Abstract: A frame for a shippable container is provided, where the shippable container has a hollow body, an opening, and a collar adjacent the opening. The frame has a collar engagement portion configured to engage the collar of the shippable container and a body engagement portion configured to engage a portion of the hollow body of the shippable container. The collar engagement portion and/or the body engagement portion can be configured to engage the collar of the shippable container and prevent rotation of the shippable container about the opening relative to the frame.

Abstract: A dispenser for a shippable container is provided, where the shippable container has a hollow body, an opening, a collar adjacent the opening, and a closure sealing the opening. The dispenser has a collar engagement portion configured to engage the collar of the shippable container, a closure engagement portion configured to engage the closure of the shippable container, and a body engagement portion configured to engage a portion of the hollow body of the shippable container. An aperture in the dispenser is configured to dispense contents from the hollow body of the shippable container. The dispenser can be configured to dispense contents from the hollow body of the shippable container when the shippable container is in an inverted position.

Abstract: In one example, a vehicle includes a platform and a yaw sensor mounted on the platform. The yaw sensor provides an indication of a yaw rate of rotation of the yaw sensor. The vehicle also includes an actuator that rotates the platform. The vehicle also includes a controller coupled to the yaw sensor and the actuator. The controller receives the indication of the yaw rate from the yaw sensor. The controller also causes the actuator to rotate the platform (i) along a direction of rotation opposite to a direction of the rotation of the yaw sensor and (ii) at a rate of rotation based on the yaw rate of the yaw sensor. The controller also estimates a direction of motion of the vehicle in an environment of the vehicle based on at least the rate of rotation of the platform.

Abstract: In one example, a vehicle includes a platform and a yaw sensor mounted on the platform. The yaw sensor provides an indication of a yaw rate of rotation of the yaw sensor. The vehicle also includes an actuator that rotates the platform. The vehicle also includes a controller coupled to the yaw sensor and the actuator. The controller receives the indication of the yaw rate from the yaw sensor. The controller also causes the actuator to rotate the platform (i) along a direction of rotation opposite to a direction of the rotation of the yaw sensor and (ii) at a rate of rotation based on the yaw rate of the yaw sensor. The controller also estimates a direction of motion of the vehicle in an environment of the vehicle based on at least the rate of rotation of the platform.

Abstract: A method of preparing a solution capable of etching a platable plastic. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an electrolyte comprising a solution of manganese(II) in a solution of 9 to 15 molar sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid to an electrolytic cell; (b) applying a current to the electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell comprises an anode and a cathode; and (c) oxidizing the electrolyte to form manganese(III) ions, wherein the manganese(III) ions form a metastable sulfate complex. Thereafter, a platable plastic may be immersed in the metastable sulfate complex for a period of time to etch the platable substrate prior to subsequent plating steps.

Abstract: A method of preparing a solution capable of etching a platable plastic. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an electrolyte comprising a solution of manganese(II) in a solution of 9 to 15 molar sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid to an electrolytic cell; (b) applying a current to the electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell comprises an anode and a cathode; and (c) oxidizing the electrolyte to form manganese(III) ions, wherein the manganese(III) ions form a metastable sulfate complex. Thereafter, a platable plastic may be immersed in the metastable sulfate complex for a period of time to etch the platable substrate prior to subsequent plating steps.

Abstract: A method of preparing a solution capable of etching a platable plastic. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an electrolyte comprising a solution of manganese(II) in a solution of 9 to 15 molar sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid to an electrolytic cell; (b) applying a current to the electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell comprises an anode and a cathode; and (c) oxidizing the electrolyte to form manganese(III) ions, wherein the manganese(III) ions form a metastable sulfate complex. Thereafter, a platable plastic may be immersed in the metastable sulfate complex for a period of time to etch the platable substrate prior to subsequent plating steps.

Abstract: A method of preparing a solution capable of etching a platable plastic. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an electrolyte comprising a solution of manganese(II) in a solution of 9 to 15 molar sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid to an electrolytic cell; (b) applying a current to the electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell comprises an anode and a cathode; and (c) oxidizing the electrolyte to form manganese(III) ions, wherein the manganese(III) ions form a metastable sulfate complex. Thereafter, a platable plastic may be immersed in the metastable sulfate complex for a period of time to etch the platable substrate prior to subsequent plating steps.

Abstract: In one example, a vehicle includes a platform and a yaw sensor mounted on the platform. The yaw sensor provides an indication of a yaw rate of rotation of the yaw sensor. The vehicle also includes an actuator that rotates the platform. The vehicle also includes a controller coupled to the yaw sensor and the actuator. The controller receives the indication of the yaw rate from the yaw sensor. The controller also causes the actuator to rotate the platform (i) along a direction of rotation opposite to a direction of the rotation of the yaw sensor and (ii) at a rate of rotation based on the yaw rate of the yaw sensor. The controller also estimates a direction of motion of the vehicle in an environment of the vehicle based on at least the rate of rotation of the platform.

Abstract: Portable, real time voice translation systems, and associated methods of use, are provided. The systems include a translation system for use on a single unit, portable computing device and operable for accessing a multilanguage database, selecting a source language from a plurality of source languages and a destination language from a plurality of destination languages, inputting a source phrase, transmitting the source phrase to a speech recognition module, a translation engine, and a template look-up engine for finding the phrase template associated with the destination phrase from among the multiple languages. The spoken translation is then output in the selected destination language. The translation system has a total time between the input of the source phrase and output of the destination phrase that is no slower than 0.010 seconds, and a communications interface operable for communicating with a second computer system.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a toolset configured to fabricate a component of an aircraft, the toolset comprising: a mold base configured to seat at least one mandrel, a mold lid configured to be coupled to the mold base, and at least one driver block that is integral with the mold lid and projects from an interior surface of the mold lid.

Abstract: A biometric device, comprising a solid support suitable for receiving biological material and for dry storing that material at room temperature the device further comprising a circuit including means for two way radio frequency communication and including writable data storage. A processing method for such biometric devices, the method including the steps of: a) identifying said device by means of RF communication; b) extracting at least a portion of the biological material from the solid support of the identified device; c) analysing the extracted biological material to obtain biometric data indicative of the biological material; and d) writing said biometric data to the data storage of the biometric device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a biometric device (10), comprising a solid support (14) suitable for receiving biological material (S) and for dry storing that material at room temperature the device further comprising a circuit (16) including means for two way radio frequency communication and including writable data storage. Also disclosed is a processing method for such biometric devices, the method including the steps of: a) identifying said device by means of RF communication; b) extracting at least a portion of the biological material from the solid support of the identified device; c) analyzing the extracted biological material to obtain biometric data indicative of the biological material; and d) writing said biometric data to the data storage of the biometric device.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell and a method of electrochemical oxidation of manganese(II) ions to manganese(III) ions in the electrolytic cell are described. The electrolytic cell comprises (1) an electrolyte solution of manganese(II) ions in a solution of at least one acid; (2) a cathode immersed in the electrolyte solution; and (3) an anode immersed in the electrolyte solution and spaced apart from the cathode. Various anode materials are described including vitreous carbon, reticulated vitreous carbon, woven carbon fibers, lead and lead alloy. Once the electrolyte is oxidized to form a metastable complex of manganese(III) ions, a platable plastic may be contacted with the metastable complex to etch the platable plastic. In addition, a pretreatment step may also be performed on the platable plastic prior to contacting the platable plastic with the metastable complex to condition the plastic surface.

Abstract: A method of preparing a plastic substrate to accept metal plating thereon is described. The method includes the steps of pretreating the plastic substrate by contacting the plastic substrate with an aqueous electrolyte comprising an organic salt to raise the surface energy of the plastic substrate. Thereafter, the plastic substrate can be etched and metal plated.

Abstract: An inflatable bioreactor bag for cell cultivation, which comprising a top and a bottom sheet of flexible material, joined together to form two end edges and two side edges, wherein one baffle or a plurality of baffles extend from the bottom sheet in a region where the shortest distance to any one of the two end edges is higher than about one fourth of the shortest distance between the two end edges.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell and a method of electrochemical oxidation of manganese(II) ions to manganese(III) ions in the electrolytic cell are described. The electrolytic cell comprises (1) an electrolyte solution of manganese(II) ions in a solution of at least one acid; (2) a cathode immersed in the electrolyte solution; and (3) an anode immersed in the electrolyte solution and spaced apart from the cathode. Various anode materials are described including vitreous carbon, reticulated vitreous carbon, woven carbon fibers, lead and lead alloy. Once the electrolyte is oxidized to form a metastable complex of manganese(III) ions, a platable plastic may be contacted with the metastable complex to etch the platable plastic. In addition, a pretreatment step may also be performed on the platable plastic prior to contacting the platable plastic with the metastable complex to condition the plastic surface.

Abstract: A security server for programming configuration settings and application images into a target device is disclosed. The security server includes two secure microprocessors. In the security server a first microprocessor is configured to be coupled to a user of the security server and a comparator to validate configuration data as it progresses through the security server. The first microprocessor receives configuration data and application data for use in configuring the target microprocessor. A second secure microprocessor is coupled to the first secure microprocessor through a high-speed communications link. This second microprocessor provides a security engine for encryption of data and a verifier for verifying that the configuration settings and application images are correctly stored in the target microprocessor.

Abstract: A method of preparing a solution capable of etching a platable plastic. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an electrolyte comprising a solution of manganese(II) in a solution of 9 to 15 molar sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid to an electrolytic cell; (b) applying a current to the electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell comprises an anode and a cathode; and (c) oxidizing the electrolyte to form manganese(III) ions, wherein the manganese(III) ions form a metastable sulfate complex. Thereafter, a platable plastic may be immersed in the metastable sulfate complex for a period of time to etch the platable substrate prior to subsequent plating steps.

Abstract: Portable, real time voice translation systems, and associated methods of use, are provided. The systems include a translation system for use on a single unit, portable computing device and operable for accessing a multilanguage database, selecting a source language from a plurality of source languages and a destination language from a plurality of destination languages, inputting a source phrase, transmitting the source phrase to a speech recognition module, a translation engine, and a template look-up engine for finding the phrase template associated with the destination phrase from among the multiple languages. The spoken translation is then output in the selected destination language. The translation system has a total time between the input of the source phrase and output of the destination phrase that is no slower than 0.010 seconds, and a communications interface operable for communicating with a second computer system.