Abstract: A one or two player ball game assembly comprising a motorized ball launcher that shoots balls upwards into the air in a random fountain like pattern. Each player catches or retrieves the launched balls and places them back into their designated reservoir. The reservoir gravity feeds the balls back into a striker mechanism. In one embodiment, the reservoirs are clear tubes so that each player may monitor the number of balls in each player's reservoir during play. The clear tubes also act as a fence, keeping each player on their respective sides thus minimizing possible collisions during play. In one embodiment, the game operates on an adjustable timer (e.g. 1-15 minutes) which automatically terminates powered to the motorized striker. The timer may also trigger an audible signal (e.g. bell) when the game is over. The winner is the player with the most balls in their reservoir at the end of play.

Abstract: An example autonomous vehicle includes a communication interface for receiving instructions to perform a first task in an environment using a first strategy, sensors for detecting conditions in the environment to carry out the first task, data storage storing a plurality of task interruption scenarios each having an associated priority setting, and a processor for executing instructions for autonomous decision-making to perform functions. The functions include during performance of the first task, identifying that the conditions in the environment are associated with one of the plurality of task interruption scenarios, determining that the identified task interruption scenario is associated with a second task that has a higher priority setting than the first task, determining an asset needed to perform the second task, and based on the autonomous vehicle having the asset, autonomously (i) stopping performance of the first task and (ii) changing to perform the second task.

Abstract: A system for monitoring one or more environmental conditions associated with a working environment includes a wearable device configured to be worn by a worker and one or more environmental sampling sensors configured to monitor the one or more environmental conditions associated with the working environment and determine environmental sampling information based on the monitoring of the one or more environmental conditions. The system further includes a positioning sensor configured to determine positioning information for the worker, the positioning information for the worker including information regarding positioning of the worker relative to the working environment.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, a method includes detecting a first parameter indicative of lateral movement of a top drive system with respect to a rotational axis of the top drive system with a first plurality of sensors and detecting a second parameter indicative of lateral movement of the top drive system with respect to the longitudinal axis of the top drive system with a second plurality of sensors. The first parameter is different from the second parameter. The method also includes transmitting the first parameter and the second parameter to a monitoring system and comparing the first parameter to a first threshold value and comparing the second parameter to a second threshold value with the monitoring system. Detecting the first parameter and the second parameter includes detecting lateral movement of a mud saver valve configured to flow mud through a sealed passage.

Abstract: A manufacturing materiel management system. The system includes a product inventory monitor including at least one processor having a memory and a communications link, and at least one of a minimum-maximum item matrix and an item supplier dependency matrix. The system includes a manufacturing line item sensor network coupled to the product inventory monitor and configured to monitor in real-time inventory levels of a plurality of components, sub-assemblies, and assemblies in the product inventory used for a manufacturing line for manufacturing an object. The system includes a disruption pattern detector in communication with the manufacturing line item sensor network, and configured to detect normal and abnormal inventory turns, and to generate therefrom normal and disruption patterns. The system includes a resource allocator configured to monitor the normal and disruption patterns and to allocate resources to different projects when a disrupted pattern occurs.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for modifying an entity sensory representation. An entity sensory representation representing an entity is received. The entity sensory representation comprises a plurality of sensory representations that represent a plurality of items that are part of the entity. Each of the plurality of items is associated with a set of values for a set of measurable factors of interest. A set of scale factors is calculated for each of the plurality of sensory representations based on the set of values associated with the each of the plurality of items. The plurality of sensory representations is modified using the set of scale factors to form a plurality of modified sensory representations that establish a relative relationship between the plurality of items represented by the plurality of modified sensory representations with respect to the set of measurable factors of interest.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can operate both as a conventional multicopter with no wing attached, or, it can operate as a winged multicopter. The detachable wing design used in the invention provides versatility without compromising performance; the wing attachment receptacles add no weight to the wingless multicopter configuration because they also function as the leg receptacles. In one embodiment, the base multicopter configuration is a quad-copter with four propeller drives. Four tubular receptacles, two forward and two aft, provide attachment points for the vertical struts of a detachable rectangular shaped wing, these vertical struts also function as the legs of the multicopter. The wing is fabricated using lightweight struts and rip stop nylon fabric which can be easily folded into a compact shape using quick release pins. In another embodiment, the wing is fabricated using a foam core.

Abstract: A pipe joint location detection system includes a main body, at least one magnet, and a plurality of magnetic sensors. The main body has an annular shape defining a central passage, the at least one magnetic is coupled to the main body, the magnet is configured to output a magnetic field, and the plurality of magnetic sensors is coupled to the main body and disposed about a circumference of the main body, wherein each magnetic sensor of the plurality of magnetic sensors is configured to detect a magnetization of a tubular string disposed within the central passage. The pipe joint location detection system also includes a memory comprising data stored thereon, wherein the data includes a first magnetization value associated with a first contour of the tubular string and a second magnetization value associated with a second contour of the tubular string, wherein the first contour is different from the second contour.

Abstract: An environmental visualization system is provided for visualization of a computing architecture. The environmental visualization system may include a front-end system configured to receive signals communicated and carrying messages between source and destination network nodes separate and distinct from the system in a communication network composed of a plurality of network nodes within an environment of a user, interpret the messages to identify the source and destination network nodes, and generate data input for the signals that indicates the source and destination network nodes. The environmental visualization system may also include a computing architecture system configured to generate from the data input, a multidimensional layout that depicts the communication network, including the source and destination network nodes and signals communicated therebetween, in which the front-end system may be configured to output the multidimensional layout for display by a display device.

Abstract: An environmental visualization system is provided for visualization of an energy spectrum. The environmental visualization system may include a front-end system configured to receive input from sensors configured to measure emissions within an environment of a user, and provide a corresponding sensed input that includes a at least one energy frequency of the emissions and that indicates a spatial-temporal distribution of the emissions within the environment. The system may also include an energy spectrum system configured to generate from the sensed input, a multidimensional layout that depicts the at least one energy frequency and spatial-temporal distribution of the emissions from which a significance of the emissions is identifiable, in which the front-end system may be configured to output the multidimensional layout for display by a display device.

Abstract: Aircraft, environmental control systems, and air diffusers that may be used to create a quiet, comfortable environment within an aircraft cabin are disclosed. The air diffusers include a duct, a grille, and a porous flow conditioner positioned at least partially within an outlet plenum of the duct. The porous flow conditioner is configured to create backpressure and to reduce a velocity of air flowing out of the porous flow conditioner, relative to air flow unaffected by the porous flow conditioner. The porous flow conditioner may be configured to reduce noise generated by air flow through the air diffuser assembly, relative to air flow unaffected by the porous flow conditioner. The porous flow conditioner may be configured to reduce noise generated by air flow downstream of the porous flow conditioner.

Abstract: A system includes a span block configured to couple with an extension from a top drive at a first end of the span block and configured to couple to a tubular at a second end of the span block. The system also includes a sensor block of the span block. The sensor block extends between the first end and the second end of the span block. Moreover, the sensor block is configured to provide an electronic indication of deformation of a portion of the sensor block in response to forces placed on the span block.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for implementation of back-end system for providing point-of-use toolkits. The apparatus may receive an assignment of work tasks assigned to a technician for manufacture of a tangible product. In response, the apparatus may compile a point-of-use toolkit including comprehensive information regarding the work tasks, and transmit the point-of-use toolkit to a front-end system associated with the technician. The apparatus may determine an occurrence of a delay associated with the schedule that impacts the assignment of the one or more work tasks, and transmit information associated with the delay to the manufacturing scheduling system. In response to receiving an update to the assignment of the tasks from the manufacturing scheduling system, the apparatus may compile an update of the point-of-use toolkit, and transmit the update of the point-of-use toolkit to the front-end system.

Abstract: Aircraft, environmental control systems, and air diffusers that may be used to create a quiet, comfortable environment within an aircraft cabin are disclosed. The air diffusers include a duct, a grille, and a porous flow conditioner positioned at least partially within an outlet plenum of the duct. The porous flow conditioner is configured to create backpressure and to reduce a velocity of air flowing out of the porous flow conditioner, relative to air flow unaffected by the porous flow conditioner. The porous flow conditioner may be configured to reduce noise generated by air flow through the air diffuser assembly, relative to air flow unaffected by the porous flow conditioner. The porous flow conditioner may be configured to reduce noise generated by air flow downstream of the porous flow conditioner.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can operate both as a conventional multicopter with no wing attached, or, it can operate as a winged multicopter. The detachable wing design used in the invention provides versatility without compromising performance; the wing attachment receptacles add no weight to the wingless multicopter configuration because they also function as the leg receptacles. In one embodiment, the base multicopter configuration is a quad-copter with four propeller drives. Four tubular receptacles, two forward and two aft, provide attachment points for the vertical struts of a detachable rectangular shaped wing, these vertical struts also function as the legs of the multicopter. The wing is fabricated using lightweight struts and rip stop nylon fabric which can be easily folded into a compact shape using quick release pins. In another embodiment, the wing is fabricated using a foam core.

Abstract: An system, and method are disclosed for harmonic modulation of standing wavefields for spatial focusing, manipulation, and patterning of particles, cells, powders, aerosols, colloids, and solids using a multifrequency wave source, a chamber a control module and an analysis module to generate standard wavefields useful for tissue engineering, micro fabrication, therapeutic treatment, and diagnostic tests.

Abstract: A system is provided for that includes sensor(s) configured to provide sensed input characteristic of a user, the user's environment or the user's interaction with their environment, and including from a 3D scanner, measurements of points on a surface of an object in the user's environment. A front-end system may receive and process the sensed input including the measurements to identify a known pattern that indicates a significance of the sensed input from which to identify operations of electronic resource(s). The front-end system may form and communicate an input to the electronic resource(s) to cause the resource(s) to perform the operations, including generation of a point cloud from the measurements, and transformation of the point cloud to a 3D model of the object. And the front-end system may receive an output including the 3D model from the resource(s), and communicate the output for display by a display device.

Abstract: A hay conditioner including a draw frame mounting at least one pair of counter-rotating rotors, each rotor having a number of blades in order to braise the hay and to convey the hay at least into a throat located between the pair of rotors.

Abstract: A method for determining a concentration of a contrast agent in imaging data includes calculating a pre-contrast attenuation map of a region of interest of a patient. Following an administering of a contrast agent to the patient, a post-contrast attenuation map of the region of interest of the patient is calculated. An increase in attenuation value is determined based on the pre-contrast attenuation map and the post-contrast attenuation map and a contrast agent concentration map is calculated for the region of interest based on the increase in attenuation value.

Abstract: In a method to correct noise effects in magnetic resonance (MR) images, which is executed in a processor (computer), the processor executes a fitting algorithm in order to calculate initial values for each of selected variables in signal model that models noise effects in a modeled, noise-containing MR image. The processor then iteratively executes the same or a different fitting algorithm, in order to generate final values for each of the selected variables. The processor is provided with an actual, acquired MR image that contains noise, and the processor uses the final values of the selected variables to calculate synthetic signal intensities in the MR image, thereby producing a synthetic MR image with no noise bias effects of errors. This synthetic image is made available in electronic form at an output of the processor, as a data file.