Abstract: A variable-stiffness mechanism may include racks, pinion gears, spring elements, a cable, and a pulley. The variable-stiffness mechanism may be based on a variable-lever principal using the racks as a lever and the pinion gears as a variable pivot point. The pinion gears may be fixed in position relative to the pulley and coupled together by a gear-to-gear mesh. Alternatively, the pinion gears may be configured to translate relative to the pulley using a central drive rack and drive motor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure allow user equipments (UEs) to independently determine and communicate their location within a designated coverage area. Each UE can be equipped with RF transmitters and a GPS module, allowing it to obtain signals from RF beacons deployed throughout the coverage area to determine its location. The UEs can transmit location data to a communications platform server (CPS) when a change in location is detected. User profiles associated with each UE can define geographical boundaries, including compliance zones and non-compliance zones. The CPS can identify non-compliance events based on the location data by determining if the UE is outside a compliance zone or within a non-compliance zone, and issue notifications accordingly.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for surgical training with low cost, reusable materials and a highly customizable virtual environment for skill-building. According to various embodiments, a surgical training tool is usable in conjunction with a support structure configured to at least partially constrain the tool movement. Meanwhile, the tool is tracked in real-time with off-tool detectors to generate a tool path driving a virtual rendering of the surgical training tool in an operative environment. The virtual rendering may be visually observable via a display device and may include a customizable and/or selectable operative environment with one or more structures that can be operated on by the virtual surgical training tool. By tracking the virtual tool interaction with the virtual structures, a task path may be established for documenting and/or objectively assessing the performance of one or more operative tasks.

Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.

Abstract: Vertical point of purchase product display stands with spring-loaded platforms that display a vertically-stacked plurality of products for viewing and removal by customers and raise the plurality of products as top layers of the products are removed.

Abstract: An autonomous sailing vessel may include a hull, a mast, a sail, and a sail release device. The mast may be mechanically coupled to the hull. The sail may be mechanically coupled to the mast. The sail release device may be operably coupled to the sail and may be configured to automatically release the sail to spill excess wind. Alternatively or additionally, the sail may include a fore sail element coupled to the mast and an aft sail element rotatably coupled at a fore of the aft sail element to an aft of the fore sail element. In this and other embodiments, the autonomous sailing vessel may further include a camber control assembly to automatically set a camber angle between the fore and aft sail elements.

Abstract: Vertical point of purchase product display stands with spring-loaded platforms that display a vertically-stacked plurality of products for viewing and removal by customers and raise the plurality of products as top layers of the products are removed.

Abstract: An autonomous sailing vessel may include a hull, a mast, a sail, and a sail release device. The mast may be mechanically coupled to the hull. The sail may be mechanically coupled to the mast. The sail release device may be operably coupled to the sail and may be configured to automatically release the sail to spill excess wind. Alternatively or additionally, the sail may include a fore sail element coupled to the mast and an aft sail element rotatably coupled at a fore of the aft sail element to an aft of the fore sail element. In this and other embodiments, the autonomous sailing vessel may further include a camber control assembly to automatically set a camber angle between the fore and aft sail elements.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for surgical training with low cost, reusable materials and a highly customizable virtual environment for skill-building. According to various embodiments, a surgical training tool is usable in conjunction with a support structure configured to at least partially constrain the tool movement. Meanwhile, the tool is tracked in real-time with off-tool detectors to generate a tool path driving a virtual rendering of the surgical training tool in an operative environment. The virtual rendering may be visually observable via a display device and may include a customizable and/or selectable operative environment with one or more structures that can be operated on by the virtual surgical training tool. By tracking the virtual tool interaction with the virtual structures, a task path may be established for documenting and/or objectively assessing the performance of one or more operative tasks.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for surgical training with low cost, reusable materials and a highly customizable virtual environment for skill-building. According to various embodiments, a surgical training tool is usable in conjunction with a support structure configured to at least partially constrain the tool movement. Meanwhile, the tool is tracked in real-time with off-tool detectors to generate a tool path driving a virtual rendering of the surgical training tool in an operative environment. The virtual rendering may be visually observable via a display device and may include a customizable and/or selectable operative environment with one or more structures that can be operated on by the virtual surgical training tool. By tracking the virtual tool interaction with the virtual structures, a task path may be established for documenting and/or objectively assessing the performance of one or more operative tasks.

Abstract: A system for intermediated communication between applications running on the same computer is presented. The system routes communication between a first application and a second application through a data broker on a remote server to avoid direct communication between the applications. The first application may be a desktop application, such as a word processing application, that has an add-in installed to facilitate communication through the data broker. The second application may be a web browser that includes a web client implemented using standard functionality of the web browser, without an application-specific plug-in. The data broker operates on a remote server to receive and direct communication between the applications. By eliminating direct communication between the applications, the data broker improves system security and reliability by utilizing communication protocols and capabilities already existing within the computer.

Abstract: A computing system performs adaptive clustering of machines (e.g., computing devices) and/or machine users in an organization for attack surface reduction (ASR) responsively to event feedback including system-based exclusion events and user-based requests for exclusion. The cluster adaptation may be applied to conventional vector-quantization clustering algorithms, for example K-Means, expectation-maximization (EM) clustering, or affinity clustering, to provide adaptable clusters of machines or users. The adaptation enables aggregation or disaggregation of endpoints into clusters to minimize negative business impacts on the organization while maximizing security in view of changes in the organization that occur dynamically such as varying roles for users, new applications and updates being released, and the like.

Abstract: A pipe inspection robot includes first and second bodies connected by a connection mechanism, at least two legs connected to the first body, and at least two additional legs connected to the second body, each of the at least two legs and the at least two additional legs including a linkage connected at one end to the first or second body, and a pipe engaging member connected at another end of the linkage; wherein each linkage is configured to operate between a stowed position, in which the pipe engaging member is disposed adjacent the first or second body, and an extended position, in which the linkage is adapted to cause the pipe engaging member to slide against an inner surface of a pipe.

Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.

Abstract: A shock absorbing device having at least one nautilus spring disposed between two members is described. When the members move toward each other, the one or more nautilus coil springs are canted and compressed. The shock absorbing device takes advantage of the unique force-displacement curve of canted springs and reduces bounce back.

Abstract: Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.

Abstract: Use of an unleaded gasoline fuel composition for reducing the occurrence of Low Speed Pre-Ignition (LSPI) in a spark-ignition internal combustion engine, wherein the unleaded gasoline fuel composition comprises a gasoline base fuel and detergent additive package, wherein the detergent additive package comprises a Mannich base detergent mixture, wherein the mixture comprises a first Mannich base detergent component derived from a di- or polyamine and a second Mannich base detergent component derived from a monoamine, wherein the weight ratio of the first Mannich base detergent to the second Mannich base detergent mixture ranges from about 1:6 to about 3:1, and wherein the spark-ignition internal combustion engine is lubricated with a lubricant composition comprising from 1200 ppmw to 3000 ppmw of calcium, based on the total lubricant composition.

Abstract: A computing system performs adaptive clustering of machines (e.g., computing devices) and/or machine users in an organization for attack surface reduction (ASR) responsively to event feedback including system-based exclusion events and user-based requests for exclusion. The cluster adaptation may be applied to conventional vector-quantization clustering algorithms, for example K-Means, expectation-maximization (EM) clustering, or affinity clustering, to provide adaptable clusters of machines or users. The adaptation enables aggregation or disaggregation of endpoints into clusters to minimize negative business impacts on the organization while maximizing security in view of changes in the organization that occur dynamically such as varying roles for users, new applications and updates being released, and the like.

Abstract: A shock absorbing device having at least one nautilus spring disposed between two members is described. When the members move toward each other, the one or more nautilus coil springs are canted and compressed. The shock absorbing device takes advantage of the unique force-displacement curve of canted springs and reduces bounce back.

Abstract: An autonomous sailing vessel may include a hull, a mast, a sail, and a sail release device. The mast may be mechanically coupled to the hull. The sail may be mechanically coupled to the mast. The sail release device may be operably coupled to the sail and may be configured to automatically release the sail to spill excess wind. Alternatively or additionally, the sail may include a fore sail element coupled to the mast and an aft sail element rotatably coupled at a fore of the aft sail element to an aft of the fore sail element. In this and other embodiments, the autonomous sailing vessel may further include a camber control assembly to automatically set a camber angle between the fore and aft sail elements.