Abstract: Described examples include apparatus having a driving electrode on a substrate. The apparatus has a platform suspended above the driving electrode and conductively coupled to a platform electrode, where the platform is configured to move in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the substrate in response to a voltage difference applied between the driving electrode and the platform electrode. The apparatus also has a mirror post on the platform. The apparatus has a mirror coupled to the platform by the mirror post, where the mirror is rectangular.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle may have a fuselage, a first wing member, and a second wing member. The fuselage may have a nose end and a tail end. The first wing member may extend from the fuselage and comprise a first drive motor coupled to the first rotor. The second wing member may also extend from the fuselage substantially opposite the first wing member and may comprise a second drive motor coupled to a second rotor. A first motor may be coupled to rotate the first wing member and the first rotor about a first axis substantially perpendicular to a fuselage axis extending from the nose end to the tail end. A second motor may be coupled to rotate the second wing member and the second rotor about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the fuselage axis. A controller circuit may be configured to differentially actuate the first motor and the second motor.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for implementing data sovereignty safeguards in a distributed services network architecture are disclosed. Embodiments of a distributed services system may have a number of distributed nodes that each implements a set of services. When a user requests a service at a particular node of a distributed services system, the node is configured to determine if that node is not (or is) data sovereign for a region associated with the user. If the node is not data sovereign for the user's region, the user may be directed to a corresponding service at a node of the distributed service system that is data sovereign for the user's region.

Abstract: Aerial vehicles are assigned to routes within a transportation network based on a state of charge, state of power, and/or state of health for the aerial vehicle. Such aspects can be modeled based on one or more statistical models and/or machine-learned models, among other examples. As another example, an energy budget is used to ensure that the state of charge, state of power, and/or state of health of the aerial vehicle during and/or after traveling the route remains within the energy budget. A payload is assigned to a route and an associated aerial vehicle, thereby generating an itinerary. In examples, the itinerary is validated by the aerial vehicle to ensure that the aerial vehicle is capable of traveling the route with the payload. In examples where the aerial vehicle rejects the itinerary, the itinerary is assigned to another aerial vehicle and a new itinerary is identified for the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: A method for operating a resonant converter in a burst mode includes determining the polarity of a transformer voltage across a secondary winding of a transformer. The method includes determining, from the polarity of the transformer voltage, on/off states of first and second transistors coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer. If the transformer voltage has a first polarity, the method includes commencing a burst period by alternately turning on/off high-side and low-side transistors electrically connected to a primary winding of the transformer.

Abstract: Aerial vehicles are assigned to routes within a transportation network based on a state of charge, state of power, and/or state of health for the aerial vehicle. Such aspects can be modeled based on one or more statistical models and/or machine-learned models, among other examples. As another example, an energy budget is used to ensure that the state of charge, state of power, and/or state of health of the aerial vehicle during and/or after traveling the route remains within the energy budget. A payload is assigned to a route and an associated aerial vehicle, thereby generating an itinerary. In examples, the itinerary is validated by the aerial vehicle to ensure that the aerial vehicle is capable of traveling the route with the payload. In examples where the aerial vehicle rejects the itinerary, the itinerary is assigned to another aerial vehicle and a new itinerary is identified for the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: A switching converter controller includes: a control loop adapted to be coupled to an output terminal of a power stage; and a hybrid hysteretic control (HHC) circuit coupled to the control loop. The HHC circuit includes a resonant capacitor voltage (Vcr) node adapted to be coupled to a resonant capacitor (Cr) of the power stage, where the Vcr node sums a sense voltage for Cr with a frequency compensation ramp. The HHC circuit also includes a soft-start controller coupled to the Vcr node. The soft-start controller includes a clamp circuit coupled to the Vcr node.

Abstract: A method for operating a resonant converter in a burst mode includes determining the polarity of a transformer voltage across a secondary winding of a transformer. The method includes determining, from the polarity of the transformer voltage, on/off states of first and second transistors coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer. If the transformer voltage has a first polarity, the method includes commencing a burst period by alternately turning on/off high-side and low-side transistors electrically connected to a primary winding of the transformer.

Abstract: A vertical lift rotor propulsor assembly comprises a boom having a casing with a casing profile and a first propeller blade having a blade profile that corresponds substantially to at least a portion of the casing profile of the casing of the boom. A drive mechanism is at least partially housed within the boom and at the first propeller blade is rotatably mounted to the drive mechanism to be driven thereby. The drive mechanism is to operationally move the first propeller blade between a stowed position in which the first propeller blade is substantially flush with the casing of the boom, and a deployed position in which the first propeller blade is extended a determined distance from the casing of the boom.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle that uses motor pulsed-induced cyclic control is provided. In example embodiments, the aerial vehicle comprises a fuselage incorporating a battery system and a payload bay for operatively receiving and holding a payload and at least one mono-blade rotor coupled to an electric motor and an electric motor control system. The electric motor control system controls the electric motor using pulse-induced cyclic control. The aerial vehicle further includes at least one wing, at least one cruise propeller, and an avionics system. The avionic system is configured to transition the aerial vehicle between a vertical take-off and landing mode in which the at least one mono-blade rotor is primarily engaged to propel the aerial vehicle vertically and a cruising mode in which the at least one cruise propeller is primarily engaged to propel the aerial vehicle horizontally.

Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, configured to transport passengers and/or cargo, uses propellers during vertical flight and wings during forward flight to generate lift. The VTOL aircraft includes a front wing and a rear wing connected by inboard booms. The rear wing may include a wingtip boom attached to each free end of the wing. A propeller may be attached to each inboard boom and each wingtip boom. The propellers attached to the inboard booms may be stacked propellers including at least two co-rotating propellers. The aircraft can also include a cruise propeller attached to the tail region of the fuselage, where the cruise propeller is configured to rotate in a plane approximately perpendicular to the fuselage to generate thrust during forward flight.

Abstract: A switching converter controller includes: a control loop adapted to be coupled to an output terminal of a power stage; and a hybrid hysteretic control (HHC) circuit coupled to the control loop. The HHC circuit includes a resonant capacitor voltage (Vcr) node adapted to be coupled to a resonant capacitor (Cr) of the power stage, where the Vcr node sums a sense voltage for Cr with a frequency compensation ramp. The HHC circuit also includes a soft-start controller coupled to the Vcr node. The soft-start controller includes a clamp circuit coupled to the Vcr node.

Abstract: An electrophoresis apparatus with minimal autofluorescence to enable gel processing in situ, and methods of making and using the electrophoresis apparatus. An exemplary electrophoresis apparatus may comprise a cassette defining a cavity between a first pane and a second pane of a double-paned viewing window, and also may comprise a slab gel located in the cavity. The viewing window may be transparent to ultraviolet light that drives a derivatization reaction in the slab gel, and, absent the slab gel, may define a window autofluorescence inducible by irradiation with the ultraviolet light. The window autofluorescence, per unit area, may be less than five-fold a gel autofluorescence of the slab gel, per the same unit area and under the same irradiation with the ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A circuit includes a first driver, a second driver, and a burst mode control circuit coupled to the first and second drivers. The burst mode control circuit is configured to implement a burst mode operation having a burst soft-on portion and a burst portion. During the soft-on portion of the burst mode operation, the burst mode control circuit is configured to cause the first and second drivers to produce a first set of pulses of increasing pulse width. During the burst portion of the burst mode operation, the burst mode control circuit is configured to cause the first and second drivers to produce a second set of pulses of a constant pulse width.

Abstract: The ‘Compact Excavator & Skid Steer Loader Auxiliary Hydraulic Coupler Installer Tool’ is designed as a handheld tool for the purpose of mechanically installing high pressure auxiliary hydraulic attachment couplings on Compact Excavators & Skid Steer Loaders. The uniqueness of the tool is that it provides a safe, clean, fast and simple alternative to the use of hand wrenches, drip pans, rags and additional environmental cleanup materials that are required when attaching hydraulically driven auxiliary attachments to compact excavators and skid steer loaders. The tool consists of 4 basic components. The handle, anchor, attachment head and forcing head. The single anchor tool handle provides the base from which multiple tools can be configured to fit any attachment or machine application by using one of the 2 anchors and one of the 3 attachment heads with one of the 3 forcing heads.

Abstract: The ‘Compact Excavator & Skid Steer Loader Auxiliary Hydraulic Coupler Installer Tool’ is designed as a handheld tool for the purpose of mechanically installing high pressure auxiliary hydraulic attachment couplings on Compact Excavators & Skid Steer Loaders. The uniqueness of the tool is that it provides a safe, clean, fast and simple alternative to the use of hand wrenches, drip pans, rags and additional environmental cleanup materials that are required when attaching hydraulically driven auxiliary attachments to compact excavators and skid steer loaders. The tool consists of 4 basic components. The handle, anchor, attachment head and forcing head. The single anchor tool handle provides the base from which multiple tools can be configured to fit any attachment or machine application by using one of the 2 anchors and one of the 3 attachment heads with one of the 3 forcing heads.

Abstract: Various examples are directed to an aerial vehicle comprising a fuselage, a first wing member, and a second wing member. The fuselage may have a nose end and a tail end. The first wing member may extend from the fuselage and comprise a first drive motor coupled to the first rotor. The second wing member may also extend from the fuselage substantially opposite the first wing member and may comprise a second drive motor coupled to a second rotor. A first motor may be coupled to rotate the first wing member and the first rotor about a first axis substantially perpendicular to a fuselage axis extending from the nose end to the tail end. A second motor may be coupled to rotate the second wing member and the second rotor about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the fuselage axis. A controller circuit may be configured to differentially actuate the first motor and the second motor.

Abstract: Aerial vehicles are assigned to routes within a transportation network based on a state of charge, state of power, and/or state of health for the aerial vehicle. Such aspects can be modeled based on one or more statistical models and/or machine-learned models, among other examples. As another example, an energy budget is used to ensure that the state of charge, state of power, and/or state of health of the aerial vehicle during and/or after traveling the route remains within the energy budget. A payload is assigned to a route and an associated aerial vehicle, thereby generating an itinerary. In examples, the itinerary is validated by the aerial vehicle to ensure that the aerial vehicle is capable of traveling the route with the payload. In examples where the aerial vehicle rejects the itinerary, the itinerary is assigned to another aerial vehicle and a new itinerary is identified for the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: A circuit includes a first driver, a second driver, and a burst mode control circuit coupled to the first and second drivers. The burst mode control circuit is configured to implement a burst mode operation having a burst soft-on portion and a burst portion. During the soft-on portion of the burst mode operation, the burst mode control circuit is configured to cause the first and second drivers to produce a first set of pulses of increasing pulse width. During the burst portion of the burst mode operation, the burst mode control circuit is configured to cause the first and second drivers to produce a second set of pulses of a constant pulse width.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle that uses motor pulsed-induced cyclic control is provided. In example embodiments, the aerial vehicle comprises a fuselage incorporating a battery system and a payload bay for operatively receiving and holding a payload and at least one mono-blade rotor coupled to an electric motor and an electric motor control system. The electric motor control system controls the electric motor using pulse-induced cyclic control. The aerial vehicle further includes at least one wing, at least one cruise propeller, and an avionics system. The avionic system is configured to transition the aerial vehicle between a vertical take-off and landing mode in which the at least one mono-blade rotor is primarily engaged to propel the aerial vehicle vertically and a cruising mode in which the at least one cruise propeller is primarily engaged to propel the aerial vehicle horizontally.