Abstract: Wind turbine ice protection systems and methods are provided. An ice protection system for heating a wind turbine blade includes: a heater disposed in an interior of the wind turbine blade, the heater for heating air; a blower disposed in the interior of the wind turbine blade and for moving the air across the heater to generate a heated airflow; a duct disposed in the interior of the wind turbine blade, the duct for receiving the heated airflow and releasing the heated airflow into the interior of the wind turbine blade; and an electrical control subsystem disposed in the wind turbine for controlling one or more components of the ice protection system.

Abstract: Wind turbine ice protection systems and methods are provided. An ice protection system for heating a wind turbine blade includes: a heater disposed in an interior of the wind turbine blade, the heater for heating air; a blower disposed in the interior of the wind turbine blade and for moving the air across the heater to generate a heated airflow; a duct disposed in the interior of the wind turbine blade, the duct for receiving the heated airflow and releasing the heated airflow into the interior of the wind turbine blade; and an electrical control subsystem disposed in the wind turbine for controlling one or more components of the ice protection system.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a three-dimensional scan of an object using a handheld scanner is disclosed. The method involves obtaining images of the object from a successive plurality of handheld scanner positions with respect to the object, and processing the images to generate a respective 3D frame for each of the plurality of handheld scanner positions. Each 3D frame includes data representing locations of a plurality of 3D points on a surface of the object. The method further involves comparing each successive 3D frame with at least one preceding 3D frame, determining whether a result of the comparison meets a correspondence criterion associated with generation of a 3D representation of the surface of the object, and initiating a recovery process when the correspondence criterion is not met.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a three-dimensional scan of an object using a handheld scanner is disclosed. The method involves obtaining images of the object from a successive plurality of handheld scanner positions with respect to the object, and processing the images to generate a respective 3D frame for each of the plurality of handheld scanner positions. Each 3D frame includes data representing locations of a plurality of 3D points on a surface of the object. The method further involves comparing each successive 3D frame with at least one preceding 3D frame, determining whether a result of the comparison meets a correspondence criterion associated with generation of a 3D representation of the surface of the object, and initiating a recovery process when the correspondence criterion is not met.

Abstract: An improved carving blank and mandrel for mounting the blank in a carving machine enables accurate carving of prosthetic and orthotic positive shapes. The blanks are simple to mount and dismount and means are provided enabling a repeatable mounting position in one angular orientation only to be achieved. The blanks are firmly fixed in place on the mandrel during the carving operation, and they are simple and inexpensive to manufacture thus reducing manufacturing costs while achieving high shape accuracy.