Abstract: Sound-producing acoustic receivers are disclosed. The acoustic receiver includes a receiver housing with a first internal volume and a second internal volume, a first diaphragm separating the first internal volume into a first front volume and a first back volume such that the first front volume has a first sound outlet port, a second diaphragm separating the second internal volume into a second front volume and a second back volume such that the second front volume has a second sound outlet port, a motor disposed at least partially inside the housing such that the motor including an armature mechanically coupled to both the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, an acoustic seal between the first front volume and the second back volume such that the acoustic seal accommodates the mechanical coupling of the armature to one of the first diaphragm or the second diaphragm.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a nozzle to dispense a beverage. The beverage dispenser further includes a camera to capture an image of the beverage as the beverage is dispensed from the nozzle. The camera has a field of view that includes the beverage. The beverage dispenser further includes a light source that illuminates the field of view of the camera. The beverage dispenser further includes a computer. The computer analyzes the image of the beverage and determines a characteristic of the beverage.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques that facilitate a Governance Regulatory Compliance (C-GRC) controller that is configured to dynamically monitor and collate data associated with an agricultural operation for demonstrating compliance with an agricultural compliance plan. The C-GRC controller may act as a centralized server that dynamically monitors the cycle of agricultural activities for an agricultural product and in doing so, automates the governance of an agricultural compliance plan across a plurality of entities that are each responsible for one or more agricultural activities. The C-GRC controller may detect independent interactions conducted between a complying entity and a participating entity. These interactions may be intended to gather information relating to compliance of a pending task. In doing so, the C-GRC controller may update an agricultural compliance plan accordingly.

Abstract: This disclosure sets forth systems and techniques that trace plant provenance and determine a likelihood of plant spoilage within a plant growth operation. Particularly, a plant health monitoring system may monitor and record plant growth data of one or more individual plants during a plant life cycle from germination through to harvest. The plant growth data may include data relating to environmental conditions that surround the individual plants, and plant-specific data drawn from time-lapse images captured during the plant life cycle. A plant grower may use the time-lapse image data to identify changes in plant structure that indicate the degree of health of an individual plant, or the encompassing batch of plants. Further, a plant grower may use the plant growth data to generate one or more financial instruments that may be distributed to one or more financial institutions as support for securing capital to fund the plant growth operation.

Abstract: Described herein is a fuel authorization program that vehicles enrolled in the fuel authorization program to provide fuel tank sensor data in each fuel authorization request, so that an amount of fuel authorized will be limited to the amount needed to fill the vehicle's fuel tank, reducing a likelihood that fuel will be diverted. In at least some embodiments, the fuel authorization controller at the vehicle automatically uses the fuel tank sensor data and known tank size to include in a fuel authorization request sent to a fuel vendor data defining how much fuel is required to fill the vehicle fuel tanks. In at least some embodiments, the fuel vendor consults data from a source other than the vehicle (such as records maintained by the fuel authorization program) to determine how large the vehicles fuel tanks are, and to calculate how much fuel is required.

Abstract: Sound-producing acoustic receivers are disclosed. The acoustic receiver includes a receiver housing with a first internal volume and a second internal volume, a first diaphragm separating the first internal volume into a first front volume and a first back volume such that the first front volume has a first sound outlet port, a second diaphragm separating the second internal volume into a second front volume and a second back volume such that the second front volume has a second sound outlet port, a motor disposed at least partially inside the housing such that the motor including an armature mechanically coupled to both the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, an acoustic seal between the first front volume and the second back volume such that the acoustic seal accommodates the mechanical coupling of the armature to one of the first diaphragm or the second diaphragm.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a nozzle to dispense a beverage. The beverage dispenser further includes a camera to capture an image of the beverage as the beverage is dispensed from the nozzle. The camera has a field of view that includes the beverage. The beverage dispenser further includes a light source that illuminates the field of view of the camera. The beverage dispenser further includes a computer. The computer analyzes the image of the beverage and determines a characteristic of the beverage.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a nozzle to dispense a beverage. The beverage dispenser further includes a camera to capture an image of the beverage as the beverage is dispensed from the nozzle. The camera has a field of view that includes the beverage. The beverage dispenser further includes a light source that illuminates the field of view of the camera. The beverage dispenser further includes a computer. The computer analyzes the image of the beverage and determines a characteristic of the beverage.

Abstract: This disclosure sets forth systems and techniques that trace plant provenance and determine a likelihood of plant spoilage within a plant growth operation. Particularly, a plant health monitoring system may monitor and record plant growth data of one or more individual plants during a plant life cycle from germination through to harvest. The plant growth data may include data relating to environmental conditions that surround the individual plants, and plant-specific data drawn from time-lapse images captured during the plant life cycle. A plant grower may use the time-lapse image data to identify changes in plant structure that indicate the degree of health of an individual plant, or the encompassing batch of plants. Further, a plant grower may use the plant growth data to generate one or more financial instruments that may be distributed to one or more financial institutions as support for securing capital to fund the plant growth operation.

Abstract: A microphone assembly includes a housing having a host device interface, a MEMS transducer disposed in the housing and configured to generate electrical signals in response to acoustic activity, an integrated circuit disposed in the housing and configured to process the electrical signals from the MEMS transducer and generate an output representative of the acoustic activity, a host communication path between the integrated circuit and contacts of the host device interface, and a secure communication path between the integrated circuit and an output interface. The secure communication path is isolated from the host communication path. The integrated circuit is configured to indicate a state of the microphone assembly at the output interface via the secure communication path in response to a command received at the microphone assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques that facilitate a Governance Regulatory Compliance (C-GRC) controller that is configured to dynamically monitor and collate data associated with an agricultural operation for demonstrating compliance with an agricultural compliance plan. The C-GRC controller may act as a centralized server that dynamically monitors the cycle of agricultural activities for an agricultural product and in doing so, automates the governance of an agricultural compliance plan across a plurality of entities that are each responsible for one or more agricultural activities. The C-GRC controller may detect independent interactions conducted between a complying entity and a participating entity. These interactions may be intended to gather information relating to compliance of a pending task. In doing so, the C-GRC controller may update an agricultural compliance plan accordingly.

Abstract: This disclosure sets forth systems and techniques that trace plant provenance and determine a likelihood of plant spoilage within a plant growth operation. Particularly, a plant health monitoring system may monitor and record plant growth data of one or more individual plants during a plant life cycle from germination through to harvest. The plant growth data may include data relating to environmental conditions that surround the individual plants, and plant-specific data drawn from time-lapse images captured during the plant life cycle. A plant grower may use the time-lapse image data to identify changes in plant structure that indicate the degree of health of an individual plant, or the encompassing batch of plants. Further, a plant grower may use the plant growth data to generate one or more financial instruments that may be distributed to one or more financial institutions as support for securing capital to fund the plant growth operation.

Abstract: An acoustic device and method generates an acoustic signal by applying an excitation signal to a first coil disposed about an armature of an acoustic receiver. A second coil magnetically coupled to the first coil generates an electrical output signal in response to the excitation signal applied to the first coil, wherein the output signal of the second coil is indicative of a change in a state or operation of the receiver or acoustic device. In some embodiments, the first and second coils are wired independently of each other, and the acoustic device further includes an electrical circuit which determines the change in the acoustic performance based on a change in the electrical output signal of the second coil.

Abstract: A system and method that forwards information concerning the condition of the particulate filter (14) in each fleet vehicle to a remote station (56). This information is sorted (114) and displayed (62) to a human operator, who then makes a decision regarding particulate filter maintenance, on a fleet wide basis (116). The human operator may select a set of vehicles to undergo filter regeneration during a particular time slot, at a facility with a limited capacity to perform filter regeneration during any particular time slot. Typically, this will be overnight, for example for a metropolitan bus service that is busy during the day but has greatly reduced or nonexistent service at nighttime.

Abstract: Infrastructure and methods to implement a platform for a horticultural operation are disclosed. Sensor data is received from one or more sensors configured to capture data for plants within a plant growth operation. Accumulated data associated with other plants in other plant growth operations is access. The data is analyzed to determine conditions of the plants within the plant growth operation. Plant grower actions to improve plant growth are determined. Instructions are transmitted to a controller device associated with the plant growth operation. Agricultural products or services associated with the plant grower actions are determined. An agricultural exchange service processes electronic commerce information from servicers of the products or services. Bids from the servicers are received, and selection and fulfillment of the bids are facilitated.

Abstract: Techniques and examples for servicing a horticultural operation are described. A method may involve receiving data from one or more autonomous vehicles. The data pertains to the horticultural operation or one or more targets located within the horticultural operation. The received data is analyzed to determine one or more conditions of the horticultural operation or one or more targets. Based on the analyzing, one or more recommendations for addressing the one or more conditions are determined. The determined conditions and recommendations are sent to a user interface. When authorized via the user interface, data is transmitted to the one or more autonomous vehicles that are indicative of follow-on actions for the horticultural operation or target. Additional data is received, when available, based on the follow-on actions for further analysis.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques for dynamically monitoring and collating data associated with an agricultural operation for the purpose of demonstrating compliance with an agricultural compliance plan (ACP). More specifically, a decentralized governance compliance (D-GRC) controller is described that is configured to generate a distributed ledger that dynamically processes compliance of individual actions associated with an ACP. The distributed ledger may be configured to track regulatory compliance associated with a cycle of agricultural activities associated with an agricultural product. Agricultural activities may include an inventory inspection of agricultural products, a facility inspection of a facility used for an agricultural operation, or vehicle inspection of vehicles used to transport agricultural products.

Abstract: An augmented reality-based horticultural care tracking system to collect information about plants on a per plant or near per plant basis in order to identify issues and generate itineraries that include task lists for remedial courses of actions is disclosed. A network-enabled augmented reality device can be employed by operators of various growing operations in order to overlay digital information such as tasks, images, and related information in a real-time environment. The augmented reality device can communicate with administrative personnel at an operating station and/or intermediate servers in the network in order to send and receive status updates and notifications to properly execute the tasks in the itinerary and evaluate the courses of actions' efficacy.

Abstract: Techniques and examples for servicing a horticultural operation are described. A method may involve autonomously identifying the horticultural operation or a target located within the horticultural operation and an action to be performed with respect to the horticultural operation or target. The operation or target comprises at least one plant or a group of plants. Based on the identifying, a local area of the horticultural field is determined. The target is located within the local area. The target is associated to at least one autonomous vehicle. The target is located within the local area by the at least one autonomous vehicle. The action with respect to the target is performed by the at least one autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: An augmented reality-based horticultural care tracking system to collect information about plants on a per plant or near per plant basis in order to identify issues and generate itineraries that include task lists for remedial courses of actions is disclosed. A network-enabled augmented reality device can be employed by operators of various growing operations in order to overlay digital information such as tasks, images, and related information in a real-time environment. The augmented reality device can communicate with administrative personnel at an operating station and/or intermediate servers in the network in order to send and receive status updates and notifications to properly execute the tasks in the itinerary and evaluate the courses of actions' efficacy.