramic ball is placed, and the whole process does not require manual participation, which achieves the automation of ceramic ball defect identification and sorting and improves the ceramic ball defect identification accuracy and sorting efficiency. According to the method, images of the ball surface shot at each angle are automatically spliced by using an automatic image splicing technology to achieve full coverage.