Abstract: This disclosure describes a device and system for verifying the content of items in a bin within a materials handling facility. In some implementations, a bin content verification apparatus may pass by one or more bins and capture images of those bins. The images may be processed to determine whether the content included in the bins has changed since the last time images of the bins were captured. A determination may also be made as to whether a change to the bin content was expected and, if so, if the determined change corresponds with the expected change.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing an extract derived from sugar cane, the process comprising: i) mixing a sugar cane derived product with ethanol to produce an extraction mixture comprising at least about 50% v/v ethanol; ii) allowing a precipitate to form in the extraction mixture; iii) removing the precipitate from the extraction mixture to obtain a supernatant; and iv) removing ethanol from the supernatant to produce the extract derived from sugar cane. The present invention further relates to extracts produced according to the process of the invention. The invention also relates to the use of such extracts in a method of lowering the available calorific value of a food or beverage, in treating or preventing disease, and as a nutritional supplement, dietary supplement, sports nutrition product, food coating or pharmaceutical product.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system configured to generate and provide timely vehicle event information for a fleet of vehicles including at least a first vehicle. Individual vehicles detect vehicle events and transmit related information to a remote computing server. The remote computing server determines whether the detected vehicles events are relevant to add to a set of vehicle events scenarios. For example, if a particular vehicle event is duplicative of a previous vehicle event, if may not need to be added. The newest vehicles events may be reported at certain intervals, in particular if they are indicative of a trend.

Abstract: A cable connector (100-900) for connecting an electrical cable, the electrical cable including a cable conductor having a terminal end portion, the terminal end portion having an end face, includes an electrically conductive connector body (110), a conductor bore (102) in the connector body (110), a securing mechanism, and a contact mechanism (141). The connector bore (102) defines a conductor bore axis and is configured to receive the terminal end portion of the cable conductor along the conductor bore axis. The securing mechanism is operable to clamp onto the terminal end portion. The contact mechanism (141) includes a pressure member (170A, 170B), an electrical contact surface, and a drive mechanism (151). The drive mechanism (151) is selectively operable to drive the pressure member (170A, 170B) to force the electrical contact surface against the end face of the cable conductor.

Abstract: An encapsulated gear train gear train for a machine comprising a support frame, which is non-encasing, an input shaft rotatably mounted in the support frame, an output shaft rotatably mounted in the support frame, gears configured to operatively connect the input shaft with the output shaft, and an encasement configured to encapsulate the input shaft, the output shaft, the gears, and at least a portion of the support frame, wherein the support frame is configured to be mounted on a structure of the machine such that the support frame does not apply any loads onto the encasement.

Abstract: A fluid phase change thermal management cooling method and apparatus for removing heat from a source of heat, the method comprising the steps of: filling a cooling chamber with volume V1 of a fluid phase change thermal management cooling apparatus with a fluid in its liquid phase; increasing the volume of the cooling chamber to volume V2 to va-pourise a portion of the fluid from its liquid phase to its vapour phase such that there is substantially only the fluid in its liquid phase and fluid in its vapour phase within the volume V2; allowing a dwell time that provides for at least some of the fluid in its liquid phase that has contact with a heated surface of the cooling chamber to be vaporised; and repeating the steps where timing of the steps and dwell time between steps is selected to control heat build-up within selected limits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing an extract derived from sugar cane, the process comprising: i) mixing a sugar cane derived product with ethanol to produce an extraction mixture comprising at least about 50% v/v ethanol; ii) allowing a precipitate to form in the extraction mixture; iii) removing the precipitate from the extraction mixture to obtain a supernatant; and iv) removing ethanol from the supernatant to produce the extract derived from sugar cane. The present invention further relates to extracts produced according to the process of the invention. The invention also relates to the use of such extracts in a method of lowering the available calorific value of a food or beverage, in treating or preventing disease, and as a nutritional supplement, dietary supplement, sports nutrition product, food coating or pharmaceutical product.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a device and system for verifying the content of items in a bin within a materials handling facility. In some implementations, a bin content verification apparatus may pass by one or more bins and capture images of those bins. The images may be processed to determine whether the content included in the bins has changed since the last time images of the bins were captured. A determination may also be made as to whether a change to the bin content was expected and, if so, if the determined change corresponds with the expected change.

Abstract: Described is an imaging component for use by an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) for object detection. As described, the imaging component includes one or more cameras that are configured to obtain images of a scene using visible light that are converted into a depth map (e.g., stereo image) and one or more other cameras that are configured to form images, or thermograms, of the scene using infrared radiation (“IR”). The depth information and thermal information are combined to form a representation of the scene based on both depth and thermal information.

Abstract: A configurable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may include swappable components that may be selectable to configure a customized UAV just prior to deployment of the UAV that is configured to deliver a package to a destination. The UAV may include a plurality of ports that may accept swappable components. The ports may be coupled to a logic board to enable control of the swappable components. The ports and swappable components may enable quick replacement of a malfunctioning components, such as an image sensor, which may avoid subjecting a UAV to significant downtime for service. The malfunctioning component may then be serviced after the UAV is readied for a subsequent flight or deployed on a subsequent flight.

Abstract: A method of fabricating microstructures of polar elastomers includes coating a substrate with a dielectric material including a polar elastomer, coating the dielectric material with a photoresist, exposing the photoresist to ultraviolet (UV) light through a photomask to define a pattern on the photoresist, developing the photoresist to form the pattern on the photoresist, etching the dielectric material to transfer the pattern from the photoresist to the dielectric material, and removing the photoresist from the patterned dielectric material.

Abstract: A bail for forming a mechanical and electrical connection includes an inboard section and an outboard section. The inboard section includes an elongate, electrically conductive multi-strand conductor. The outboard section includes an elongate, electrically conductive solid rod conductor electrically connected to the multi-strand conductor.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for modelling a driveline, the driveline comprising a plurality of components. The method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a parametric description of the driveline; b) creating a thermal model of the driveline from the parametric description; c) calculating a temperature distribution for one or more components of the driveline using the thermal model; d) determining a deflection of one or more components of the driveline caused by the thermal distribution, based on the parametric description and the temperature distribution; and e) calculating a performance metric of the driveline based on the determined deflection of the one or more components.

Abstract: Methods and systems for collecting camera calibration data using wearable devices are described. An augmented reality interface may be provided at a wearable device. Three-dimensional virtual information may be presented at the augmented reality interface. The three-dimensional information may identify a field of view of a remote camera and may be associated with collection of calibration data for the remote camera. Calibration data collected by the remote camera viewing a calibration target in the field of view may be received. The camera may be calibrated based at least in part on the calibration data.

Abstract: A mobile calibration room may be used for calibrating one or more sensors used on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A system can include folding or collapsible walls to enable the system to be moved between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the deployed position, the system can comprise a calibration room including one or more 2D or 3D targets used to calibrate one or more sensors (e.g., cameras) on a UAV. The system can include a turntable to rotate the UAV about a first axis during calibration. The system can also include a cradle to rotate the UAV around, or translate the UAV along, a second axis. The turntable can include a frame to rotate the UAV around a third axis during calibration. The mobile calibration room can be coupled to a vehicle to enable the mobile calibration room to be moved between locations.

Abstract: Described is an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), that includes a plurality of sensors, such as stereo cameras, mounted along a perimeter frame of the aerial vehicle and arranged to generate a scene that surrounds the aerial vehicle. The sensors may be mounted in or on winglets of the perimeter frame. Each of the plurality of sensors has a field of view and the plurality of optical sensors are arranged and/or oriented such that their fields of view overlap with one another throughout a continuous space that surrounds the perimeter frame. The fields of view may also include a portion of the perimeter frame or space that is adjacent to the perimeter frame.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing a component, such as a battery, of a host device include transmitting one or more input acoustic signals into at least a portion of the host device, through input transducers coupled to the host device. One or more response signals generated in response to the one or more input acoustic signals are detected through recording transducers coupled to the host device. The one or more response signals are stored and compared with reference signals or datasets. One or more physical characteristics of the component or battery are analyzed based on the comparison.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a configuration of an aerial vehicle, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”), that includes a plurality of cameras that may be selectively combined to form a stereo pair for use in obtaining stereo images that provide depth information corresponding to objects represented in those images. Depending on the distance between an object and the aerial vehicle, different cameras may be selected for the stereo pair based on the baseline between those cameras and a distance between the object and the aerial vehicle. For example, cameras with a small baseline (close together) may be selected to generate stereo images and depth information for an object that is close to the aerial vehicle. In comparison, cameras with a large baseline may be selected to generate stereo images and depth information for an object that is farther away from the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: A baffle blank for a baffle assembly and a method for deploying the baffle assembly in a storage container for manipulating air flow in the container is provided. The baffle blank is made of stiff planar sheet material and has fold lines, cut lines and sulcations arranged to form a base, a deflector extending from the base along a hinge line, and an angle selector formed as cut-out in the baffle blank. The baffle blank is operable between a collapsed condition in which the base, deflector and angle selector lie in a substantially planar configuration, into a deployed baffle assembly in which the deflector is secured at a selected angle relative to the base by the angle selector with the angle selector extending between the base and deflector.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a microfluidic device (200, 201, 202, 300, 301, 302, 400, 401, 402) includes the steps of attaching a monolayer of polymer beads onto a first substrate (210, 410) depositing a metal oxide film onto the first substrate (210, 410) over the monolayer of polymer beads, and removing the polymer beads to form an array of metal oxide nano-wells (240, 440) wherein the first substrate (210, 410) is exposed at the bottom of the nano-wells (240, 440). The process also includes depositing an organophosphate layer onto the metal oxide film. The process also calls for depositing a silane coating layer or an acrylate polymer onto the exposed first substrate (210, 410). The method further includes bonding a second substrate (220, 420) to the first substrate (210, 410) to enclose the array of metal oxide nano-wells (240, 440) in a cavity within the first and second substrates (210, 220, 410, 420).