Abstract: A swing arm assembly is provided for a spot welding machine. The swing arm assembly can accommodate a tip dresser or a tip exchanger and can include a lift assembly that can translate the tip dresser from a first position to a second position along a lateral axis.

Abstract: In one example, a wayside device monitoring system is provided. The system may include a wayside device and a controller. The wayside device may detect one or more operating parameters of a vehicle in a vehicle system moving over a route segment. The controller can receive information from the wayside device regarding at least the one or more operating parameters detected, and can control movement the vehicle directly or indirectly based at least in part on the received information.

Abstract: A vehicle control system and method wirelessly communicate from at least one wireless transmitter positioned proximate a route crossing to a wireless receiver of a vehicle via a wireless wayside transceiver. The system and method communicate an indication of whether the route crossing is clear for passage of the vehicle through the route crossing. The system and method receive the indication by the wireless transmitter and using the vehicle receiver. A vehicle controller or an operator of the vehicle can determine whether it is safe for the vehicle to travel through the route crossing based on the indication received by the vehicle receiver from the portable transmitter. The vehicle can then be operated based on the determination.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a quantum logic gate is performed in a quantum computing system. In some cases, a pair of qubits are defined in a quantum processor; the pair of qubits can include a first qubit defined by a first qubit device in the quantum processor and a second qubit defined by a tunable qubit device in the quantum processor. A quantum logic gate can be applied to the pair of qubits by communicating a control signal to a control line coupled to the tunable qubit device. The control signal can be configured to modulate a transition frequency of the tunable qubit device at a modulation frequency, and the modulation frequency can be determined based on a transition frequency of the first qubit device.

Abstract: A portable, folding dog agility teeter is disclosed. The teeter has two boards which are connected by a hinge. A pair of legs are also hinged. Each board can be reversibly fixed in relation to the hinge so the longitudinal axis of each board is parallel to the other. A fulcrum is formed where the legs attach to the hinge. One of the boards is heavier than the other so the heavier board is touching the ground when no additional load is on the other board. As a dog crosses from one board to the other, the teeter moves so the lighter board touches the ground. When the dog leaves the teeter the heavier board moves to touch the ground, thereby resetting the teeter for repeated use.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the location of a vehicle when GNSS signals are not available use triangulation between one or two radio transmitters and, respectively, two or one radio receivers mounted on the vehicle. The distance between each radio transmitter and/or each radio receiver can be determined according a phase difference between received radio signals. The radio signals can have the geographical location of the radio transmitter included therein. Utilizing the demodulated geographical location of each radio transmitter and the distance between the radio transmitter and each radio receiver, triangulation can be used to determine the geographical location of the vehicle.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for generating thrust for a vehicle. The rotor assembly includes a rotor hub and a plurality of rotor blade assemblies coupled to the rotor hub. Each rotor blade assembly includes a metallic bearing race, a composite rotor blade and a metallic coupling assembly. The composite rotor blade has a root section with a radially outwardly tapered outer surface. The metallic coupling assembly has a radially inwardly tapered inner surface that receives the radially outwardly tapered outer surface of the root section of the rotor blade therein to provide a centrifugal force seat for the rotor blade. The coupling assembly includes at least two circumferentially distributed coupling members. The coupling assembly is configured to couple the rotor blade to the bearing race and to provide a centrifugal force load path therebetween.

Abstract: A teeter flap lock for an aircraft may include at least one pair of diametrically positioned teeter flap lock plates extending from a rotor teetering hinge, spaced apart from a rotor mast of the aircraft. A teeter flap lock block is positioned about the rotor mast and is configured to fit between the teeter flap lock plates and the rotor mast. The teeter flap lock block fits between and contacts the teeter flap lock plates in an engaged position, and is movable between the engaged position and a disengaged position relative to the teeter flap lock plates. The teeter flap lock enables flapping of rotors coupled to the rotor mast via the teetering hinge when the teeter flap lock block is in the disengaged position and disables flapping of the rotors when the teeter flap lock block is in the engaged position.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a request to assume control of a vehicle generated by a candidate operator via a first communication pathway. The method obtains a key from an onboard controller of the vehicle and communicates the key to the candidate operator via a second communication pathway that is different from the first communication pathway. The method determines the candidate operator to be a confirmed operator based at least in part on obtaining the key from the candidate operator via the first communication pathway.

Abstract: An elastomeric bearing assembly has a housing, a centrifugal force bearing axially captured relative to the housing, and a sliding cap disposed between the housing and the centrifugal force bearing.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a blade lock comprising a fold lock adapted to prevent folding of a rotor blade in a fold-lock position and to allow folding of the rotor blade in a pitch-lock position. The blade lock further comprises a pitch lock adapted to allow pitch movement of a rotor blade in a fold-lock position and to prevent pitch movement of the rotor blade in the pitch-lock position. A spring-loaded link pivotally connects both the fold lock and the pitch lock and is adapted to provide passive, overcenter locking in the fold-lock position. An actuator is coupled to the pitch lock and is adapted to move the pitch lock and the fold lock between the fold-lock and pitch-lock positions.

Abstract: A swing arm assembly includes a tip dresser, a flange, and a swing arm. The flange is coupled with the tip dresser. The swing arm includes a mounting base and an arm assembly. The arm assembly includes an arm, an extendible arm mount, and a head. The arm is coupled with the mounting base. The extendible arm mount is disposed within the arm and is slidable with respect to the arm along a first axis between a retracted position and an extended position. The head is mounted to the extendible arm mount and includes a support plate and an actuator. The actuator is coupled with the support plate. The tip dresser is coupled with the support plate. The actuator is operably coupled with the flange to facilitate selective sliding of the tip dresser with respect to the support plate.

Abstract: A controller may be configured to receive one or more measured rotational speeds of a wheel of a vehicle. The controller may be configured to determine whether the one or more measured rotational speeds are unreliable relative to one or more previous rotational speeds of the wheel of the vehicle. The controller may be configured to calculate a replacement rotational speed of the wheel and use the replacement rotational speed of the wheel to control or restrict movement of the vehicle using or based on the replacement rotational speed in place of the one or more measured rotational speeds.

Abstract: A weight profile determination system may be provided that includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor may be disposed along a route and configured to generate a plurality of force measurements of a vehicle system moving on the route relative to the sensor. The force measurements may be obtained at different times and correspond to different locations along a length of the vehicle system. The controller may determine a weight profile for the vehicle system based on the force measurements generated by the sensor. The weight profile can represent a distribution of weight along the length of the vehicle system. The controller may communicate the weight profile to one or more of the vehicle system or an offboard device for controlling movement of the vehicle system based on the weight profile.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a gate is formed for a quantum processor. In some implementations, an arbitrary program is received. The arbitrary program includes a first sequence of quantum logic gates, which includes a parametric XY gate. A native gate set is identified, which includes a set of quantum logic gates associated with a quantum processing unit. A second sequence of quantum logic gates corresponding to the parametric XY gate is identified, which includes a parametric quantum logic gate. Each of the quantum logic gates in the second sequence is selected from the native gate set. A native program is generated. The native program includes a third sequence of quantum logic gates. The third sequence of quantum logic gates corresponds to the first sequence of quantum logic gates and includes the second sequence of quantum logic gates. The native program is provided for execution by the quantum processing unit.

Abstract: A vehicle control system and method include processors that determine that an energy storage device of a vehicle will have insufficient energy to power a propulsion system of the vehicle under a first set of operational settings to move the vehicle from a first location within a powered segment to a designated second location that is outside of an unpowered segment of a route. Responsive to determining that the energy storage device will have insufficient energy, the processors change one or more settings of the vehicle to operate the vehicle under a second set of operational settings while the vehicle moves within the powered segment of the route to charge the energy storage device to a greater extent relative to operating of the vehicle according to the first set of operational settings.

Abstract: A weight profile determination system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is disposed along a route and configured to generate a plurality of force measurements of a vehicle system moving on the route relative to the sensor. The force measurements are obtained at different times and correspond to different locations along a length of the vehicle system. The controller is configured to determine a weight profile for the vehicle system based on the force measurements generated by the sensor. The weight profile represents a distribution of weight along the length of the vehicle system. The controller is configured to communicate the weight profile to one or more of the vehicle system or an offboard device for controlling movement of the vehicle system based on the weight profile.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a blade lock comprising a fold lock adapted to prevent folding of a rotor blade in a fold-lock position and to allow folding of the rotor blade in a pitch-lock position. The blade lock further comprises a pitch lock adapted to allow pitch movement of a rotor blade in a fold-lock position and to prevent pitch movement of the rotor blade in the pitch-lock position. A spring-loaded link pivotally connects both the fold lock and the pitch lock and is adapted to provide passive, overcenter locking in the fold-lock position. An actuator is coupled to the pitch lock and is adapted to move the pitch lock and the fold lock between the fold-lock and pitch-lock positions.