Abstract: A conveyance mechanism (1) includes: a trough (10) that conveys an article; a support member (20) to which the trough is detachably coupled, the support member including a vibrator that vibrates the trough; and a coupling member (30) that couples the trough and the support member. The trough includes a first abutting member (11) that is located on a back side of a conveyance face for conveyance of the article and abuts on the support member. The support member includes a second abutting member (21) that is plate-shaped and has a second circumferential edge (22) vertically identical to a first circumferential edge (12) that is a circumferential edge of the first abutting member. The coupling member couples the trough and the support member by fastening the first abutting member and the second abutting member with the first circumferential edge and the second circumferential edge in superposition. The second abutting member (21) is provided with a through hole (23) passing through the second abutting member.

Abstract: An apparatus is structured to receive and contain a bullet. This apparatus also aids in determining a penetrative effect of the bullet relative to a material disposed in the apparatus. The apparatus includes an elongated central core comprising an internal cavity. This internal cavity facilitates ballistic penetrative testing on the material. The apparatus includes a removable lid coupled to the elongated central core. When the removable lid is coupled to the elongated central core, the two components cause the internal cavity to become a sealed internal cavity, except for one directed entry section through which the moving bullet can enter the internal cavity. The apparatus includes a funnel-like member having a wider opening and narrower opening. The funnel-like member is coupled to the elongated central core. The narrower opening provides the directed entry section. Additionally, the funnel-like member is structured to guide the bullet into the sealed internal cavity.

Abstract: A method of calibrating temperature of a resistive element having a material with a Curie temperature includes generating a standard resistance-temperature (R-T) curve for the resistive element in isothermal conditions to identify values of the R-T curve and an inflection point at the Curie temperature, generating operational R-T curves for the resistive element over an operational time period, comparing the standard R-T curve to the operational R-T curves, and adjusting the operational curves to the standard R-T curve at the Curie temperature to calibrate temperature of the resistive element.

Abstract: A test apparatus includes: a stage having a planar surface extending in a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction; a mounting portion that is disposed on the stage to place a test member thereon; an angle adjusting portion adjusting a first angle of the mounting portion to incline the mounting portion with respect to the planar surface of the stage; and a pressing guide disposed on the stage and moving a pressing member in the first direction, the second direction, and a third direction normal to the planar surface of the stage.

Abstract: A sensor, comprising a deformable substrate, comprising a structural metamaterial in a first configuration; a plurality of raised structures disposed throughout the substrate, wherein the plurality of raised structures are invertible; a responsive material layer, wherein the responsive material layer is disposed on the plurality of raised structures and is configured to invert the plurality of raised structures in the presence of an external stimuli; and a plurality of second configurations of the deformable substrate that correspond to a plurality of inverted raised structures.

Abstract: A method determines a vehicle mass of a self-driving vehicle, wherein an internal force can be exerted on the self-driving vehicle by the automated control of an electronic drive system and/or an electronic braking system. The method includes determining whether a trigger event is present indicating a change in vehicle mass is likely, and activating a learning operating mode in the presence of a trigger event wherein the self-driving vehicle is operated alternately in a first and a second phase. In the first phase, an internal force is exerted on the self-driving vehicle, and in the second phase, an internal force is exerted on the self-driving vehicle. A disturbing force acting in the phases is determined. The vehicle mass is determined depending on the vehicle acceleration and the internal force present in each phase, as well as depending on the determined disturbing force.

Abstract: Highly efficient and rapid filtration-based concentration devices, systems and methods are disclosed with sample fluidic lines and a filter packaged in a disposable tip which concentrate biological particles that are suspended in liquid from a dilute feed suspension. A sample concentrate or retentate suspension is retained while eliminating the separated fluid in a separate flow stream. The concentrate is then dispensed from the disposable tip in a set volume of elution fluid. Suspended biological particles include such materials as proteins/toxins, viruses, DNA, and/or bacteria in the size range of approximately 0.001 micron to 20 microns diameter. Concentration of these particles is advantageous for detection of target particles in a dilute suspension, because concentrating them into a small volume makes them easier to detect. All conduits by which the disposable tip attaches to the instrument are combined into a single connection point on the upper end of the tip.

Abstract: A device, a method and a program, by which a weight and/or a position of a gravity center of a load attached to a movable part of a robot can be estimated by a simple configuration. The device has a torque sensor configured to detect a torque applied to an axis for driving the movable part of the robot, and a calculation section configured to calculate the weight of the article, by using: a first torque applied to the axis, when the article attached to the movable part is positioned at a first position and represents a first posture; a second torque applied to the axis, when the article attached to the movable part is positioned at a second position different from the first position and represents the first posture; the first position; and the second position.

Abstract: A conveyor system comprising a conveyor and a conveyor weighing apparatus. The conveyor weighing apparatus has a load determination device for determining the load exerted the conveyor on a conveyor support. The conveyor weighing apparatus may have measurement devices for measuring the angle and speed of the conveyor. The load determination device determines the load exerted by the at least section of conveyor in both laden and unladen states, and the results are combined with the speed and angle measurements, and with known system constants, to calculate the weight of material being conveyed.

Abstract: An electronic vapor provision device comprises: includes a first electrical resistive heater for vaporizing a precursor material to generate vapor in an airflow for inhalation by a user and a second electrical resistive heater for vaporizing the precursor material and/or heating said airflow. The first electrical resistive heater has a first thermal coefficient of resistance which is less than a second thermal coefficient of resistance of the second electrical resistive heater. The device further includes a control system to monitor for a change in the resistance of at least the second electrical resistive heater. The second electrical resistance heater therefore serves both as a heater and as a temperature monitor.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a chest of a vehicle crash dummy, includes: controlling, under each preset test condition, a pressing apparatus to press down a chest of a target crash dummy with a target pressing speed and a target pressing distance corresponding to the preset test condition, obtaining an actual force-displacement curve under each preset test condition, obtaining a standard force-displacement curve of a chest of a standard crash dummy under each preset test condition, and determining, according to the actual force-displacement curve and the standard force-displacement curve under each preset test condition, whether the chest of the target crash dummy satisfies a biological simulation standard. Through collecting information under various preset test conditions, various complicated conditions of impact on the chest can be more effectively simulated in a crash test by using the method, which improves the accuracy of determining the biological simulation standard.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for monitoring precipitation. An example rain gauge device for use in such monitoring generally includes a first basin including at least one outlet for forming and releasing droplets of moisture, and at least two electrical contacts disposed proximate to the at least one outlet. A closed circuit is formed between the at least two electrical contacts when a droplet of moisture, released by the at least one outlet, contacts the at least two electrical contacts. The rain gauge device then also includes a processor communicatively coupled to the at least two electrical contacts. The processor is configured to determine presence of a moisture event based on the closed circuit formed by the droplet and the at least two electrical contacts and, in response to the determination, transmit an indication of the moisture event to a computing device.

Abstract: A method for impact test on a lower abdomen of a vehicle crash test dummy includes: controlling an arc-shaped hammer head to impact a lower abdomen of a preset dummy at a preset speed; obtaining displacements from a displacement sensor, wherein the displacements are generated by the lower abdomen of the preset dummy and the arc-shaped hammer head during the impact; obtaining a pressure from a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure is borne by the lower abdomen of the preset dummy during the impact; and determining, based on the displacements and the pressure, whether the preset dummy satisfies a biological simulation standard. The method is capable of testing whether the current dummy satisfies the biological simulation standard, so as to ensure the accuracy of test data in subsequent vehicle crash tests using the dummy.

Abstract: A method for the detection and monitoring of surface fouling from the nanoscale as a predictive or real-time monitoring tool is provided. Also provided are devices for carrying out the method, and to uses of the method, in particular for optimising cleaning procedures of devices or components thereof fouled by flows of foulant.

Abstract: A dynamic response at a designated position is derived based on a deflection amount normalized by a vibration component of the dynamic response, an amplitude ratio, which is a ratio of a first deflection amount that is the normalized deflection amount indicating a distribution of a vibration amplitude of the observation point to a second deflection amount that is the normalized deflection amount indicating a distribution of a vibration amplitude of a designated position, the vibration component of the designated position derived based on the vibration component and the amplitude ratio, and the static response of the designated position derived based on the time-series data and the estimated value.

Abstract: A device for measuring length and center of mass of conical workpiece, including an inner frame, an outer frame, a base plate, two laser displacement sensors and a plurality of weighing mechanisms. The inner frame is rotatably connected with the outer frame through a pin shaft. A bottom surface of the conical workpiece can be fixedly connected with an inner bottom surface of the inner frame. The base plate is removably arranged on the inner frame, and abuts against a top of the conical workpiece. The base plate is perpendicular to an axis of the conical workpiece. The laser displacement sensors are fixedly arranged at a position of the inner frame below the top of the conical workpiece. The weighing mechanisms are provided at a bottom of the outer frame, and can bear the inner frame, the outer frame and the conical workpiece.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems of a self-testing duct environment detector are described herein. One self-testing duct environment detector system includes a first portion to be mounted outside of a duct, the first portion having a detector housing with a space therein, the space having a detector with a sensing chamber and a self-testing sensing apparatus therein, wherein the self-testing sensing apparatus determines whether airflow through the detector housing is above a threshold and a second portion and third portion each configured to extend into the duct, wherein the second portion has at least one inlet aperture formed therein and wherein the third portion has at least on outlet aperture therein.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for a blast-induced vibration monitoring of a tunnel in high asymmetric in-situ stresses. According to the method, triaxial vibration sensors are respectively fixed in areas having different radial depths inside surrounding rocks of a stress concentration area behind a tunnel face of the tunnel in high asymmetric in-situ stresses, and each triaxial vibration sensor monitors blast vibration velocity and acceleration at a position thereof. The system comprises a plurality of triaxial vibration sensors which are fixed in areas having different radial depths inside surrounding rocks of a stress concentration area behind a tunnel face of the tunnel in high asymmetric in-situ stresses, and each triaxial vibration sensor is used for monitoring blast vibration velocity and acceleration at a position thereof. The method and system can improve the safety and the efficiency of tunnel excavation construction.

Abstract: A life estimation apparatus for a pressure accumulator estimates the life of the pressure accumulator based on an AE signal for the pressure accumulator. The life estimation apparatus includes: an AE sensor that is provided at the pressure accumulator and detects the AE signal; and an estimation unit that sets a point of time at which the AE sensor detects a damage AE signal that is generated from the pressure accumulator because of damage of a material during use of the pressure accumulator, as a minimum initial flaw generation time point that is a point of time at which a minimum initial flaw of the pressure accumulator that is detected by a non-destructive inspection method is generated in shipping of the pressure accumulator.

Abstract: A structural electronics wireless sensor node is provided that includes layers of electronic components fabricated from patterned nanostructures embedded in an electrically conductive matrix. In some aspects, the structural electronics wireless sensor node includes a plurality of nanostructure layers that each form individual electronic components of the structural electronics wireless sensor node. In certain embodiments, the structural electronics wireless sensor node includes electronic components such as a resistor, a inductor, a capacitor, and/or an antenna.