Abstract: A method of identifying stairs from footfalls includes receiving a plurality of footfall locations of a robot traversing an environment. Each respective footfall location indicates a location where a leg of the robot contacted a support surface. The method also includes determining a plurality of candidate footfall location pairs based on the plurality of footfall locations. The candidate footfall location pair includes a first and a second candidate footfall location. The method further includes clustering the first candidate footfall location into a first cluster group based on a height of the first candidate footfall location and clustering the second candidate footfall location into a second cluster group based on a height of the second candidate footfall location. The method additionally includes generating a stair model by representing each of the cluster groups as a corresponding stair and delineating each stair based on a respective midpoint between each adjacent cluster group.

Abstract: An aircraft is disclosed including a fuel tank, and a refuelling system configured to feed fuel into the fuel tank. The refuelling system includes a sensor. The sensor is configured to measure a composition of fuel in the refuelling system before it is fed into the fuel tank, and the sensor is further configured to generate an output based on the measured composition.

Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with control circuitry, wireless transceiver circuitry, and a display. The electronic device may be used to provide information to a user in response to being pointed at a particular object. The control circuitry may determine when the electronic device is pointed at a particular object using wireless control circuitry and/or motion sensor circuitry. In response to determining that the electronic device is pointed at a particular object, the control circuitry may take suitable action. This may include, for example, displaying information about an object when the electronic device is pointed at the object, displaying control icons for electronic equipment when the electronic device is pointed at the electronic equipment, and/or displaying a virtual object when the electronic device is pointed at real world object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for visual cue based messaging. A visual cue module can provide visual cue data indicative of a visual cue assigned for a contact or a group of contacts from a contact list. A messenger module can output on a display a messenger application GUI. The messenger application GUI includes a message field, a message window with a message thread between a user and the contact or the group of contacts, and a virtual keyboard. The messenger module can output the messenger application GUI with a visual cue graphical element representative of the visual cue to provide a visual indication of the contact or the group of contacts on the display to the user based on the visual cue data. The visual cue can be associated with the messaging field, the message thread, or at least one virtual key of the virtual keyboard.

Abstract: A convertible containment device includes a flexible base configured to substantially conform to a supporting surface when the device is in an open configuration, a wall affixed to a perimeter of the flexible base and extending substantially perpendicularly away from the flexible base when the device is in the open configuration, and a cinch cord in operable relation with the wall, and forming a loop when the device is in the open configuration. The cinch cord is configured such that operating the cinch cord causes the device to transform from the open configuration to a bag-like configuration by gathering the wall to form an annulus having an opening, and the opening of the annulus is sized to prohibit exit of an object from within the bag-like configuration.

Abstract: A method of testing a digital key is described that provides, from a digital key test manager device, standard digital key instructions for a computing device to send messages to a device under test; communicates, from the digital key test manager device, with the device under test to determine operations of the device under test as a result of the messages; and evaluates, at the digital key test manager device, the operations of the device under test to assess functionality of the digital key.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and product comprising: computing, using a classical computer, a modified quantum state based on an application of a transformation on an initial quantum state, the initial quantum state is associated with one or more qubits, a quantum circuit comprising the one or more qubits, and an original sub-circuit that is configured to set the initial quantum state on the one or more qubits; and generating a modified quantum circuit that comprises a modified sub-circuit, the modified sub-circuit is configured to set the modified quantum state on the one or more qubits of the modified quantum circuit during one or more cycles of the modified quantum circuit, wherein the modified sub-circuit is configured to apply an inverse transformation on the modified quantum state of the one or more qubits at one or more subsequent cycles.

Abstract: A method of fighting a fire, the method includes aerating a firefighting foam composition to form an aerated firefighting foam; administering the aerated firefighting foam to a fire or applying the aerated firefighting foam to a surface of a volatile flammable liquid; wherein: the firefighting foam composition includes a sugar component comprising a monosaccharide sugar, a sugar alcohol, or a combination thereof; a polysaccharide thickener; a surfactant component comprising an anionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant or a mixture of any two or more thereof; a water-miscible organic solvent; and at least about 30 wt. % water.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first plate having a first surface. The first plate includes a forefoot region at an anterior end, a heel region at a posterior end, and a mid-foot region. The sole structure further includes a second plate having a second surface opposing the first surface of the first plate. The second plate has a first end attached to the forefoot region of the first plate and a second end that is spaced apart from the first surface of the first plate. A cushion is disposed between the first plate and the second plate and has a first side attached to the first surface of the first plate and a second side attached to the second surface of second plate. The cushion extends continuously from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure.

Abstract: A garment comprising a barrier layer. The barrier layer comprises an adjustable skirt comprising an insulated tube configured to provide a barrier between an interior region of the garment and an external environment. The garment comprises a cord assembly extending along a length of the insulated tube. The cord assembly distributes tensions from a front portion and a back portion of the garment to one or more side portions of the garment when cinched or tightened in order to prevent the front portion and back portion of the garment from bunching.

Abstract: Radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems use readers to query and locate passive RFID tags in stores, warehouses, and other environments. A signal from the reader powers up the tag, which modulates and backscatters the signal toward the reader. Unfortunately, the maximum permitted RF signal power, self-interference at the reader, tag sensitivity, and channel loss limit the range at which readers can detect and locate tags. Using multiple readers simultaneously circumvents these limits. When used together, each reader transmits a signal to a tag in turn, and all of the readers listen for each of the tag's responses. The readers that are not transmitting do not experience self-interference and so can detect responses at lower power levels (longer ranges). Because the readers are at different locations, they measure different angles of arrival (AOAs) for each response. These simultaneous measurements can be used to locate each tag faster and with higher fidelity.

Abstract: A system may analyze agricultural materials. The system may include one or more inlets receiving the agricultural materials. The agricultural materials may be a slurry (e.g., soil slurry) including at least one solid and at least one liquid. The system may include a chamber configured to house the agricultural materials. The chamber may include a mixing device configured to mix the agricultural materials. The system may include a flow control device configured to stop the flow of the agricultural materials in a first state, or move the flow of the agricultural materials in a second state. The system may include an agricultural materials density device configured to determine the density of the agricultural materials when the flow of the agricultural materials is stopped in the first state and when the flow of the agricultural materials is moving in the second state.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for monitoring progress or predicting an outcome of a tooth whitening regimen, including a method to monitor progress or predict an outcome of a tooth whitening regimen, comprising: (a) providing an adapter comprising a viewing channel configured to define a field of view of an intraoral region of a subject's mouth, wherein one or more teeth are visible in the field of view of the subject's mouth; (b) providing a color reference target comprising one or more color samples, wherein the color reference target appears in the field of view of the subject's mouth, and wherein each of the one or more color samples is associated with a reference color or shade; (c) using the color reference target to identify the color or shade of the one or more teeth; and (d) predicting the outcome of the tooth whitening regimen based on the identified color or shade of the one or more teeth and, optionally, one or more properties of the one or more teeth.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a transaction card for communicating data relating to a transaction may include forming a pattern in a plastic film using a laser plating process or a print-and-plate process; providing a conductive material in the pattern formed in the plastic film, using a plating process, to form a RF antenna layer in the plastic film, wherein the RF antenna layer includes a RF antenna; and affixing the plastic film to a surface of the transaction card to permit the RF antenna to inductively connect to a printed circuit board (PCB) of the transaction card.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for printing sections of a part with integral locating and joining features. A system for joining part sections of a part having at least two separate sections includes a locating feature and a joining feature. The locating feature includes structures integrally formed with the sections to locate them relative to one another. The joining feature includes structures integrally formed with the sections to lock the sections together.

Abstract: The disclosure herein describes training a document recommendation model using loss data generated from a linear score difference vector. A training data entry is provided including a query and a set of candidate documents. A document recommendation model generates a set of document prediction scores indicative of a likelihood that the candidate documents are responses to the query and a pairwise score difference matrix is generated using the set of document prediction scores. The pairwise score difference matrix is transformed into a score difference vector using a correct document vector that indicates a correct document among the set of candidate documents. Loss data of the document recommendation model is generated using the score difference vector and the document recommendation model is adjusted using the calculated loss data. Training the document recommendation model based on the linear score difference vector reduces resource usage when compared to training with a difference matrix.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in part, compounds of Formula I: or an N-oxide thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound or the N-oxide, wherein: R1, R2, L, A, and E are as described herein; processes for the preparation of; intermediates used in the preparation of; and compositions containing such compounds, N-oxides, or salts, and their uses for treating M4-mediated (or M4-associated) disorders including, e.g., Alzheimer's Disease, schizophrenia (e.g., its cognitive and negative symptoms), pain, addiction, and a sleep disorder.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a telecommunications connector. The connector includes at least one connector portion including a front housing portion coupled to a rear housing portion. The front housing portion defines a front end and a rear end, the front housing portion including a ferrule terminating a cable fixed to the at least one connector portion, the front housing portion further including a latch that is configured to contact a fiber optic adapter for locking the connector to the fiber optic adapter when the connector is inserted into the fiber optic adapter, wherein the latch is movable about a connection location on the front housing portion. The latch defines a permanently attached rear extension that extends rearward past the rear end of the front housing portion, the rear extension configured to be contacted for moving the latch for freeing the connector from the fiber optic adapter.

Abstract: Provided are oligomeric agents, oligomeric compounds, methods, and pharmaceutical compositions for reducing the amount or activity of PLN RNA in a cell or animal, and in certain instances reducing the amount of PLN protein in a cell or animal. Such oligomeric agents, oligomeric compounds, methods, and pharmaceutical compositions are useful to treat cardiomyopathy, heart failure, or arrhythmia.

Abstract: Techniques and solutions are provided for controlling fans associated with battery racks located in an enclosure. The fans can be ranked according to different criteria, such as using an average temperature of cells in a battery rack, a temperature of an enclosure housing the battery racks, an average temperature of battery racks in the enclosure, or using information about the spread of cell temperature of cells in particular racks. Higher-ranked racks can have their fans turned to an active state. In some cases, different ranking techniques can be used for different operational modes of an HVAC unit in communication with the enclosure. Disclosed techniques can have various benefits, such as improving ventilation of the enclosure, prioritizing heating or cooling of particular racks, or reducing temperature gradients, or temperature spread, between battery racks in an enclosure.