Abstract: A hands-free intercom may include a user-tracking sensor, a directional microphone, a directional sound emitter, a display device, and/or a communication interface. The user-tracking sensor may determine a location of a user so the directional microphone can measure vocal emissions by the user and the directional sound emitter can deliver audio to the user. The hands-free intercom may provide privacy to the user. The hands-free intercom may prevent an eavesdropper from hearing the user's vocal emissions, for example, by canceling the vocal emissions at the eavesdropper's ear. The directional sound emitter may deliver out-of-phase sound to cancel the vocal emissions. The hands-free intercom may also, or instead, cancel ambient noise at the user's ear. The hands-free intercom may measure or predict a filtration of the sound to be canceled and compensate for the filtration when canceling the sound.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring, treating, and preventing a repetitive stress injury, arthritis or other medical condition. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate configured to interface with a skin surface; a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly including a motion sensor and a physiological sensor, the sensor assembly configured to generate one or more sense signals based on detection of a movement of a body portion by the motion sensor and a physiological parameter of the body portion by the physiological sensor; a processor operably coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to receive the one or more sense signals; and an effector operably coupled to the processor and configured to affect the body portion responsive to control by the processor.

Abstract: A penalty allocation system includes a processing circuit configured to receive first data from a first player-worn sensor regarding a first player involved in an impact, receive second data from a second player-worn sensor regarding a second player involved in the impact, identify one of the first player and the second player as an at-fault player in connection with the impact based on the first data and the second data, and determine a penalty for the at-fault player based on the first data and the second data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a physiological parameter of a subject through interrogation of an eye of the subject with an optical signal are described. Interrogation is performed unobtrusively. The physiological parameter is determined from a signal sensed from the eye of a subject when the eye of the subject is properly aligned with regard to an interrogation signal source and/or response signal sensor.

Abstract: Techniques for ability enhancement are described. Some embodiments provide an ability enhancement facilitator system (“AEFS”) configured to enhance a user's ability to operate or function in a transportation-related context as a pedestrian or a vehicle operator. In one embodiment, the AEFS is configured perform vehicular threat detection based on information received at a road-based device, such as a sensor or processor that is deployed at the side of a road. An example AEFS receives, at a road-based device, information about a first vehicle that is proximate to the road-based device. The AEFS analyzes the received information to determine threat information, such as that the vehicle may collide with the user. The AEFS then informs the user of the determined threat information, such as by transmitting a warning to a wearable device configured to present the warning to the user.

Abstract: An electrochemical device (such as a battery) includes at least one electrode having a fluid surface and one or more sensors configured to detect an operating condition of the device. Fluid-directing structures may modulate flow or retain fluid in response to the sensors. An electrolyte within the device may also include an ion-transport fluid, for example infiltrated into a porous solid support.

Abstract: A three-dimensional map of an environment with buildings is used to computationally predict locations and times of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) transmission quality. A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver can reconcile received satellite transmissions with these predicted satellite transmissions. By comparing actual transmission quality with predicted transmission quality, a system can determine unmodeled obstructions, temporary obstructions, jamming, spoofing or other origins of interference with predicted transmission quality of a satellite in a GNSS.

Abstract: A turbine blade includes a core element having a base portion, a tip portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the base portion and the tip portion. The intermediate portion includes a non-uniform cross-section and is a high-strength fiber material. The turbine blade further includes a shell disposed around the core element, and the volume between the core element and the shell forms a void.

Abstract: A system is provided that determines optimal movements of fuel assemblies in a nuclear reactor, such as a traveling wave reactor (TWR). Such a system may be capable of modeling core operations and fuel moves in parallel to determine optimal fuel cycle moves responsive to one or more constraints, including, but not limited to core criticality and location of a deflagration wave within an operating reactor core. According to one embodiment, the optimal solution may be determined using a branch search to simulate possible fuel moves.

Abstract: A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a first device configured to interface with a first body portion, the first device including a sensor assembly configured to generate sense signals associated with an impact or an impending impact between the environmental object and the first body portion; and a reporting device configured to generate communication signals responsive to generation of the sense signals for remote transmission. The system also includes, but is not limited to, a processor to process at least one of the sense signals or the communication signals, and a second device configured to interface with a second body portion remote from the first body portion, the second device including a communications interface configured to receive the communication signals from the first device; and a stimulator configured to generate stimulation of a tissue remote the first body portion responsive to instruction by the processor.

Abstract: Various sensors and arrays of sensors that utilize nanostructures or carbon structures, such as nanotubes, nanotube meshes, or graphene sheets, are disclosed. In some arrangements, at least a pair of contacts are electrically coupled with a given nanostructure or carbon structure to sense a change.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a satellite configured to provide machine vision for disaster-relief support includes, but is not limited to, at least one imager; one or more computer readable media bearing one or more program instructions; and at least one computer processor configured by the one or more program instructions to perform operations including at least: obtaining imagery using the at least one imager of the satellite; detecting at least one event by analyzing at least one aspect of the imagery; and executing at least one operation based on the at least one event.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a satellite configured for machine vision includes, but is not limited to, at least one imager; one or more computer readable media bearing one or more program instructions; and at least one computer processor configured by the one or more program instructions to perform operations including at least: obtaining imagery using the at least one imager of the satellite; determining at least one interpretation of the imagery by analyzing at least one aspect of the imagery; and executing at least one operation based on the at least one interpretation of the imagery.

Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user information associated with one or more users for preparing one or more customized food items for the one or more users, the user information including one or more user preferences related to integrity of one or more food ingredients to be included in the one or more customized food items; and directing generation of one or more customized packagings for holding the one or more customized food items of the one or more users, the one or more customized packagings having one or more features that are customized based, at least in part, on the acquired user information. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for delivering a stimulus to a pinna of a subject with a stimulator worn on the pinna are described. A wearable stimulation device includes a mechanical, electrical, or other type of stimulator secured to a pinna of a subject. The stimulation device may be used to deliver a stimulus that modulates activity of sensory nerve fiber innervating the pinna. Stimulation may be delivered in response to a sensed neural signal indicative of a physiological status of the subject, and/or in response to sensed environmental parameters. Stimulation may be delivered in combination with other stimuli or experiences. In an aspect, a stimulator communicates with and/or is controlled by a personal computing device.

Abstract: Breast monitoring systems are described including a breast sensor device having a substrate fabricated to substantially conform to one or more breasts of a subject, dynamically bendable optical fibers, and a connector; a light source configured to operably couple with the optical fibers through the connector; a photodetector configured to operably couple with the optical fibers through the connector and positioned to detect light transmission through the optical fibers; a reporting device; and a microcontroller including a microprocessor and circuitry, the circuitry including input circuitry configured to receive a first set of signals and at least one second set of signals from the photodetector; calculation circuitry configured to calculate a curvature delta value based on a comparison of the first and at least one second set of signals, and calculate a breast volume delta value from the calculated curvature delta value; and reporting circuitry.

Abstract: Breast monitoring systems and methods are described including a flexible substrate fabricated to substantially conform to one or more breasts of a subject; dynamically bendable optical fibers associated with the flexible substrate; a light source operably coupled to the optical fibers; a photodetector positioned to detect light reception from the optical fibers; a reporting device; and a microcontroller including a microprocessor and circuitry, wherein the circuitry includes input circuitry configured to receive a first set of signals and at least one second set of signals from the photodetector; calculation circuitry configured to calculate a curvature delta value based on a comparison of the received first and at least one second set of signals, and calculate a breast volume delta value from the calculated curvature delta value; and reporting circuitry configured to transmit a signal to the reporting device based on the calculated breast volume delta value.

Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user information associated with one or more users for preparing one or more customized food items for the one or more users, the user information including one or more user preferences related to integrity of one or more food ingredients to be included in the one or more customized food items; and directing generation of one or more customized packagings for holding the one or more customized food items of the one or more users, the one or more customized packagings having one or more features that are customized based, at least in part, on the acquired user information. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Abstract: Systems and methods for vending devices having ad-watching as consideration are described. In some implementations, a vending apparatus includes a dispensing portion operable to dispense a product (e.g. electricity) to a user; a communication portion operable to provide a communicable content (e.g. an advertisement) to the user; and a control system operatively coupled to the dispensing portion and the communication portion. The control system receives a signal indicative of a consent by the user to receive or review the communicable content at least partially in exchange for the product, and after receipt of the signal, causes the communication portion to provide the communicable content to the user and causes the dispensing portion to dispense the product to the user. In further implementations, the apparatus may include a monitoring system operable to determine whether the user is receiving or reviewing the communicable content.

Abstract: A method of displaying visual information to different viewer-eyes includes receiving eye strength data indicative of a deficiency of a weak viewer-eye with respect to a dominant viewer-eye. The method further includes causing a 3D-display system to display a first perspective of an image to the weak viewer-eye and causing the 3D-display system to display a second perspective of the image to the dominant viewer-eye. A difference between the first perspective and the second perspective is a variation of a display characteristic of one of the first and second perspectives where the variation is made in accordance with the indicated deficiency of the weak viewer-eye.