Abstract: A fish head cutting machine for decapitating a fish, comprising: a) a fish support for supporting a fish in an infeed loading zone with its belly side down and its backbone in a substantially horizontal orientation; b) a guide mechanism positioned adjacent the fish support to hold the fish via an anatomical body part, such as its gill plate, collar bone, pectoral fin or pelvic fin, so that only the body of the fish is supported by the fish support; c) a drive mechanism transporting the fish in a downward direction and at an acute angle to vertical from the infeed loading zone downstream to a head cutting zone while the fish is supported on the fish support and held by the guide mechanism; d) a head pusher located between the infeed loading zone and the head cutting zone that engages the head of the fish and tips the head of the fish upwardly and rearwardly as the fish moves downstream to the head cutting zone; and e) head cutting blades located downstream of the head pusher in the cutting zone that cut the he

Abstract: A system and method for intelligent message routing is provided. The system and method include a) storing, in one or more storage devices, a plurality of transmission rules for transmitting messages, b) receiving a message to be transmitted to a participant, c) comparing the message to the plurality of transmission rules, d) determining a first channel to transmit the message to a computer device associated with the participant based on the comparison, e) converting the message into a first message for transmission on the first channel, and f) transmitting the first message over the first channel.

Abstract: A fish head cutting machine for decapitating a fish, comprising: a) a fish support for supporting a fish in an infeed loading zone with its belly side down and its backbone in a substantially horizontal orientation; b) a guide mechanism positioned adjacent the fish support to hold the fish via an anatomical body part, such as its gill plate, collar bone, pectoral fin or pelvic fin, so that only the body of the fish is supported by the fish support; c) a drive mechanism transporting the fish in a downward direction and at an acute angle to vertical from the infeed loading zone downstream to a head cutting zone while the fish is supported on the fish support and held by the guide mechanism; d) a head pusher located between the infeed loading zone and the head cutting zone that engages the head of the fish and tips the head of the fish upwardly and rearwardly as the fish moves downstream to the head cutting zone; and e) head cutting blades located downstream of the head pusher in the cutting zone that cut the he

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for use in implanting and/or modifying account controls based on conditional states of users associated with the accounts. One exemplary method general includes receiving, by a computing device, status data for a user where the status data is indicative of a current conditional state of the user. The method also includes accessing, by the computing device, at least one account control rule for an account associated with the user, where the at least one account control rule is associated with a sleeping state of the user, and activating, by the computing device, the at least one account control rule when the current conditional state of the user is the same as the sleeping state associated with the at least one account control rule.

Abstract: A navigation system for a dynamic platform includes an inertial navigation system (INS) unit for measuring, in real-time, linear accelerations and angular velocities of the dynamic platform, and determining, using dead reckoning, initial estimates of current poses of the dynamic platform based on a previous pose of the dynamic platform and the linear accelerations and angular velocities of the dynamic platform. The navigation system further includes an exteroceptive sensor for acquiring sequential images of an environment in which the dynamic platform is traveling, a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) unit for estimating visual odometer (VO) pose changes of the dynamic platform using the sequential images, and a sensor fusion engine for determining estimates of current poses of the dynamic platform based at least in part on the initial estimates of current poses determined by the INS unit and the VO pose changes estimated by the local sub-map tracker.

Abstract: A navigation system for a dynamic platform includes an inertial navigation system (INS) unit for measuring, in real-time, linear accelerations and angular velocities of the dynamic platform, and determining, using dead reckoning, initial estimates of current poses of the dynamic platform based on a previous pose of the dynamic platform and the linear accelerations and angular velocities of the dynamic platform. The navigation system further includes an exteroceptive sensor for acquiring sequential images of an environment in which the dynamic platform is traveling, a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) unit for estimating visual odometer (VO) pose changes of the dynamic platform using the sequential images, and a sensor fusion engine for determining estimates of current poses of the dynamic platform based at least in part on the initial estimates of current poses determined by the INS unit and the VO pose changes estimated by the local sub-map tracker.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for use in implanting and/or modifying account controls based on conditional states of users associated with the accounts. One exemplary method general includes receiving, by a computing device, status data for a user where the status data is indicative of a current conditional state of the user. The method also includes accessing, by the computing device, at least one account control rule for an account associated with the user, where the at least one account control rule is associated with a sleeping state of the user, and activating, by the computing device, the at least one account control rule when the current conditional state of the user is the same as the sleeping state associated with the at least one account control rule.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for use in implanting account controls based on conditional states of users associated with the accounts. One exemplary method general includes receiving, by a computing device, status data for a user where the status data is indicative of a current conditional state of the user. The method also includes accessing, by the computing device, at least one account control rule for an account associated with the user, where the at least one account control rule associated with a conditional state, and activating, by the computing device, the at least one account control rule when the current conditional state of the use is the same as the conditional state associated with the at least one account control rule.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.

Abstract: There is provided a method for enhancing endoscopic image data, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a plurality of image frames from an imaging section of an endoscope apparatus at a predetermined frame rate; (b) converting said plurality of image frames into a plurality of digital image frames at said predetermined frame rate; (c) applying at least one active Look-up-Table, comprising at least one first transform, to at least part of said plurality of digital image frames at said predetermined frame rate, so as to generate a plurality of enhanced digital image frames; (d) providing said enhanced digital image frames to a display at said predetermined frame rate; (e) generating at least one optimised Look-up-Table, comprising at least one second transform that is optimised utilizing at least one image parameter of a predetermined quantity of said plurality of digital image frames; (f) updating said at least one active Look-up-Table with said at least one second transform; (g) executing step (c) for said pr

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using an assembly that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The assembly can also include a bystander communication module for generating cues for bystander perception. While the assembly securing the payload is being lowered from the UAV, the bystander communication module can generate an avoidance cue indicating that bystanders should avoid interference with the assembly. The assembly also includes sensors that generate data used, at least in part, to determine when the descending assembly is at or near the ground, at which point the assembly releases the payload. The bystander communication module can then cease the avoidance cue and the UAV can retract the assembly.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for switching library managers of a data library while maintaining data library storage devices online. A library manager accepts and executes data transaction commands for access to data residing on the storage devices of the data library. A transition manager module receives a directive to transition library management functions from a first library manager to a second library manager. The transition manager module stops the first library manager from accepting new data transaction commands while maintaining the storage devices online. The first library manager may execute previously accepted data transaction commands. The transition manager module suspends the library management functions of the first library manager and activates the library management functions of the second library manager. The storage devices of the data library may complete data transaction commands throughout the library manager transition.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for switching library managers of a data library while maintaining data library storage devices online. A library manager accepts and executes data transaction commands for access to data residing on the storage devices of the data library. A transition manager module receives a directive to transition library management functions from a first library manager to a second library manager. The transition manager module stops the first library manager from accepting new data transaction commands while maintaining the storage devices online. The first library manager may execute previously accepted data transaction commands. The transition manager module suspends the library management functions of the first library manager and activates the library management functions of the second library manager. The storage devices of the data library may complete data transaction commands throughout the library manager transition.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for switching library managers of a data library while maintaining data library storage devices online. A library manager accepts and executes data transaction commands for access to data residing on the storage devices of the data library. A transition manager module receives a directive to transition library management functions from a first library manager to a second library manager. The transition manager module stops the first library manager from accepting new data transaction commands while maintaining the storage devices online. The first library manager may execute previously accepted data transaction commands. The transition manager module suspends the library management functions of the first library manager and activates the library management functions of the second library manager. The storage devices of the data library may complete data transaction commands throughout the library manager transition.

Abstract: A storage subsystem, method of testing storage media in the storage subsystem and program product therefor. The storage media, e.g., magnetic tape in a physical volume, is inserted into an input area in the storage subsystem, but not loaded into the subsystem library. The media input area on the physical volume is scanned and a test command is queued. The test storage media is moved to a drive for testing. After testing, the storage media is returned to the input area.