Abstract: A pressure-regulating buoyant hydrodynamic pump is disclosed that floats adjacent to a surface of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. In response to wave-induced movements of the device, water is drawn into a mouth at a lower end of an injection tube, and water is ejected from a mouth at an upper end of the injection tube. The ejected water is deposited into an interior of the hollow buoy thereby augmenting a water reservoir therein. And water flows from the water reservoir to and through a water turbine, thereby energizing a generator, power electronics, and an electrical load. A novel water-turbine effluent buffering tube, or chamber, smooths pressure variations felt across the water turbine.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a controller to receive a current commanded speed, determine a current moving speed, and calculate a reference shaped speed to operate a propulsion system and/or a brake system to cause the current moving speed to approach the current commanded speed. The reference speed is based on a reference shaping model that changes the reference speed based on relative values of the current commanded speed, a previous commanded speed, the current moving speed, and a previous reference shaped speed. The controller controls the propulsion system and/or the brake system to cause the vehicle system to move at the calculated reference shaped speed. A method includes receiving a current commanded speed, determining a current moving speed, calculating a reference shaped speed, and controlling the one or more of the propulsion system or the brake system to cause the vehicle system to move at the reference shaped speed.

Abstract: A novel outdoor workout station includes a platform, an exercise structure, and a canopy assembly. The exercise structure is disposed on and fixed to the platform, and the canopy assembly is disposed over both the exercise structure and the platform. The arrangement of support beams of the platform corresponds to a footprint of the exercise structure. In a particular embodiment, the platform includes adjustable legs that facilitate the leveling of the platform. In another particular embodiment, the canopy assembly is mounted directly to the platform.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an article comprising a reinforced glass mat. In some embodiments, the reinforced glass mat includes a glass mat and a reinforcement material. In some embodiments, the glass mat includes a web of glass fibers. In some embodiments, the reinforcement material is embedded into the web of glass fibers of the glass mat. In some embodiments, the reinforced glass mat includes a sufficient amount of the reinforcement material, so as to result in a nail shank shear resistance of 13 lbs to 17 lbs, when the article is tested according to ASTM 1761 at 140° F. Methods of making the article, specific embodiments of the reinforcement material in the form of a polymeric binder, and methods of forming a roofing shingle from the article are also disclosed.

Abstract: A buoyant wave energy device is disclosed that incorporates an open-bottomed tube of substantial length in which is partially enclosed a first body of water that oscillates in response to wave action. The device incorporates a buoy to which an upper end of the tube is connected and inside of which is trapped a second body of water of substantial mass. A differential phase in the oscillations of the water trapped in the tube, and the oscillations of the buoy of augmented mass, result in the periodic compression of a pocket of air trapped at the top of the tube, and in the subsequent expulsion of pressurized air through a turbine, thereby generating electrical power.

Abstract: A surgical guide foundation system, device, and methods of making and using same. The surgical guide foundation system may include one or more foundation devices. The one or more foundation devices may include a main body portion, one or more fixation ports formed in the main body portion and forming a passage therethrough, and one or more carrier connectors (e.g., plug connector style latches) formed on the main body portion. The surgical guide foundation system may further include a guide component. The guide component may be configured to be engageable with one or more of the one or more carrier connectors. The main body portion may include protrusions formed on an inner facing surface of the main body portion and extending in a generally perpendicular direction therefrom.

Abstract: Systems and methods provided herein may include a card replacement system. The system may include an automated teller machine in data communication with a server. The automated teller machine may include an input device; a processor; a replacement card storage containing at least one replacement card, wherein the at least one replacement cards may include a magnetic stripe and a chip; a magnetic stripe writer; a chip writer; and an embossing device. The processor may be configured to: receive a replacement card request via the input device; request replacement card information from the server; encode replacement card information onto the replacement card using the magnetic stripe writer and the chip writer; and emboss user information onto the replacement card using the embossing device.

Abstract: A curable aqueous composition is disclosed comprising a carbohydrate, a crosslinking agent, and an amine base, wherein the curable aqueous composition has a pH adjusted by the amine base. Further disclosed is a method of forming a curable aqueous solution.

Abstract: A handheld portable fluid spraying system includes a first disposable cartridge assembly having a first cartridge coupled to a first cartridge assembly body and a first valve coupled to the first cartridge assembly body. The handheld portable fluid spraying system also includes a base assembly comprising an air source configured to generate an airflow. A first portion of the airflow is provided to the first disposable cartridge assembly to pressurize the first disposable cartridge assembly and a second portion of the airflow is provided to a nozzle. The handheld portable fluid spraying system also includes a second disposable cartridge assembly having a second cartridge coupled to a second cartridge assembly body and a second valve coupled to the second cartridge assembly body. The first and second disposable cartridge assemblies are interchangeably connectable to the base assembly.

Abstract: An axle shaft disconnect clutch includes a housing, an axle shaft, a stub shaft, a dog clutch and an inner race. The axle shaft includes a first outer spline and the stub shaft includes a second outer spline. The dog clutch has an inner spline engaged with the second outer spline and the inner race is rotationally fixed and axially displaceable relative to the housing to axially displace the dog clutch and engage or disengage the inner spline with the first outer spline. In some example embodiments, the axle shaft disconnect clutch has a bushing pad fixed to the inner race. The inner race is arranged to push the dog clutch towards the first outer spline to engage the dog clutch, and the inner race is arranged to pull the bushing pad to pull the dog clutch away from the first outer spline to disengage the dog clutch.

Abstract: Disclosed is buoyant wave energy capture device, adapted to float adjacent to an upper surface of a body of water over which waves pass, and adapted to capture a portion of the radiated waves created by its own rising and falling in response to incident and/or passing environmental waves. A power take off mechanism combined with the disclosed wave energy capture device may be tuned to a specific wave frequency, and thereby optimally extract energy from a motion of a single frequency, even the wave energy capture device may be excited and/or energized by waves of any of a relatively broad range of frequencies, thereby increasing the power-generation and cost efficiencies of such devices relative to wave energy conversion devices of the prior art.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method, by which a plentiful supply of carbon dioxide may be provided to a fuel-conversion process operated in the deep sea far from shore thereby permitting a conversion of electrolysis-generated hydrogen gas into a carbonaceous liquid fuel. Because the cost and complexity of storing and transporting liquid fuels by ship is substantially simpler and less costly than is transporting gases, the present invention is expected to promote the extraction and distribution of energy harvested from the deep sea by permitting it to be accomplished with reasonable logistical complexity and at a reasonable and low cost.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a portable operator control unit (OCU). The OCU includes a housing, a power supply inside the housing, a controller inside the housing, and a wireless communication unit attached to the housing. The controller is configured to generate control signals for controlling a vehicle from an off-board location of the OCU. The wireless communication unit is configured to wirelessly communicate the control signals to the vehicle over an LTE network.

Abstract: Methods for improving the electromechanical coupling coefficient and bandwidth of micromachined ultrasonic transducers, or MUTs, are presented as well as methods of manufacture of the MUTs improved by the presented methods.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel type of computing apparatus which is integrated within a buoy that obtains the energy required to power its computing operations from waves that travel across the surface of the body of water on which the buoy floats. Additionally, these self-powered computing buoys utilize their close proximity to a body of water in order to significantly lower the cost and complexity of cooling their computing circuits. Computing tasks of an arbitrary nature are supported, as is the incorporation and/or utilization of computing circuits specialized for the execution of specific types of computing tasks. And, each buoy’s receipt of a computational task, and its return of a computational result, may be accomplished through the transmission of data across satellite links, fiber optic cables, LAN cables, radio, modulated light, microwaves, and/or any other channel, link, connection, and/or network.

Abstract: A vehicle control system may determine a required tractive effort and/or a required braking effort to propel a vehicle system at a determined speed. The vehicle control system may determine a throttle setting or a brake setting to provide the required tractive effort and/or the required braking effort and communicate a control signal from a remote controller device to an onboard controller device. The vehicle control system may operate a propulsion system at the throttle setting and/or a brake system at the brake setting to move the vehicle system at the determined speed.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a glass mat having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The method includes coating the first side of the glass mat with a molten asphalt. The method includes obtaining a plurality of particles. The method further includes depositing the particles on the first side of the asphalt coated substrate. The depositing includes controlling a location of the plurality of particles on the first side of the asphalt coated substrate using an electrostatic generator, an electromagnetic generator, or a piezoelectric depositor. The method further includes forming a roofing shingle from the asphalt coated substrate having the plurality of particles as deposited.

Abstract: A buoyant wave energy device is disclosed that incorporates an open-bottomed tube of substantial length in which is partially enclosed a first body of water that oscillates in response to wave action. The device incorporates a buoy to which an upper end of the tube is connected and inside of which is trapped a second body of water of substantial mass. A differential phase in the oscillations of the water trapped in the tube, and the oscillations of the buoy of augmented mass, result in the periodic compression of a pocket of air trapped at the top of the tube, and in the subsequent expulsion of pressurized air through a turbine, thereby generating electrical power.

Abstract: A motor controller for an electric motor is provided. The motor controller includes an inverter configured to supply current to stator windings of the electric motor. The motor controller further includes a plurality of sensors configured to generate a sensor signal in response to detecting a parameter. The sensor signal represents a measured parameter. The motor controller further includes a processor coupled in communication with the inverter and with the plurality of sensors. The processor is configured to, in a first mode, transmit a control signal to the inverter to operate the electric motor at a first frequency. The processor is further configured to receive the sensor signal from the plurality of sensors. The processor is further configured to determine a first fault condition is present at the electric motor based on the measured parameter represented by the sensor signal.

Abstract: This invention, in embodiments, relates to a roofing material having (a) a front surface, (b) a back surface, and (c) a sealant attachment zone disposed on at least the front surface of the roofing material, the sealant attachment zone including surfacing media that comprise at least one of mineral particles, polymeric particles, and combinations thereof. The sealant attachment zone has an average surface coverage of the surfacing media of 30% to 70%. The roofing material exhibits an increased wind uplift resistance, as measured according to ASTM D6381, as compared to a roofing material without a sealant attachment zone having an average surface coverage of surfacing media of 30% to 70%.