Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printer includes a nozzle and a camera configured to capture a real image or a real video of a liquid metal while the liquid metal is positioned at least partially within the nozzle. The 3D printer also includes a computing system configured to perform operations. The operations include generating a model of the liquid metal positioned at least partially within the nozzle. The operations also include generating a simulated image or a simulated video of the liquid metal positioned at least partially within the nozzle based at least partially upon the model. The operations also include generating a labeled dataset that comprises the simulated image or the simulated video and a first set of parameters. The operations also include reconstructing the liquid metal in the real image or the real video based at least partially upon the labeled dataset.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a supervisor for fault management at a production system. During operation, the supervisor can obtain a set of sensor readings and a state of the production system. A respective sensor reading is an output of a sensor in the production system. The supervisor can then determine, using an artificial intelligence (AI) model, whether the set of sensor readings accommodates a fault associated with a corresponding sensor. Subsequently, the supervisor can determine an action that mitigates an effect of the fault and modify the set of sensor readings based on the action. Here, the modified set of sensor readings is used by a controller that controls the production system.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a design architecture for co-designing a controller and a watermarking signal for a cyber-physical system. During operation, the architecture can determine, in conjunction with each other, respective values of a first set of parameters indicating operations of the controller and a second set of parameters representing the watermarking signal. Here, the watermarking signal is combinable with a control signal from the controller for monitoring an output signal of the cyber-physical system for detecting malicious data at different time instances. Subsequently, the architecture can determine a state manager for determining the states of the cyber-physical system from the monitored output signal based on the first and second sets of parameters. The architecture can also determine a detector capable of identifying presence of an attack from the states of the cyber-physical system at a plurality of time instances using the watermarking signal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for designing a nozzle for jetting printing material in a printing system including selecting a surface tension and viscosity of a printing material at a jetting temperature, selecting a drop volume of the printing material, and constructing a constricted axisymmetric dissipative section of the nozzle, which may include defining a length of the constricted axisymmetric dissipative section and defining a cross-sectional area of the constricted axisymmetric dissipative section.

Abstract: System and method that to shape micro-object density distribution (how densely the micro-objects are assembled in particular spatial regions) are provided. A high speed camera tracks existing object density distribution. An array of photo-transistor-controlled electrodes is used to generate a dynamic potential energy landscape for manipulating objects with both DEP and EP forces, and a video projector is used actuate the array. One or more computing devices are used to: process images captured by the camera to estimate existing density distribution of objects; receive a desired density distribution of micro-objects; define a model describing a variation of micro-object density over time due to capacitance-based interactions; generate a sequence of electrode potential that when generated would minimize error between the existing density distribution and a desired density distribution; and use the sequences of electrode potentials to actuate the electrodes.

Abstract: Techniques for determining print quality for a 3D printer are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining an image of a stream of material jetted from a nozzle of the 3D printer, and binarizing the image to distinguish background features from foreground features contained in the image. The method also includes identifying elements of jetted material in the foreground features, and computing statistical data characterizing the identified elements. The method also includes generating a quality score of jetting quality based on the statistical data and controlling the 3D printer based on the quality score. The quality score indicates a degree to which the elements of jetted material form droplets of a same size, shape, alignment, and jetting frequency.

Abstract: Image processing techniques for determining print quality for a 3D printer are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining an image of material jetted from a nozzle of the 3D printer. The method also includes binarizing the image to distinguish background features from foreground features contained in the image. The method also includes determining, by a processing device, a jetting quality based on the binarized image.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a supervisor for fault management at a production system. During operation, the supervisor can obtain a set of sensor readings and a state of the production system. A respective sensor reading is an output of a sensor in the production system. The supervisor can then determine, using an artificial intelligence (AI) model, whether the set of sensor readings accommodates a fault associated with a corresponding sensor. Subsequently, the supervisor can determine an action that mitigates an effect of the fault and modify the set of sensor readings based on the action. Here, the modified set of sensor readings is used by a controller that controls the production system.

Abstract: A method includes defining a model for a liquid while the liquid is positioned at least partially within a nozzle of a printer. The method also includes synthesizing video frames of the liquid using the model to produce synthetic video frames. The method also includes generating a labeled dataset that includes the synthetic video frames and corresponding model values. The method also includes receiving real video frames of the liquid while the liquid is positioned at least partially within the nozzle of the printer. The method also includes generating an inverse mapping from the real video frames to predicted model values using the labeled dataset. The method also includes reconstructing the liquid in the real video frames based at least partially upon the predicted model values.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) printer includes a nozzle and a camera configured to capture a real image or a real video of a liquid metal while the liquid metal is positioned at least partially within the nozzle. The 3D printer also includes a computing system configured to perform operations. The operations include generating a model of the liquid metal positioned at least partially within the nozzle. The operations also include generating a simulated image or a simulated video of the liquid metal positioned at least partially within the nozzle based at least partially upon the model. The operations also include generating a labeled dataset that comprises the simulated image or the simulated video and a first set of parameters. The operations also include reconstructing the liquid metal in the real image or the real video based at least partially upon the labeled dataset.

Abstract: A drop-on-demand (DOD) printer is disclosed having an ejector which may include a nozzle, the nozzle including a tank in communication with a source of printing material, a constricted dissipative section in communication with the tank, which may include an elongated internal channel, and a shaping tip in communication with the constricted dissipative section which can include an exit orifice. The (DOD) printer also includes a power source configured to supply one or more pulses of power to the ejector, which causes one or more drops of the printing material to be jetted out of the nozzle. The DOD printer may include a constricted dissipative section configured to obstruct fluid flow that is cylindrical or axisymmetric and having a diameter less than a diameter of the tank and less than a diameter of the shaping tip. The DOD printer may include a nozzle or an array of nozzles.

Abstract: A nozzle for a printing system is disclosed. The nozzle includes a tank in communication with a source of printing material. The nozzle also includes a constricted dissipative section in communication with the tank, which may include an elongated internal channel. The nozzle may also include a shaping tip in communication with the constricted dissipative section may include an exit orifice. The constricted dissipative section may be axisymmetric and may include at least three internal channels not in communication with one another. Also disclosed is an array of nozzles for a printing system including a plurality of nozzles, with each nozzle including a tank in communication with a source of printing material, a constricted dissipative section in communication with the tank and configured to obstruct fluid flow and having an elongated internal channel, and a shaping tip in communication with the constricted dissipative section may include an exit orifice.

Abstract: System and method that to shape micro-object density distribution (how densely the micro-objects are assembled in particular spatial regions) are provided. A high speed camera tracks existing object density distribution. An array of photo-transistor-controlled electrodes is used to generate a dynamic potential energy landscape for manipulating objects with both DEP and EP forces, and a video projector is used actuate the array. One or more computing devices are used to: process images captured by the camera to estimate existing density distribution of objects; receive a desired density distribution of micro-objects; define a model describing a variation of micro-object density over time due to capacitance-based interactions; generate a sequence of electrode potential that when generated would minimize error between the existing density distribution and a desired density distribution; and use the sequences of electrode potentials to actuate the electrodes.