Abstract: Roller packages (IO) for grinding devices (70), comprising a first roller (II), which is maintained by at least one first bearing body (13), and a second roller (12), which is maintained by at least one second bearing body (14). The first bearing body (13) and the second bearing body (14) are prestressed against each other and comprise stop elements (17, 19) with stop surfaces (18, 20), the contact of which counteracts a contact of the rollers (II, 12). The rotational position of the first stop element (17) determines the minimum width of the grinding gap. Also disclosed are grinding devices (70), methods for operating a roller group (IO) and methods for determining the radial force acting between the rollers (II, 12) of a roller group (IO).

Abstract: Systems and techniques for providing multilevel autonomous tournaments for wagering game are provided. In some implementations, players may earn entry into such a tournament by meeting one or more criteria and then be associated with a tournament entry for that tournament. Each tournament entry may be associated with a set of tournament entries and, after a requisite number of tournament entries for a given tournament entry set has been associated with players, a selection of a tournament entry, and thus at least implicitly a player, may be made. The players selected in such a selection event may then be associated with a tournament entry in a next-highest tournament tier. Such selections may occur until a single player is selected from the highest-ranked tournament tier of the tournament.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine is provided. The electronic gaming machine includes a carousel display screen, at least one memory device, and at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory device. The at least one processor is programmed to control the carousel display screen to display a plurality of play areas.

Abstract: An electronic gaming system is described including a display device, a random number generator (RNG), a player input interface, a game controller, and a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium, storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the game controller, cause the game controller to receive a wager amount of a first currency, cause a first electronic game to be displayed, and determine, based on an RNG call, an outcome of the first electronic game. The instructions also cause the game controller to determine, based at least on the outcome of the first electronic game, the wager amount, and a first pay table, whether to display a primary award. The instructions further cause the game controller to determine, based on a second RNG call and a second pay table, that a secondary award is to be displayed on the display device, the secondary award including a secondary currency.

Abstract: Opto-electronic devices can evaluate convolutional neural networks with reduced power consumption and higher speeds using optical metamaterial structures. Methods and systems for convolution of an input vector f with a kernel k can include a first optical element that is adjustable according to the input vector f and a second optical element that is adjustable according to the kernel k, where either or both elements can include adjustable optical metasurfaces. In some approaches, the second optical element is adjustable according to a Fourier transform of the kernel k and is interposed between first and second lenses or volumetric metamaterials implementing Fourier and inverse Fourier transforms, respectively.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to charge electric vehicles are disclosed. An example method includes determining, via a processor, a remaining trip distance for an electric vehicle. The example method further includes determining, via the processor, a remaining expected range of the electric vehicle. The example method also includes transmitting a request for a mobile charging unit to meet the electric vehicle at a location when a ratio of the remaining trip distance to a remaining expected range exceeds a first threshold.

Abstract: A monolayer multi-axial integral geogrid suitable for stabilizing aggregate includes a plurality of interconnected oriented strands and partially oriented junctions forming a repeating pattern of outer hexagons having an array of openings therein. Oriented ribs extending inwardly from each of said outer hexagons support and surround a smaller inner hexagon having oriented strands thus forming a plurality of trapezoidal openings and a single hexagonal opening. The oriented strands and partially oriented junctions of the outer hexagons form a plurality of linear strong axis strands that extend continuously throughout the entirety of the geogrid and form additional triangular openings. The geogrid thus includes three different repeating geometric shapes. The inner hexagons preferably also can move up and down, out of the plane of the geogrid. The multi-axial integral geogrid thus provides a geometry that can better engage with, confine and stabilize a greater variety and quality of aggregates.

Abstract: A robot that includes an RL agent that is configured to learn a policy to maximize the cumulative reward of a task, to determine one or more features that are minimally correlated with each other. The features are then used as pseudo-rewards, called feature rewards, where each feature reward corresponds to an option policy, or skill, the RL agent learns to maximize. In an example, the RL agent is configured to select the most relevant features to learn respective option policies from. The RL agent is configured to, for each of the selected features, learn the respective option policy that maximizes the respective feature reward. Using the learned option policies, the RL agent is configured to learn a new (second) policy for a new (second) task that can choose from any of the learned option policies or actions available to the RL agent.

Abstract: A distribution metering device (I) for a roller mill which includes a housing (2) with at least one grinding stock inlet (3), at least one grinding stock outlet (4), and a feed roll (5) which is arranged in the housing (2) for metering grinding stock into a grinding gap of the roller mill through the grinding stock outlet (4). The feed roll is rotatable about a feed roll axis (SA). A conveyor shaft (6) is arranged in the housing (2) for distributing grinding stock along the feed roll (5). The conveyor shaft is rotatable about a conveyor shaft axis (FA). The conveyor shaft axis (FA) is substantially parallel to the feed roll axis (SA), and a first fill state sensor (7) is arranged in the housing (2) for ascertaining a first grinding stock fill state of the housing (2).

Abstract: A gaming machine provides a base game, from which a hold and spin feature game is triggered when a determined number of configurable symbols are displayed in a base game outcome. When the feature game is triggered, the configurable symbols are held in place on the display one or more spins are provided during the feature game in which to collect additional configurable symbols. Any additional configurable symbols are retained on the display during subsequent spins until the feature game is completed. The player is awarded a prize based on the values carried by the configurable symbols. The gaming machine includes one or more progressive play meters that are incremented when spin award symbols are displayed in base game outcomes. When the feature game is triggered, the number of spins provided in the feature game is determined based on the value carried by one of the progressive play meters.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a display device, a memory device, and a processor. The processor displays a matrix of symbol positions formed by a plurality of reels. The processor also displays a bingo card. The processor determines an outcome that includes a first plurality of symbols to display in the matrix of symbol positions and evaluates the outcome to determine a win amount. The processor populates the matrix of bingo positions with the first prize symbol to a bingo position of the matrix of bingo positions corresponding to a position of the prize symbol in the matrix of symbol positions. The processor evaluates the matrix of bingo positions to determine whether a predefined winning pattern is formed and, in response, determines an award value based at least in part on numerical values of prize symbols forming the predefined winning pattern in the matrix of bingo positions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for support policy learning in an agent of a robot. A general value function (GVF) is learned for a main policy, where the GVF represents future performance of the agent executing the main policy for a given state of the environment. A master policy selects an action based on the predicted accumulated success value received from the general value function. When the predicted accumulated success value is an acceptable value, the action selected by the master policy is execution of the main policy. When the predicted accumulated success value is not an acceptable value, the master action causes a support policy to be learned. The support policy generates a support action to be performed which causes the robot to transition from to a new state where the predicted accumulated success value has an acceptable value.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for providing multilevel autonomous tournaments for wagering game are provided. In some implementations, players may earn entry into such a tournament by meeting one or more criteria and then be associated with a tournament entry for that tournament. Each tournament entry may be associated with a set of tournament entries and, after a requisite number of tournament entries for a given tournament entry set has been associated with players, a selection of a tournament entry, and thus at least implicitly a player, may be made. The players selected in such a selection event may then be associated with a tournament entry in a next-highest tournament tier. Such selections may occur until a single player is selected from the highest-ranked tournament tier of the tournament.

Abstract: An interactive electronic gaming machine that includes a spinnable feature wheel is disclosed. The interactive electronic gaming machine is a video slot machine game that includes a base game and one or more bonus features. The bonus features may include a spinnable feature wheel displayed on a plurality of display screens, each located above one of a plurality of electronic gaming machines. The spinnable feature wheel can spin horizontally across the display screens in a sequence coordinated by a central game controller via respective electronic gaming machines.

Abstract: A method of making a composite pipe has the steps of (a) providing one or more sources of composite tape, the composite tape being formed of reinforcing fibres embedded in a thermoplastic matrix; (b) helically winding the composite tape(s) around a cylinder under the application of heat to form a pipe comprising fused, concentric layers of adjacently positioned, helically-wound composite tape; (c) scanning a region where edges of wound composite tape are expected to be, to generate scanning information; (d) controlling the gap between further adjacent windings by (1) using the scanning information to determine wound composite tape edge position(s), and (2) using the determined wound composite tape edge position(s) to adjust the winding process during winding; (e) repeating steps (c) and (d). The invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus for making a composite pipe.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a game controller configured to (i) display, (a) an initial game play area including a plurality of reels and (b) a bonus region, the initial game play area including a plurality of active symbol display positions, and the bonus region including a plurality of inactive symbol display positions, (ii) generate a first game outcome for a first base round based on a first output, (iii) in response to determining that at least one of the displayed symbols for the first game outcome is a trigger symbol, unlock at least one of the plurality of inactive symbol display positions in the bonus region, and (iv) after a plurality of base rounds of the base game, initiate a bonus game including activating all inactive symbol display positions that have been unlocked, the activating including expanding the initial game play area to include the activated symbol display positions.

Abstract: A communal gaming system provides a communal game to players of electronic gaming devices. The system includes a plurality of EGMs, each EGM includes a trigger condition identifying when the player is awarded participation in the communal game. The system also includes a communal game display configured to display a communal game play area. The system (a) begins a game cycle for a game instance of the communal game; (b) receives, from a first device and in response to detecting the trigger condition, a communal participation trigger message; (c) awards a participation entry in the game cycle to the player; (d) transmits, to the first device, a participation award message indicating successfully entry of the player in the game cycle; (e) conducts the communal game, thereby generating an award outcome of the communal game for the player; and (f) awards the player based on the generated award outcome.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to charge electric vehicles are disclosed. An example method includes monitoring, via a processor, a battery charge level of an electric vehicle receiving a battery charge from a mobile charging unit. The example method includes determining, via the processor, a remaining trip distance of the electric vehicle from a location of the battery charge to a trip destination. The example method further includes determining, via the processor, a target charge level for the battery charge. The target charge level corresponds to when the battery charge level provides a first probability that the electric vehicle will reach the trip destination without an additional battery charge. The example method also includes generating, via the processor, a signal to stop the battery charge when the battery charge level reaches the target charge level.