Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus includes an exit conduit positioned to deliver molten glass from a delivery vessel to an inlet conduit of a forming apparatus. The apparatus also includes a leak blocking component that circumferentially surrounds a portion of the exit conduit and is configured to inhibit flow of molten glass towards an outer surface of the glass manufacturing apparatus.

Abstract: Building systems and methods of performing building maintenance operations are described. The systems include a controller configured to receive requests associated with an elevator system of a building. A database having verification procedures associated with the elevator system is provided and the controller is operable to initiate the verification procedures. A robot is configured in communication with the controller and configured to receive instructions from the controller. The instructions may include a portion of a verification procedure, wherein the robot is configured to perform one or more tasks based on the verification procedure. The robot includes at least one sensor configured to collect sensor data. At least one of the controller and the robot are configured to perform an operation in response to sensor data collected by the robot, with the operation being a determination if the elevator system operation is nominal or if further action is required.

Abstract: Building systems and method of using elevators in buildings are described. The systems include a robot-use elevator system having an elevator car moveable along an elevator shaft of a building, a controller configured to receive requests associated with the elevator system and configured to control operation of the elevator system, and a robot configured in communication with the controller and configured to perform actions within the building, the robot configured to travel within the building in the elevator car. The elevator car is operated using parameters outside limits intended for human use of an elevator car.

Abstract: A passenger tracking system includes a multiple of sensors for capturing depth map data of objects. A processing module in communication with the multiple of sensors to receive the depth map data, the processing module uses the depth map data to track an object and calculate passenger data associated with the tracked object to generate a passenger tracking list that tracks each individual passenger in the passenger data from an origin lobby to a destination lobby and through an in-car track between the origin lobby and the destination lobby.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods and apparatus for manufacturing a microtablet from a precursor material such as a pharmaceutical powder. Various embodiments provide a method which includes compressing the powder to form a compressed mass of a selected density and repeatedly compacting the compressed mass to increase the density of the compressed mass and form a microtablet. Related methods and apparatus are provided.

Abstract: Embodiments provide methods and apparatus for manufacturing a microtablet from a precursor material such as a pharmaceutical powder. Various embodiments provide a method which includes compressing the powder to form a compressed mass of a selected density and repeatedly compacting the compressed mass to increase the density of the compressed mass and form a microtablet. Related methods and apparatus are provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling elevator systems are provided. The methods include receiving inputs from at least one interactive input device, wherein the inputs include elevator call requests, tracking one or more people located within a monitored area using at least one sensor, assigning elevator assignments to the one or more people based on at least one of the inputs from the at least one interactive input device and a grouping algorithm based on the tracking of the one or more people, and scheduling operation of at least one elevator car based on the elevator assignments.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes a destination entry device configured to allow a passenger to indicate an intended destination prior to entering an elevator car and at least one detector configured to detect a proximity between the passenger and at least one other individual that has not indicated an intended destination. A controller is configured to determine whether the detected proximity between the passenger and the at least one other individual satisfies at least one criterion indicating that the at least one other individual likely is associated with the passenger, will board an elevator car with the passenger, and will travel to the intended destination with the passenger. The controller is configured to assign an elevator car to carry the passenger and the at least one other individual to the intended destination when the detected proximity satisfies the at least one criterion.

Abstract: A voice recognition system for an elevator system including: one or more microphones configured to capture a voice command from an individual and convert the voice command into an audio signal; a command arbitrator including one or more speech interpretation systems, the command arbitrator being configured to analyze the audio signal and determine an interpreted command for the elevator system from the audio signal using the one or more speech interpretation systems, wherein the interpreted command includes a confidence measure associated with the interpreted command, and wherein the confidence measure is an indicator depicting how confident the command arbitrator is that the interpreted command matches the voice command from the individual.

Abstract: Disclosed is an elevator system having: a controller; an elevator car operationally connected to the controller; a first sensor configured to provide first sensor data to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to identify a capacity parameter of the elevator car, wherein the capacity parameter includes one or more of: loaded weight; volume of available space; or volume of occupied space; a second sensor configured to provide second sensor data to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to determine that passengers remain outside the elevator car when the elevator car is stopped at a landing and its elevator doors are open; and wherein from the first sensor data and the second sensor data, the controller is configured to determine a reduced capacity limit for the elevator car as a function of the capacity parameter.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a device includes an elevator passenger interface configured to allow a passenger to place a call for elevator service by indicating at least one of an intended destination and an intended direction. The elevator passenger interface includes at least one sound detector. A processor is configured to determine a number of passengers intending to travel to the intended destination or in the intended direction based on at least an indication from the sound detector regarding voice detection and to associate the determined number of passengers with the call.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system interface includes a voice-activated input that is configured to receive audible input from a user. A processor is configured to determine a response to the audible input based on a content of the audible input and at least one other factor. An output provides at least an audible indication of the determined response.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a method includes receiving a passenger request to reserve an elevator car of an elevator system to travel to a targeted destination. At least two different travel options to the targeted destination are determined based on a plurality of elevator car travel plans comprising at least two elevator cars having different travel ranges. The at least two different travel options are output to an interactive display. At least one of the at least two elevator cars is reserved responsive to a user selection of one of the at least two different travel options.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes a plurality of elevator cars, a plurality of car identifiers, a plurality of location identifiers, and a controller. Each of the car identifiers is associated with one of the elevator cars and provides a unique identification to the associated elevator car. Each of the location identifiers is configured to be situated in a selected location of the elevator system and provides a unique identification to the selected location. The controller determines a location of each of the elevator cars based on at least one indication of the associated car identifier being at the location of a corresponding one of the location identifiers.

Abstract: A method of operating a building elevator system within a building having a plurality of landings including: controlling a first elevator group; controlling a second elevator group; adjusting a range of landings served by one or more elevator systems of the second elevator group in response to at least one of the predicted passenger response time, the time of day, the amount of traffic received by the first elevator group, the amount of traffic received by the second elevator group, the amount of traffic within the first range of landings, the amount of traffic within the second range of landings, the amount of traffic received by the first elevator group relative to the amount of traffic received by the second elevator group, and the amount of traffic within the first range of landings relative to an amount of traffic within the second range of landings.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for administering a carrier incorporating a therapeutic preparation within a subject. A device includes a carrier, and a launch assembly to deploy the carrier by ejecting the carrier from the device and into internal tissue of the subject. The device detects a status of deployment of the carrier. A system includes a delivery device, a carrier disposed in the delivery device, a launch assembly, and detection circuitry. The launch assembly causes the carrier to exit the delivery device so as to penetrate internal tissue of the subject. The system determines a status of deployment of the carrier using the detection circuitry. A method includes introducing a launch assembly within the subject, the launch assembly coupled to a carrier; deploying, by the launch assembly, the carrier; and detecting a status of deployment of the carrier.

Abstract: A system includes a centralized controller configured to coordinate movement of a plurality of elevator cars in a multicar hoistway. The system also includes a plurality of car controllers configured to communicate with the centralized controller through a plurality of centralized control flows, establish two or more car-to-car control flows between at least two of the car controllers, and exchange an elevator car status between at least two of the car controllers. Movement of at least two of the elevator cars in the multicar hoistway is controlled based on the elevator car status and one or more commands received through at least one of the centralized control flows.

Abstract: A passenger tracking system includes a multiple of sensors for capturing depth map data of objects. A processing module in communication with the multiple of sensors to receive the depth map data, the processing module uses the depth map data to track an object and calculate passenger data associated with the tracked object to generate a passenger tracking list that tracks each individual passenger in the passenger data from an origin lobby to a destination lobby and through an in-car track between the origin lobby and the destination lobby.

Abstract: A passenger tracking system includes a multiple of sensors for capturing depth map data of objects. A processing module in communication with the multiple of sensors to receive the depth map data, the processing module uses the depth map data to track an object and calculate passenger data associated with the tracked object to generate a passenger tracking list that tracks each individual passenger in the passenger data from an origin lobby to a destination lobby and through an in-car track between the origin lobby and the destination lobby.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system and method for controlling doors in a multi-door system. Embodiments a controller configured to control the multi-door system, wherein the multi-door system includes a first door and a second door, wherein the first door is on a different side than the second door, and one or more sensors operably coupled to the multi-door system and the controller, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect one or more conditions. The controller includes a processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive an input from the one or more sensors, wherein the input comprises at least one of call information and crowd sensing information, responsive to the input, prioritize an operation of the first door and the second door based at least in part on the input, and operate the first door and second door based on the prioritization.