Abstract: A paint can pouring assembly for reducing spillage from a paint can includes a paint can that contains a fluid paint. The paint can has an opening therein and a disk is removably coupled to the paint can for closing the opening. The disk has a vent aperture extending therethrough to ventilate air from the paint can when the disk is positioned on the paint can. A spout is removably coupled to the disk for dispensing a selected amount of the fluid paint from the paint can when the disk is positioned on the paint can. Moreover, the spout inhibits the fluid paint from spilling out of the paint can to protect the environment from spilled fluid paint.

Abstract: A method of controlling the setting time of a geopolymer by coating aluminosilicate particles with nanoparticles to slow the geopolymerization reaction. The coating effectiveness of the nanoparticles may be enhanced by pretreating the aluminosilicate particles with a layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolytes. A geopolymer is formed by mixing about 39% to about 66% by weight aluminosilicate source, about 0% to about 40% by weight sand, about 19% to about 33% by weight of alkali activator solution, and about 1% to about 4% nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method of controlling the setting time of a geopolymer by coating aluminosilicate particles with nanoparticles to slow the geopolymerization reaction. The coating effectiveness of the nanoparticles may be enhanced by pretreating the aluminosilicate particles with a layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolytes. A geopolymer is formed by mixing about 39% to about 66% by weight aluminosilicate source, about 0% to about 40% by weight sand, about 19% to about 33% by weight of alkali activator solution, and about 1% to about 4% nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method of controlling the setting time of a geopolymer by coating aluminosilicate particles with nanoparticles to slow the geopolymerization reaction. The coating effectiveness of the nanoparticles may be enhanced by pretreating the aluminosilicate particles with a layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolytes. A geopolymer is formed by mixing about 39% to about 66% by weight aluminosilicate source, about 0% to about 40% by weight sand, about 19% to about 33% by weight of alkali activator solution, and about 1% to about 4% nanoparticles.

Abstract: An on-screen gear selector for an automatic transmission, which provides an interface between the driver and the automatic transmission. The gear selector provides the current selection by the driver to the transmission control unit. The virtual on-screen gear selector provides safety and security features, and is incorporated into the software of the gear selector, such as not allowing the transmission to change from park until the brake pedal is depressed, or not allowing the transmission to change from drive to a lower gear or reverse if the speed of the vehicle is above a predetermined value, thereby avoiding damage to the transmission. The use of the on-screen gear selector also provides the benefit of reducing space and weight of the vehicle, by having less mechanical parts.

Abstract: A method of controlling the setting time of a geopolymer by coating aluminosilicate particles with nanoparticles to slow the geopolymerization reaction. The coating effectiveness of the nanoparticles may be enhanced by pretreating the aluminosilicate particles with a layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolytes. A geopolymer is formed by mixing about 39% to about 66% by weight aluminosilicate source, about 0% to about 40% by weight sand, about 19% to about 33% by weight of alkali activator solution, and about 1% to about 4% nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to mobile ad hoc networks, and to ad hoc networks using aircraft in particular. A method of maintaining data links to and from a source node in an ad hoc mobile network is provided. The network comprises nodes including neighbor nodes corresponding to nodes within range for direct communication with the source node. The neighbor nodes comprise active neighbor nodes and inactive neighbor nodes, the active neighbor nodes being connected to the source node via respective active data links and the inactive neighbor nodes having respective inactive data links to the source node. One or more lost neighbor nodes are identified and revised configurations of data links are considered that account for the change in neighbor nodes. A new configuration is selected based at least partly on the cost of sending messages from the source node using the revised configurations.

Abstract: An on-screen gear selector for an automatic transmission, which provides an interface between the driver and the automatic transmission. The gear selector provides the current selection by the driver to the transmission control unit. The virtual on-screen gear selector provides safety and security features, and is incorporated into the software of the gear selector, such as not allowing the transmission to change from park until the brake pedal is depressed, or not allowing the transmission to change from drive to a lower gear or reverse if the speed of the vehicle is above a predetermined value, thereby avoiding damage to the transmission. The use of the on-screen gear selector also provides the benefit of reducing space and weight of the vehicle, by having less mechanical parts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a distributed agent-based computer infrastructure configured to manage a mission of an unmanned vehicle that includes generating a mission plan and executing the mission plan. The computer infrastructure comprises an operator interface component, an autonomous mission management component and a vehicle systems interface component. The autonomous mission management component comprises agents configured for receiving information from an operator, for generating a mission plan from the received information including a path to be traveled, and for monitoring execution of the mission plan.

Abstract: A geopolymer mortar formed by mixing about 35% to about 45% by weight pozzolanic material, about 35% to about 45% by weight silicon oxide source, about 15% to about 20% by weight alkaline activator solution, and about 0.3% to about 2.5% by weight copper ion source. The pozzolanic material may be fly ash and the silicon oxide source may be sand. The alkaline activator solution may be a sodium hydroxide solution containing sodium silicate. The geopolymer mortar may have a viscosity in the range of about 25,000 to about 50,000 centipoise. The geopolymer mortar may be formed by further mixing one or more additives, such as surfactants, thermal spheres, anti-sagging agents, adhesion primers, or fibers. The geopolymer mortar may be applied as a protective coating on a surface of a structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to mobile ad hoc networks that may include aircraft. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of providing routing data for use in routing a message from a source node to available destination nodes through a mobile ad hoc network. A list of neighbor nodes corresponding to nodes within range for direct communication is obtained. For each neighbor node, a cost function is used to calculate the lowest costs of sending messages to respective available destination nodes; and routing data is generated based on these lowest costs. A message may be routed to the most suitable neighbor node by reference to the routing data.

Abstract: A geopolymer mortar formed by mixing about 35% to about 45% by weight pozzolanic material, about 35% to about 45% by weight silicon oxide source, about 15% to about 20% by weight alkaline activator solution, and about 0.3% to about 2.5% by weight copper ion source. The pozzolanic material may be fly ash and the silicon oxide source may be sand. The alkaline activator solution may be a sodium hydroxide solution containing sodium silicate. The geopolymer mortar may have a viscosity in the range of about 25,000 to about 50,000 centipoise. The geopolymer mortar may be formed by further mixing one or more additives, such as surfactants, thermal spheres, anti-sagging agents, adhesion primers, or fibers. The geopolymer mortar may be applied as a protective coating on a surface of a structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to mobile ad hoc networks that may include aircraft. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of providing routing data for use in routing a message from a source node to available destination nodes through a mobile ad hoc network. A list of neighbour nodes corresponding to nodes within range for direct communication is obtained. For each neighbour node, a cost function is used to calculate the lowest costs of sending messages to respective available destination nodes; and routing data is generated based on these lowest costs. A message may be routed to the most suitable neighbour node by reference to the routing data.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to mobile ad hoc networks, and to ad hoc networks using aircraft in particular. A method of maintaining data links to and from a source node in an ad hoc mobile network is provided. The network comprises nodes including neighbour nodes corresponding to nodes within range for direct communication with the source node. The neighbour nodes comprise active neighbour nodes and inactive neighbour nodes, the active neighbour nodes being connected to the source node via respective active data links and the inactive neighbour nodes having respective inactive data links to the source node. One or more lost neighbour nodes are identified and revised configurations of data links are considered that account for the change in neighbour nodes. A new configuration is selected based at least partly on the cost of sending messages from the source node using the revised configurations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel technique for transferring power and signals between two electrical devices over a single wire pair. In particular, a remote sensor is connected to a host device. Power to the remote sensor is supplied through a voltage reference and control loop circuit that holds the voltage component of the power signal present on the wire pair constant during remote current sensing. The remote sensor itself can transmit measurements or information by driving a load on the sensor and thereby modulating the loop current. The current signal in the sensor-to-host loop can be a precision AC analog signal or a serial digital bit stream. Both types of signals can coexist using a multiplexing scheme.

Abstract: A routing system operably links a mobile platform to the Internet. The system includes a ground based communications link manager linkable to the mobile platform. At least one ground based prefix server can communicate with the communications link manager. An initial Internet address is assigned to the mobile platform. A prefix server program communicates the initial destination address of the mobile platform to the communications link manager and to the Internet. During a travel segment of the mobile platform a new destination address can be communicated to the Internet using the prefix server to maintain communication between the mobile platform and the Internet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel technique for transferring power and signals between two electrical devices over a single wire pair. In particular, a remote sensor is connected to a host device. Power to the remote sensor is supplied through a voltage reference and control loop circuit that holds the voltage component of the power signal present on the wire pair constant during remote current sensing. The remote sensor itself can transmit measurements or information by driving a load on the sensor and thereby modulating the loop current. The current signal in the sensor-to-host loop can be a precision AC analog signal or a serial digital bit stream. Both types of signals can coexist using a multiplexing scheme.

Abstract: A method for automatically detecting and adjusting the position of a plurality of burners with respect to the edge of a continuous glass sheet is provided. The glass sheet is transported by rolls along the length of a thermal treatment lehr. Detecting and adjusting sensors for sensing the edge of the glass sheet are attached conjointly with the burners in order to automatically adjust the position of the burners with regards to the edge of the glass sheet, so, for each variation in the width of the glass sheet, the detecting and adjusting sensors are advanced or retracted over the edge of the glass sheet, in order to adjust the burners in accordance with a new position of the edge of said glass sheet.

Abstract: A system for detecting and automatically adjusting the position of a plurality of burners with respect to the edges of a continuous glass sheet is provided. The glass sheet is transported by rolls along the length of a thermal treatment lehr. Sensor elements for sensing the edge of the glass sheet are attached conjointly with the burners in order to adjust the position of the burners. A programmable controller is coupled to the sensor elements in order to adjust the position of the burners in accordance with the position of the sensor elements at the edge of the glass sheet.