Abstract: A technique for controlling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating in proximity to a terminal area from which the UAVs are staged includes charging a plurality of the UAVs on charging pads disposed in a staging array at the terminal area. Merchant facilities for preparing packages for delivery by the UAVs are disposed about a periphery of the staging array. The UAVs are relocated under their own propulsion from interior charging pads to peripheral loading pads of the staging array as the peripheral loading pads become available and the UAVs are deemed sufficiently charged and ready for delivery missions.

Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigation systems include a UAV charging pad positioned at a storage facility, a plurality of fiducial markers positioned at the storage facility, and a UAV. Each fiducial marker is associated with a fiducial dataset storing a position of the fiducial marker, and each fiducial dataset is stored in a fiducial map. The UAV has a navigation system that includes a camera, a fiducial navigation sub-system, a non-fiducial navigation sub-system, and logic that when executed causes the UAV to image a first fiducial marker with the camera, to transition from a non-fiducial navigation mode to a fiducial navigation mode, to access from the fiducial map the fiducial dataset storing the position of the first fiducial marker, and to navigate based upon the fiducial dataset storing the position of the first fiducial marker, into alignment with and land on the UAV charging pad.

Abstract: In the disclosed systems and methods for competitive scene completion, an application displays an initial scene of a first scene completion challenge and displays within the initial scene a plurality of markers. Each of the markers has corresponding predefined designated coordinates and corresponds to a furnishing unit type. The application also displays virtual furnishing units that match the furnishing unit type of a corresponding marker. User selection of virtual furnishing units results in display of a three-dimensional rendition of the selected units at corresponding coordinates within the scene, thereby creating an augmented scene that comprises the initial scene with three-dimensional renditions of selected virtual furnishing units. The augmented scene or user selections of virtual furnishing units is submitted to a remote server and the user is provided with a reward.

Abstract: In the disclosed systems and methods for competitive scene completion, in conjunction with a scene completion challenge, an image of an initial scene and a plurality of markers are displayed. For each user marker selection, virtual furnishing units corresponding to the unit type are displayed. User unit selection results in display of a three-dimensional graphic of the selected virtual furnishing unit at the corresponding coordinates within the scene, thereby creating an augmented scene that comprises the initial scene with three-dimensional graphics of selected virtual furnishing units. The augmented scene is submitted to a remote server. The user is provided with a reward that consists of credits. Responsive to user selection to access the store, a user interface for the store is displayed within the application. Visual representations of tangible products are displayed. The credits are configured for use towards purchase of the tangible products.

Abstract: In the disclosed systems and methods for competitive scene completion, an application displays an initial scene of a first scene completion challenge and displays within the initial scene a plurality of markers. Each of the markers has corresponding predefined designated coordinates and corresponds to a furnishing unit type. The application also displays virtual furnishing units that match the furnishing unit type of a corresponding marker. User selection of virtual furnishing units results in display of a three-dimensional rendition of the selected units at corresponding coordinates within the scene, thereby creating an augmented scene that comprises the initial scene with three-dimensional renditions of selected virtual furnishing units. The augmented scene or user selections of virtual furnishing units is submitted to a remote server and the user is provided with a reward.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for manufacturing a wipe in a three-dimensional form out of an essentially flat piece of material. The apparatus produces a blank of essentially flat planar form with a pleat folded on each side. The folded blanks are fed by a conveyor belt to an opening station. The opening station comprises a pair of movable pinch rollers which selectively grab individual blanks from the conveyor belt and feed them via belts to a pair of counter-rotating drums. The blanks are ejected from the drums, which partially opens them up in the process. The partially open blanks are fed onto a shaped former, where the final process of forming the wipe into its chosen three-dimensional form is completed.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes causing an operational member of a system to move. The method includes driving a power or control signal through a conductive coupling member. The conductive coupling member is connected between a first terminal and a second terminal in a power circuit, and the coupling member secures the operational member to a structural member of the system. The method includes detecting an electrical disconnect between the first terminal and a second terminal. The method includes determining a mechanical break associated with the coupling member based on the electrical disconnect between the first terminal and the second terminal. The method includes causing the operational member of the system to stop moving based on determining the mechanical break associated with the coupling member.

Abstract: A technique for validating a balcony to receive delivery of a parcel via a UAV includes obtaining a first identification of a general location of the balcony; generating a first image representing a building including the balcony where the first image is selected based upon the location identified; obtaining a second identification or a confirmation of a precise location of the balcony in the building where the second identification or the confirmation are received in response to an end-user interaction with the first image; determining a deliverability score based at least in part on the precise location of the balcony; and indicating an enrollment status to the end-user where the enrollment status is generated based upon the deliverability score.

Abstract: In the disclosed systems and methods for competitive scene completion, in conjunction with a scene completion challenge, an image of an initial scene and a plurality of markers are displayed. For each user marker selection, virtual furnishing units corresponding to the unit type are displayed. User unit selection results in display of a three-dimensional graphic of the selected virtual furnishing unit at the corresponding coordinates within the scene, thereby creating an augmented scene that comprises the initial scene with three-dimensional graphics of selected virtual furnishing units. The augmented scene is submitted to a remote server. The user is provided with a reward that consists of credits. Responsive to user selection to access the store, a user interface for the store is displayed within the application. Visual representations of tangible products are displayed. The credits are configured for use towards purchase of the tangible products.

Abstract: A technique for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes monitoring a sensed airspeed of the UAV, obtaining a commanded speed for the UAV, wherein the commanded speed representing a command to fly the UAV at a given speed relative to an airmass or to Earth, and when the commanded speed is greater than the sensed airspeed, using the commanded speed in lieu of the sensed airspeed to inform flight control decisions of the UAV.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for manufacturing a wipe in a three dimensional form out of an essentially flat piece of material. The apparatus produces a blank (12) of essentially flat planar form with a pleat folded on each side. The folded blanks are fed by a conveyor belt (21) to an opening station (22). The opening station comprises a pair of movable pinch rollers (34, 35) which selectively grab individual blanks from the conveyor belt and feed them via belts (32, 33) to a pair of counter-rotating drums (30, 31). The blanks are ejected from the drums, which partially opens them up in the process. The partially open blanks are fed onto a shaped former (37), where the final process of forming the wipe into its chosen three dimensional form is completed.

Abstract: A cavity is cut into a wooden structure (e.g., stringer, block, or deckboard) of a wood pallet such that an electronic tracking device can be embedded into the wooden structure for tracking the pallet. The cavity is shaped to allow for a sufficient thickness of remaining wood material surrounding the cavity to remain strong and also to allow for sufficient thinness so wireless signals can be reliably transmitted to/from electronics within the cavity. The remaining space within the cavity around the embedded tracking device is filled with a potting material to secure and protect the tracking device within the cavity. The tracking device monitors the location of the pallet and provides location data to a back-end system over a communication channel either directly or via a local hub. The back-end system performs analytics on the location data.

Abstract: In the disclosed systems and methods for competitive scene completion, a user selects a first scene completion challenge that comprises an image of an initial scene and a plurality of markers. Each marker has a designated set of coordinates within the initial scene and corresponds to a furnishing unit type. For each user marker selection, virtual furnishing units corresponding to the unit type are displayed. User unit selection results in display of a three-dimensional graphic of the selected virtual furnishing unit at the corresponding coordinates within the scene, thereby creating an augmented scene that comprises the initial scene with three-dimensional graphics of selected virtual furnishing units. The augmented scene or user selections of virtual furnishing units is submitted to a remote server. The user is provided with a reward.

Abstract: A cavity is cut into a wooden structure (e.g., stringer, block, or deckboard) of a wood pallet such that an electronic tracking device can be embedded into the wooden structure for tracking the pallet. The cavity is shaped to allow for a sufficient thickness of remaining wood material surrounding the cavity to remain strong and also to allow for sufficient thinness so wireless signals can be reliably transmitted to/from electronics within the cavity. The remaining space within the cavity around the embedded tracking device is filled with a potting material to secure and protect the tracking device within the cavity. The tracking device monitors the location of the pallet and provides location data to a back-end system over a communication channel either directly or via a local hub. The back-end system performs analytics on the location data.

Abstract: Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigation systems include a UAV charging pad positioned at a storage facility, a plurality of fiducial markers positioned at the storage facility, and a UAV. Each fiducial marker is associated with a fiducial dataset storing a position of the fiducial marker, and each fiducial dataset is stored in a fiducial map. The UAV has a navigation system that includes a camera, a fiducial navigation sub-system, a non-fiducial navigation sub-system, and logic that when executed causes the UAV to image a first fiducial marker with the camera, to transition from a non-fiducial navigation mode to a fiducial navigation mode, to access from the fiducial map the fiducial dataset storing the position of the first fiducial marker, and to navigate based upon the fiducial dataset storing the position of the first fiducial marker, into alignment with and land on the UAV charging pad.

Abstract: A cavity is cut into a wooden structure (e.g., stringer, block, or deckboard) of a wood pallet such that an electronic tracking device can be embedded into the wooden structure for tracking the pallet. The cavity is shaped to allow for a sufficient thickness of remaining wood material surrounding the cavity to remain strong and also to allow for sufficient thinness so wireless signals can be reliably transmitted to/from electronics within the cavity. The remaining space within the cavity around the embedded tracking device is filled with a potting material to secure and protect the tracking device within the cavity. The tracking device monitors the location of the pallet and provides location data to a back-end system over a communication channel either directly or via a local hub. The back-end system performs analytics on the location data.

Abstract: In the disclosed systems and methods for competitive scene completion, a user selects from among one or more affordances, each representing a different challenge and comprising a scene image and plurality of markers. Each marker has independent scene coordinates and a type. The scene and markers of the selected challenge is displayed. For each user marker selection, corresponding furnishing units are displayed. The units match the marker type and include units retained and not retained by the user. User unit selection results in display of a graphic of the selected unit at the corresponding coordinates within the scene. The scene is thereby populated with graphics. The unit selections are submitted upon satisfaction of a challenge completion criterion specifying which scene coordinates must be populated. Responsive to submission, the user unit selections are subjected to community vote on a remote server and the results are provided to the user.

Abstract: In the disclosed systems and methods for competitive scene completion, in conjunction with a scene completion challenge, an image of an initial scene and a plurality of markers are displayed. For each user marker selection, virtual furnishing units corresponding to the unit type are displayed. User unit selection results in display of a three-dimensional graphic of the selected virtual furnishing unit at the corresponding coordinates within the scene, thereby creating an augmented scene that comprises the initial scene with three-dimensional graphics of selected virtual furnishing units. The augmented scene is submitted to a remote server. The user is provided with a reward that consists of credits. Responsive to user selection to access the store, a user interface for the store is displayed within the application. Visual representations of tangible products are displayed. The credits are configured for use towards purchase of the tangible products.

Abstract: In the disclosed systems and methods for competitive scene completion, a user selects a first scene completion challenge that comprises an image of an initial scene and a plurality of markers. Each marker has a designated set of coordinates within the initial scene and corresponds to a furnishing unit type. For each user marker selection, virtual furnishing units corresponding to the unit type are displayed. User unit selection results in display of a three-dimensional graphic of the selected virtual furnishing unit at the corresponding coordinates within the scene, thereby creating an augmented scene that comprises the initial scene with three-dimensional graphics of selected virtual furnishing units. The augmented scene or user selections of virtual furnishing units is submitted to a remote server. The user is provided with a reward.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment a device is usable to measure radio frequency (RF) signals including microwave signals to provide an alarm when a power level at its input exceeds predetermined levels. A user can attach the device to a coax cable on a microwave or wireless tower to determine if certain power levels are present and what levels are exceeded. If high power is indicated by the device, the user will then avoid attaching that coax cable to other measurement equipment which would be damaged by excessive RF power. The device is further usable, for example, to apply power to one coax cable in a cable bundle then identify which cable of the bundle is getting the power by connecting the device on the output end of each coax in the bundle, one by one.