Abstract: According to one aspect, a reactor for generating hydrogen-containing gas may include a coupling defining a passage, a shell defining a cavity, and one or more liners impermeable to water, each of the one or more liners releasably secured to the coupling with each of the one or more liners defining a respective chamber disposed in the cavity of the shell, the passage of the coupling in fluid communication with the respective chamber of at least one liner of the one or more liners, and at least one layer of air between each of the one or more liners and the shell.

Abstract: A control system for forming a tapered structure includes a sensor providing feedback for a machine for forming a tapered structure including at least three rolls having at least one bend roll and at least two guide rolls. The guide rolls may include rollette banks having a plurality of rollettes. The machine may also include an adjustment mechanism to position at least one of the rolls, where a diameter of the tapered structure being formed is controlled by relative positions of the rolls. The machine may also include a joining element to join edges of a stock of material together as it is rolled through the rolls to form the tapered structure. The control system may also include a controller to receive feedback from the sensor and to send a control signal based on the feedback to the adjustment mechanism for positioning at least one of the rolls.

Abstract: A system for deploying an inflatable structure may include a balloon defining an envelope having a first stiffness, a valve assembly including a control valve, and a reactor defining a chamber having a second stiffness, the valve assembly disposed in fluid communication between the chamber and the envelope, the control valve selectively actuatable to control fluid communication between the chamber and the envelope, the second stiffness of the chamber greater than the first stiffness of the envelope, and the reactor foldable onto itself along the chamber and elastically deformable to unfold in response to an increase in pressure in the chamber.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to magnetically moveable displacement devices or robotic devices. Particular embodiments provide systems and corresponding methods for magnetically moving multiple movable robots relative to one or more working surfaces of respective one or more work bodies, and for moving robots between the one or more work bodies via transfer devices. Robots can carry one or more objects among different locations, manipulate carried objects, and/or interact with their surroundings for particular functionality including but not limited to assembly, packaging, inspection, 3D printing, test, laboratory automation, etc. A mechanical link may be mounted on planar motion units such as said robots.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide a battery including a rolling diaphragm configured to move to accommodate an internal volume change of one or more components of the battery. Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide a battery housing including a rolling diaphragm seal disposed between an interior volume of the battery and an electrode assembly within the battery. Various embodiments may provide an air electrode assembly including an air electrode supported on a buoyant platform such that the air electrode is above a surface of a volume of electrolyte when the buoyant platform is floating in the electrolyte.

Abstract: Feeding stock used to form a tapered structure into a curving device such that each point on the stock undergoes rotational motion about a peak location of the tapered structure; and the stock meets a predecessor portion of stock along one or more adjacent edges.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are directed to controlling lifting gas in a volume defined by an inflatable structure of an aircraft. For example, controlling lifting gas in the volume of the inflatable structure may account for variations in ambient and tactical conditions experienced by the aircraft over the course of flight, as may be useful for lifting the aircraft to a target altitude and/or carrying out a particular mission. Additionally, or alternatively, controlling lifting gas in the volume of the inflatable structure may facilitate lifting the aircraft using lifting gas generated by reacting stable materials with one another at a launch site in the field. As an example, aluminum may react with water to form a lifting gas including hydrogen and steam. As the steam condenses to water in the inflatable structure, a valve may expel water from the inflatable structure to assist in maintaining buoyancy of the aircraft.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having semi-solid electrodes that are coated on only one side of a current collector. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell includes a semi-solid positive electrode coated on only one side of a positive current collector and a semi-solid negative electrode coated on only one side of a negative current collector. A separator is disposed between the semi-solid positive electrode and the semi-solid negative electrode. At least one of the semi-solid positive electrode and the semi-solid negative electrode can have a thickness of at least about 250 ?m.

Abstract: Portable automated mechanical ventilators and new methods of using same are disclosed. A resuscitator bag is suspended horizontally via bag mounts and compressed and decompressed by paddles, which may be foldable to increase portability, and the resuscitator bag may be releasable for manual operation. The portable mechanical ventilator may automatically adjust ventilation based on measured parameters to improve safety and be integrated into a CPR workflow.

Abstract: System and methods related to lyophilization of pharmaceutical products are disclosed. In some embodiments, vials of product are moved through a system using one or more movers which are electromagnetically levitated and moved through the system without making mechanical contact with each other or the system. Load lock chambers may allow a mover to enter from one process region's environment and then be brought to an environment condition of the next process region to allow materials to be passed through conditioning, nucleation, and/or vacuum drying regions prior to finally exit the system to an unloading zone. The movers may then be cleaned or reloaded with vials to begin the process again with a new load of vials.

Abstract: Electrochemical cells and methods of making electrochemical cells are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a multi-layer sheet for encasing an electrode material for an electrochemical cell. The multi-layer sheet including an outer layer, an intermediate layer that includes a conductive substrate, and an inner layer disposed on a portion of the conductive substrate. The intermediate layer is disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer. The inner layer defines an opening through which a conductive region of the intermediate layer is exposed such that the electrode material can be electrically connected to the conductive region. Thus, the intermediate layer can serve as a current collector for the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a system for processing material to form activated aluminum, may include a thermal reactor defining a chamber, a support disposed outside of the chamber, a shaft having a first portion and a second portion defining a longitudinal axis, the first portion disposed on the support and the second portion disposed in the chamber, and the shaft rotatable about the longitudinal axis, a fixture supported on the second portion of the shaft in the chamber, and a restraint releasably securable to the second portion of the shaft, the restraint and the fixture spaced relative to one another to hold a plurality of kits of material therebetween as the shaft rotates the fixture, the restraint, and the plurality of kits of material, about the longitudinal axis, in the chamber.

Abstract: A system for hydrogen formation includes a container and at least one object. The container defines a reservoir and is flexible along the reservoir. The container forms a gas-tight seal between the reservoir and an atmosphere outside of the container. The at least one object includes aluminum in an activated form. The at least one object is disposed in an inert environment in the reservoir, and the activated form of the aluminum reactable to produce hydrogen in the reservoir upon exposure to water.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a system for launching an aerostat may include a reactor defining a chamber, an inflatable structure including a balloon and a neck, the balloon and the neck collectively defining a volume, a coupling defining a passage in fluid communication between the chamber of the reactor and the volume of the inflatable structure, the passage defining a longitudinal axis, and a collar supported on the reactor, the collar defining an orifice in fluid communication between the chamber of the reactor and the passage of the coupling, and the collar releasably restricting displacement of the passage of the coupling, the volume of the inflatable structure, and the chamber of the reactor relative to one another along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to multi-layer microfluidic cartridges comprising alignment features that can be used during assembly to provide precise alignment of the cartridge's layers with respect to planar and rotational or angular alignments imposed on a first virtual triangle to align all layers of the microfluidic cartridge such that their centers lie on a second virtual triangle, and with each slot's longitudinal axis aligned with the one of the angle bisectors of the second virtual triangle's included angles, and wherein the angle bisectors meet within the respective virtual triangles. Such cartridges are suitable for use in medical diagnostics, for example.

Abstract: System and methods related to lyophilization of pharmaceutical products are disclosed. In some embodiments, vials of product are moved through a system using one or more movers which are electromagnetically levitated and moved through the system without making mechanical contact with each other or the system. Load lock chambers may allow a mover to enter from one process region's environment and then be brought to an environment condition of the next process region to allow materials to be passed through conditioning, nucleation, and/or vacuum drying regions prior to finally exit the system to an unloading zone. The movers may then be cleaned or reloaded with vials to begin the process again with a new load of vials.

Abstract: Materials, kits, and methods are directed to controlling reactability of activated aluminum to produce hydrogen when exposed to water. For example, a moisture-stabilized material may be treatable with one or more additives to form a water-reactive source of hydrogen. The moisture-stabilized material may include a bulk volume including aluminum, at least one activation metal disposed along the aluminum within the bulk volume, the at least one activation metal more noble than the aluminum, and a salt along at least an outer surface of the bulk volume, the salt dissolvable in water to form an ion-containing solution at a rate faster than a reaction rate of water with the aluminum of the bulk volume.

Abstract: Electrochemical cells and methods of making electrochemical cells are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a multi-layer sheet for encasing an electrode material for an electrochemical cell. The multi-layer sheet including an outer layer, an intermediate layer that includes a conductive substrate, and an inner layer disposed on a portion of the conductive substrate. The intermediate layer is disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer. The inner layer defines an opening through which a conductive region of the intermediate layer is exposed such that the electrode material can be electrically connected to the conductive region. Thus, the intermediate layer can serve as a current collector for the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A composite object for the production of hydrogen from water-reactive aluminum may include a first portion including an aluminum alloy having a non-recrystallized grain structure, and a second portion including an activation metal corrodible to the aluminum alloy, wherein the second portion and the first portion are coupled to one another with the activation metal of the second portion in contact with the aluminum alloy of the first portion at a plurality of points of contact stress, and the activation metal of the second portion is penetrable into the non-recrystallized grain structure of the aluminum alloy of the first portion via the addition of heat.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide a battery including a rolling diaphragm configured to move to accommodate an internal volume change of one or more components of the battery. Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide a battery housing including a rolling diaphragm seal disposed between an interior volume of the battery and an electrode assembly within the battery. Various embodiments may provide an air electrode assembly including an air electrode supported on a buoyant platform such that the air electrode is above a surface of a volume of electrolyte when the buoyant platform is floating in the electrolyte.