Abstract: A computerized method for determining an operability status of a ball-throwing machine is disclosed. The computerized method includes operations of obtaining data from operational sensors of the ball-throwing machine collected during operation thereof, and determining the operability status of the ball-throwing machine from the collected data. The operational sensors may be disposed on the ball-throwing machine. Operation of the ball-throwing machine includes performance of a series of ball-launch sequences resulting in launching a series of balls according to a training program. The ball-throwing machine may include one or more launch wheels configured to launch one or more balls by imparting motion thereto, a frame to which the one or more launch wheels are coupled, and a control circuit configured to control the one or more launch wheels and including a processor.

Abstract: A system provides tactile navigation guidance in a video game environment. The system includes: a detection unit configured to detect at least part of surroundings of a player in the game environment and a guidance unit configured to adjust a tension level of at least one variable tension input on a controller. The adjustment is made in dependence on the result of detection by the detection unit so as to indicate to a user at least a subset of the detected surroundings through the controller.

Abstract: A computerized method for determining an operability status of a ball-throwing machine is disclosed that includes operations of obtaining sensor data collected by a sensor during deployment of the ball-throwing machine to perform operations according to a training program including launching a series of balls, wherein the sensor is disposed on the ball-throwing machine, parsing the sensor data into segments, comparing the segments to a sequence of predetermined signatures, wherein the sequence of the predetermined signatures is ordered according to actions specified by the training program, and wherein the predetermined signatures represent known sensor data values for the operations performed according to the training program, and when at least a first threshold percentage of the segments are indicated as being inconsistent with the sequence of predetermined signatures, determining that the ball-throwing machine is operating abnormally.

Abstract: A ball-throwing machine is disclosed that includes one or more launch wheels configured to impart motion to one or more balls, a frame attached to the one or more launch wheels, and a control circuit configured to control the one or more launch wheels. The control circuit includes a processor, non-transitory, computer-readable medium having logic stored thereon, and one or more operational sensors, where the one or more operational sensors are configured to obtain data pertaining to operation of the ball-throwing machine including a launch of a first ball of the one or more balls. In some instances, imparting motion to the one or more balls includes rotating the one or more launch wheels to cause delivery of the one or more balls to a player, wherein the one or more balls are one or more soccer balls.

Abstract: A computerized method for determining an operability status of a ball-throwing machine is disclosed. The method includes operations of obtaining sensor data collected by a sensor during deployment of the ball-throwing machine to perform operations according to a training program, wherein the sensor is disposed on the ball-throwing machine, deploying a trained machine learning model on the sensor data resulting in a classification of a current operability status of the ball-throwing machine or a prediction of a future operability status of the ball-throwing machine, and generating an alert when the classification indicates that the ball-throwing machine is operating abnormally or the prediction indicates the ball-throwing machine is predicted to operate abnormally.

Abstract: A ball-throwing machine is disclosed that includes one or more launch wheels configured to impart motion to one or more balls, a wheel motor coupled to each of the one or more launch wheels, a first encoder coupled to a first wheel motor coupled to a first launch wheel, a frame attached to the one or more launch wheels, and a control circuit configured to control the one or more launch wheels. In some instances, the control circuit includes a processor, and non-transitory, computer-readable medium having logic stored thereon, wherein the logic, upon execution by the processor, is configured to cause performance of operations including: receiving wheel motor data from the first encoder, wherein the wheel motor data includes a log of revolutions per minute of the first wheel motor, and detect whether a first ball was launched based on a variation in the wheel motor data.

Abstract: A ball-throwing machine is disclosed that includes one or more launch wheels configured to impart motion to one or more balls, a frame to which the one or more launch wheels couple, wherein a staging area is formed within the frame adjacent the one or more launch wheels, a ball-sensor, and a control circuit configured to control the one or more launch wheels. The control circuit includes a processor, and non-transitory, computer-readable medium having logic stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause performance of operations including: receiving ball-sensor data from the ball-sensor, and determining whether a ball is present within the staging area based on the ball-sensor data. In some instances, the ball-sensor is an optical sensor configured to project a light signal into the staging area and detect a reflected light signal when the ball is present within the staging area.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes processing circuitry to generate images of a computer-generated environment for display to a first user, storage circuitry to temporarily store at least some of the images, where the storage circuitry is configured to temporarily store a respective image in dependence upon one or more storage conditions, receiving circuitry to receive user input data indicative of selection by a first user of a predetermined function for reporting abusive interaction by another user associated with the computer-generated environment, recording circuitry to generate a respective recording in response to the user input data, the respective recording comprising at least some of the images stored by the storage circuitry and output circuitry to output the respective recording

Abstract: A noise cancellation system comprising an audio identification unit configured to identify audio to which a noise cancellation process is to be applied, an output generation unit configured to generate one or more noise cancellation signals in dependence upon the identified audio, and two or more audio output units each configured to reproduce a respective subset of the generated one or more noise cancellation signals, such that the two or more audio output units are configured to produce different outputs.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to natural oil-based petrolatum compositions and a method of making the same. The natural oil-based petrolatum composition includes the esterification product of: about 0.1 wt % to about 35 wt % a fatty acid dimer, about 5 wt % to about 30 wt % a C8 to C22 fatty acid, and about 65 wt % to about 95 wt % hydrogenated natural oil, wherein the natural based petrolatum product has an acid value of less than 25. Natural oil-based petrolatum compositions can be used in personal care products.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to natural oil-based petrolatum compositions and a method of making the same. The natural oil-based petrolatum composition includes the esterification product of: about 0.1 wt % to about 40 wt % a fatty acid dimer, about 99.9 wt % to about 60 wt % of one or more components selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 polyols, natural oils, fatty acids, and acyls glycerols, wherein the natural based petrolatum product has a cone penetration value of greater than 10 and a polydispersity index greater than 1.3. Natural oil-based petrolatum compositions can be used in personal care products.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to natural oil-based petrolatum compositions and a method of making the same. The natural oil-based petrolatum composition includes the esterification product of a pre-esterification mixture of: about 15 wt % to about 25 wt % a fatty acid dimer, about 15 wt % to about 25 wt % glycerin, and about 55 wt % to about 70 wt % hydrogenated natural oil, wherein the natural oil-based petrolatum product has an acid value of less than 5.0. Natural oil-based petrolatum compositions can be used in personal care products.

Abstract: A system includes a sensor configured at a first position to sense an orientation of an electricity meter. The electricity meter can be configured at a second position. The electricity meter can be configured at a normal orientation to measure delivered energy sent to one or more locations and received energy received from the one or more locations. The electricity meter can be configured at an inverted orientation to identify and measure the delivered energy sent to the one or more locations and the received energy received from the one or more locations. The sensor is configured to identify when the electricity meter is in the normal orientation, and when the electricity meter is in the inverted orientation. A display is configured within the electricity meter.

Abstract: Disclosed are an entertainment device, a method and a computer program. The entertainment device includes receiver circuitry and processing circuitry. The receiver circuitry receives, from a controller, input actuation information and associated motion detection information, where the input actuation information is indicative of detected actuation of at least one manual actuation input of the controller and the associated motion detection information is indicative of detected motion of the controller. The processing circuitry processes a game state of a game and, in at least a first mode of operation, selects, from amongst a plurality of interpretations, an interpretation of the input actuation information in dependence on the associated motion detection information and updates the processing of the game state in dependence on the selected interpretation of the input actuation information.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to natural oil-based petrolatum compositions and a method of making the same. The natural oil-based petrolatum composition includes the esterification product of: about 5 wt % to about 35 wt % a fatty acid dimer, about 20 wt % to about 55 wt % a C8 to C22 fatty acid substituted with one or more C1-C3 alkyl substituents, about 10 wt % to about 20 wt % glycerin, and about 20 wt % to about 40 wt % hydrogenated natural oil, wherein the natural based petrolatum product has an acid value of less than 10. Natural oil-based petrolatum compositions can be used in personal care products.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to flexible wax compositions and a method of making the same. Described herein is a wax composition containing about 20 wt % to about 45 wt % monoacylglycerides, about 28 wt % to about 40 wt % diacylglycerides, and about 10 wt % to about 45 wt % acylglyceride polymers, which contain one or more dimerized fatty acid residue and a plurality of glycerol moieties. The flexible wax composition described herein has an average creep stiffness of less than about 30 MPa and can be used in candles, paper coatings, box coatings, fruit coatings, broadsizing for OSB, tire and rubber, polyvinyl chloride piping, crayons, and personal care applications.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a storage unit configured to store one or more criteria associated with a video game; an executing unit configured to execute the video game; an input unit configured to receive activity data, where the activity data is data associated with physical activity of a user who is not directly playing the video game; and a processing unit configured to modify one or more aspects of a virtual environment within the executed video game when the received activity data satisfies one or more of the criteria.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for providing haptic feedback to accompany media content delivered by a media device, the apparatus comprising: a detection module, configured to determine a haptic capability associated with the apparatus; a receiving module, configured to receive, from the media device, media data associated with the media content; a haptics generation module, configured to generate a haptic signal based on the determined haptics capability and the received media data; and a transfer interface for transferring haptic feedback generated by an associated haptics actuator to one or more peripherals connected to the media device.

Abstract: A wax composition is disclosed, comprising a hydrogenated natural oil with (i) at least about 50 wt % of a triacylglycerol component having a fatty acid composition from about 14 to about 25 wt % C16:0 fatty acid, about 45 to about 60 wt % C18:1 fatty acid and about 20 to about 30 wt % C18:0 fatty acid, (ii) a nickel content of less than 1 ppm, and (iii) a melt point of about 49° C. to about 57° C. The hydrogenated natural oil is filtered and/or bleached to obtain a nickel content of less than 0.5 ppm. A candle is also disclosed, comprising a wick and the above described wax.

Abstract: A method for providing a yaw angle (105a) between a first vehicle (110) coupled to a second vehicle (100), comprises: receiving an image of the first vehicle from a camera (101) mounted on the second vehicle; performing (210) a polar transformation on the image to form a polar image (400) in a polar space having an origin corresponding to a location of a pivot point (303) of the coupling (302) to the second vehicle in the received image coordinate space; estimating (230) an optical coupling angle by analysing the content of the polar image; receiving a signal from an odometer (102) mounted on the first or second vehicle; estimating a kinematic coupling angle from the signal and a kinematic model of the first vehicle and the coupled second vehicle; and combining the estimated optical coupling angle and the estimated kinematic coupling angle to provide the coupling angle.