Abstract: One common robotic task is the rearrangement of physical objects situated in an environment. This typically involves a robot manipulator picking up a target object and placing the target object in some target location, such as a shelf, cabinet or cubby, and requires the skills of picking, placing and generating complex collision-free motions, oftentimes in a cluttered environment. The present disclosure provides collision detection for object rearrangement using a three-dimensional (3D) scene representation.

Abstract: A dispensing manifold includes a first end configured to be coupled with a shank, and a second end opposite the first end. The second end is configured to be coupled with a faucet. The dispensing manifold further includes a center bore that extends through an interior of the dispensing manifold and connects the first end and the second end. One or more ingredient valves can be arranged on an outer circumference of the dispensing manifold, and each of the ingredient valves provide a selective fluid connection to the center bore.

Abstract: One common robotic task is the rearrangement of physical objects situated in an environment. This typically involves a robot manipulator picking up a target object and placing the target object in some target location, such as a shelf, cabinet or cubby, and requires the skills of picking, placing and generating complex collision-free motions, oftentimes in a cluttered environment. The present disclosure provides collision detection for object rearrangement using a three-dimensional (3D) scene representation.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing unit includes a dispensing valve configured to be fluidly coupled to at least one beverage source, one or more ingredient pumps configured to be fluidly coupled to one or more ingredient sources, a dispensing manifold fluidly coupled to the dispensing valve and the one or more ingredient pumps, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a recipe from a user, wherein the recipe indicates an amount of each ingredient of one or more ingredient sources. The controller is further configured to operate the one or more ingredient pumps to inject one or more of the ingredients into the dispensing manifold according to the recipe, and open the dispensing valve to allow a volume of beverage from the beverage source to flow through the dispensing manifold. The volume of beverage mixes with the one or more ingredients in the manifold and flushes the ingredients out of the manifold.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing unit includes a dispensing valve configured to be fluidly coupled to at least one beverage source, one or more ingredient pumps configured to be fluidly coupled to one or more ingredient sources, a dispensing manifold fluidly coupled to the dispensing valve and the one or more ingredient pumps, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a recipe from a user, wherein the recipe indicates an amount of each ingredient of one or more ingredient sources. The controller is further configured to operate the one or more ingredient pumps to inject one or more of the ingredients into the dispensing manifold according to the recipe, and open the dispensing valve to allow a volume of beverage from the beverage source to flow through the dispensing manifold. The volume of beverage mixes with the one or more ingredients in the manifold and flushes the ingredients out of the manifold.

Abstract: In agriculture, one of the most important issues is the extent to which the yield of high-quality crops can be increased while saving labor and reducing costs. However, there are many problems in that so-called injuries of crops due to continuous cropping and other causes seriously reduce productivity. The present invention provides an apparatus and a method that provides a method of feeding plants CO2 on foliage or O2 on roots by way of injecting a gas into a liquid such that the bubbles formed are of a size that allows them to remain suspended in the liquid for up to two days without dissolving into the liquid thus allowing the system to use the liquid with the suspended bubbles as a foliar or root spray or as a liquid for use in a hydroponic growing system.

Abstract: A bubble-generating apparatus comprises: a casing defining a casing bore extending longitudinally therethrough; and a diffuser located in the casing bore, the diffuser defining a diffuser bore extending longitudinally therethrough. The diffuser bore comprises a fluid-input region at or near a fluid-input end of the diffuser and a fluid-output region at or near a fluid-output end of the diffuser. A cross-sectional area of the diffuser bore in the fluid-input region is greater than the cross-sectional area of the diffuser bore in the fluid-output region. At least a portion of the diffuser is porous for permitting a flow of pressurized gas from a region of the casing bore located outside of the diffuser bore, through the porous portion of the diffuser and into the diffuser bore.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for initiating communication between at least one seller of goods and/or services and at least one consumer through an electronic agent. The first step for the method is providing the electronic agent. The second step is making the electronic agent accessible to the consumers. The third step to the method is recording a access method for prospectively communicating with consumers who access the electronic agent. The final step is providing at least one seller with access to the access method through the electronic agent to communicate with consumers who accessed the electronic agent.