Abstract: Apparatuses systems and methods for gas emission rate detection sensitivity and probability of detection (PoD) based on emission rate. A measurement system may be characterized by its ability to detect gas plumes as a function of the emission rate of those plumes. The measurement system may be characterized based on a generalized PoD function which expresses PoD relative to emission rate as a function of gas concentration noise and gas flow speed. In an example application, the PoD may be used to estimate a cumulative distribution of gas plumes which were not detected based on a cumulative distribution of measured gas plumes. In another example application, the PoD may be used to refine an estimate for a measured emission rate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for anomalous gas concentration detection. A spectroscopic system, such as a wavelength modulated spectroscopy (WMS) system may measure gas concentrations in a target area. However, noise, such as speckle noise, may interfere with measuring relatively low concentrations of gas, and may lead to false positives. A noise model, which includes a contribution from a speckle noise model, may be used to process data from the spectroscopic system. An adaptive threshold may be applied based on an expected amount of noise. A speckle filter may remove measurements which are outliers based on a measurement of their noise. Plume detection may be used to determine a presence of gas plumes. Each of these processing steps may be associated with a confidence, which may be used to determine an overall confidence in the processed measurements/gas plumes.

Abstract: Data-analysis-based processing facilitates providing augmented-reality object location assistance. The processing includes obtaining a user-request related to facilitating locating an object of interest, and identifying a target area containing the object. Further, the process includes providing augmentation data for rendering as an overlay on a user-device to assist in directing the user to the target area containing the object. The augmentation data being provided is dynamically changed as the user-device is moved in relation to the target area containing the object to assist the user in locating the object within the target area.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to antimicrobial skin disinfectant compositions such as hand disinfectant soaps, comprising one or more quaternary ammonium compounds, one or more surfactants and an aromatic alcohol, achieving anti-bacterial and fungicidal or yeasticidal efficacy in short contact times.

Abstract: Measurement apparatuses and methods are disclosed for generating high-precision and -accuracy gas concentration maps that can be overlaid with 3D topographic images by rapidly scanning one or several modulated laser beams with a spatially-encoded transmitter over a scene to build-up imagery. Independent measurements of the topographic target distance and path-integrated gas concentration are combined to yield a map of the path-averaged concentration between the sensor and each point in the image. This type of image is particularly useful for finding localized regions of elevated (or anomalous) gas concentration making it ideal for large-area leak detection and quantification applications including: oil and gas pipeline monitoring, chemical processing facility monitoring, and environmental monitoring.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for a rotating optical reflector. Optical systems may have a limited field of view, and so in order to expand the area that the optical system collects data from, the field of view of the optical system may be scanned across a target area. The present disclosure is directed to a rotating optical reflector, which includes a transmissive layer which refracts light onto a reflective layer, which has a normal which is not parallel to the axis about which the optical reflector is rotated. The optical reflector may be both statically and dynamically balanced, which may allow an increased size of the optical reflector, which in turn may increase the aperture of an optical system (e.g., a lidar system) using the rotating optical reflector.

Abstract: A method for reducing the number of images or the length of a video from a digital image collection using a social network, includes receiving a digital image collection captured by a user to be viewed by a viewer; wherein the viewer and the user are members of the same social network and using a processor to access the social network to determine a relationship between a viewer and the user. The method further includes using the processor to determine a set of summarization parameters based on the relationship between the viewer and the user and using the processor to reduce the number of images or the length of the video from the digital image collection using the determined set of summarization parameters to be viewed by the viewer.

Abstract: An autopilot recoupling system for a rotorcraft having an automatic flight control system with multiple layers of flight augmentation. The autopilot recoupling system includes an autopilot recoupling input operable to generate an autopilot recoupling signal. An autopilot recoupling signal processor is communicably coupled to the autopilot recoupling input. The autopilot recoupling signal processor is configured to receive the autopilot recoupling signal from the autopilot recoupling input and responsive thereto, determine a state of the automatic flight control system, activate a trim systems layer of the automatic flight control system if the trim systems layer is not active, engage an attitude retention systems layer of the automatic flight control system if the attitude retention systems layer is disengage and recouple an autopilot systems layer of the automatic flight control system.

Abstract: A method for reducing the number of images or the length of a video from a digital image collection using a social network, includes receiving a digital image collection captured by a user to be viewed by a viewer; wherein the viewer and the user are members of the same social network and using a processor to access the social network to determine a relationship between a viewer and the user. The method further includes using the processor to determine a set of summarization parameters based on the relationship between the viewer and the user and using the processor to reduce the number of images or the length of the video from the digital image collection using the determined set of summarization parameters to be viewed by the viewer.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving employee performance data for a group of employees including a particular employee, the employee performance data including particular performance data for the particular employee, the employee performance data associated with key performance indicator (KPIs) for the group of employees including a particular KPI associated with the a task performed by the particular employee; determining, for a plurality of training courses, a probability of each training course being associated with improved performance by the group of employees for each KPI of the KPIs; producing a probability distribution and a confidence score, recommending, based on the probability distribution, one or more recommended training courses for the employee; exploring, based on the confidence score, training courses of the plurality of training courses having a relatively low confidence score; receiving subsequent performance data for a time period following completion of t

Abstract: Modular armor for a hard upper torso (HUT) of an atmospheric suit that maintains a specific atmosphere within the suit includes a first outer layer including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface and a second outer layer including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A core is sandwiched between the first surface of the first outer layer and the first surface of the second outer layer. The armor is fabricated such that the second surface of the first outer layer is conformally affixed to the HUT.

Abstract: A beverage production system, comprising a cup dispensing station configured to dispense cups, a beverage dispensing station configured to dispense a beverage, and a turntable assembly. The turntable assembly comprising a central axis, an inner turntable including a first row of cup receptacles, and an outer turntable including a second row of cup receptacles. The outer turntable is disposed circumferentially about the inner turntable, and the outer turntable is configured to rotate about the central axis to align the cup receptacles of the second row with the cup dispensing station and the beverage dispensing station. The turntable assembly is configured to align an opening in a cup receptacle in the second row with an opening in a cup receptacle in the first row. A slide assembly includes an arm configured to slide a cup positioned in the cup receptacle in the second row into the aligned opening of the cup receptacle in the first row.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described for frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) light detection and ranging (LiDAR). Examples are provided where high-closed-loop bandwidth, active feedback applied to laser frequency chirps may provide increases in the free-running laser coherence length for long-range FMCW distance measurements. Examples are provided that use an asymmetric sideband generator within an active feedback loop for higher closed-loop bandwidth. Examples of using a single shared reference interferometer within multiple active feedback loops that may be used for increasing the coherence length of multiple chirped lasers are described. Example calibrators are also described.

Abstract: The present invention(s) is directed to novel conductive Mn+1Xn(Ts) compositions exhibiting high volumetric capacitances, and methods of making the same. The present invention(s) is also directed to novel conductive Mn+1Xn(Ts) compositions, methods of preparing transparent conductors using these materials, and products derived from these methods.

Abstract: The present invention(s) is directed to novel conductive Mn+1Xn(Ts) compositions exhibiting high volumetric capacitances, and methods of making the same. The present invention(s) is also directed to novel conductive Mn+1Xn(Ts) compositions, methods of preparing transparent conductors using these materials, and products derived from these methods.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for open path laser spectroscopy with mobile platforms. An example system may include a first mobile platform and a second mobile platform, each of which supports a payload. A light beam directed from one payload to another may define a measurement path, which may be at a particular height above the ground. The payloads may determine a gas concentration along the measurement path. Wind information at the measurement height may be used to determine a gas flux. One or both of the mobile platforms may then move to a new location, and take a measurement along a new measurement path. By combining the measurement paths, gas flux through a flux surface may be determined.

Abstract: Measurement apparatuses and methods are disclosed for generating high-precision and—accuracy gas concentration maps that can be overlaid with 3D topographic images by rapidly scanning one or several modulated laser beams with a spatially-encoded transmitter over a scene to build-up imagery. Independent measurements of the topographic target distance and path-integrated gas concentration are combined to yield a map of the path-averaged concentration between the sensor and each point in the image. This type of image is particularly useful for finding localized regions of elevated (or anomalous) gas concentration making it ideal for large-area leak detection and quantification applications including: oil and gas pipeline monitoring, chemical processing facility monitoring, and environmental monitoring.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for anomalous gas concentration detection. A spectroscopic system, such as a wavelength modulated spectroscopy (WMS) system may measure gas concentrations in a target area. However, noise, such as speckle noise, may interfere with measuring relatively low concentrations of gas, and may lead to false positives. A noise model, which includes a contribution from a speckle noise model, may be used to process data from the spectroscopic system. An adaptive threshold may be applied based on an expected amount of noise. A speckle filter may remove measurements which are outliers based on a measurement of their noise. Plume detection may be used to determine a presence of gas plumes. Each of these processing steps may be associated with a confidence, which may be used to determine an overall confidence in the processed measurements/gas plumes.

Abstract: A high strength steel comprises up to about 0.25 wt % C, up to about 2.0 wt % Si, up to about 2.0 wt % Cr, up to 14% Mn, and less than 0.5% Ni. It preferably has an Ms temperature less than 50° C. The high strength steel may have a tensile strength of at least 1000 MPa and total elongations of at least about 25% after hot rolling. It may have a tensile strength of at least 1200 MPa and total elongations of at least about 20% after hot rolling.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes capturing, by a machine vision device, an image of an object in a railway environment. The machine vision device is attached to a first train car that is moving in a first direction along a first railroad track of the railway environment. The method also includes analyzing, by the machine vision device, the image of the object using one or more machine vision algorithms to determine a value associated with the object. The method further includes determining, by the machine vision device, that the value associated with the object indicates a potential deficiency of the object and communicating, by the machine vision device, an alert to a component external to the first train car. The alert comprises an indication of the potential deficiency of the object.