Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a fluid ejection controller is described. The fluid ejection controller includes a firing board to pass control signals to a fluid ejection device to eject fluid from the fluid ejection device. A mount pivotally holds the firing board between a disengaged position where electrical pins of the firing board are not in contact with electrical pads of the fluid ejection device and an engaged position where the electrical pins are in contact with the electrical pads. The mount includes a slot to receive the fluid ejection device and at least one biasing spring to bias the firing board away from the fluid ejection device during insertion of the fluid ejection device. The fluid ejection controller also includes a handle coupled to a cam shaft to move the firing board between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

Abstract: A system for automatically increasing a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world may include a processor and a module operating on the processor for detecting an attempt by an avatar to enter a virtual space in a virtual world. The system may also include another module for determining if an allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. The allowable number of avatars may be determined by at least a capacity of a server that is hosting the virtual space. Another module may be provided for increasing a capacity of the virtual space when the allowable number of avatars is currently in the virtual space. Increasing the capacity of the virtual space may include spawning a replicate new virtual space on a different server in response to the capacity of the server that is hosting the virtual space reaching the allowable number of avatars.

Abstract: A brushless direct-current motor is provided includes an inner stator and an outer rotor. The rotor includes a rotor core disposed around the stator, an inner annular member mounted on a rotor shaft, and a plurality of radial blades extending angularly from the rotor core to the inner annular member forming a fan. A first end cap is provided including a radial back plate proximate the fan and a center opening in the radial back plate through which the rotor shaft extends. A second end cap is provided including a main body disposed adjacent the stator opposite the fan. The radial back plate of the first end cap includes at least one sloped surface forming at least one air gap such that the airflow generated by the fan is centrifugally guided within the first end cap by the sloped surface and caused to exit through the air gap.

Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing a composite member. The system and methods are configured to move different types of composite plies from different supply stations. The composite plies are moved along a conveyance member and then with a transfer station to a forming tool. One or more forming members form the composite plies onto the forming tool.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a system and method for dispensing a floor coating in a specified ratio of multiple components is disclosed. The system and method may set and maintain a desired ratio of the multiple components by controlling, with a controller, a drive rate of respective pumps configured for propelling the components from a reservoir to a mixer or a dispenser. The controller may be responsive to at least one of a measured actual drive rate, an environmental condition, an actual usage of each component, and an operational parameter of the system, for adjusting a drive rate of the respective pumps to compensate for discrepancies that may affect the ratio of the multiple components.

Abstract: New and/or improved coatings, layers or treatments for porous substrates, including battery separators or separator membranes, and/or coated or treated porous substrates, including coated battery separators, and/or batteries or cells including such coatings or coated separators, and/or related methods including methods of manufacture and/or of use thereof are disclosed. Also, new or improved coatings for porous substrates, including battery separators, which comprise at least a matrix material or a polymeric binder, and heat-resistant particles with additional additives, materials or components, and/or to new or improved coated or treated porous substrates, including battery separators, where the coating comprises at least a matrix material or a polymeric binder, and heat-resistant particles with additional additives, materials or components are disclosed.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, an array of elements forms an artificially-structured material. The artificially-structured material can also include an array of tuning mechanisms included as part of the array of elements that are configured to change material properties of the artificially-structured material on a per-element basis. The tuning mechanisms can change the material properties of the artificially-structured material by changing operational properties of the elements in the array of elements on a per-element basis based on one or a combination of stimuli detected by sensors included in the array of tuning mechanisms, programmable circuit modules included as part of the array of tuning mechanisms, data stored at individual data stores included as part of the array of tuning mechanisms, and communications transmitted through interconnects included as part of the array of elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assembling a structure. The systems and method including micro pulsing a structure along a track in a process direction by less than a length of the structure. The structure is indexed to one or more work stations by mating indexing features in a manufacturing excess of the structure to complementary features at the work stations. The work stations would the perform work on the structure at the work stations while the structure is indexed to the work stations. Iteratively repeating the micro pulsing and indexing and working upon the structure until it is ready to advance to the next assembly process.

Abstract: A shingle coating asphalt composition is provided that is produced from a paving grade asphalt. The asphalt composition comprises a paving-grade asphalt that has been modified with one or more polymer additives; and a secondary additive comprising one or more of a viscosity reducing agent, a wax, a salt of a fatty acid ester, and an amide of a fatty acid. The shingle coating asphalt coating composition is used to make a shingle. The shingle includes a substrate, the asphalt, and roofing granules.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for installing ribs and/or spars to a wing panel while a contour is enforced. Methods include suspending a wing panel beneath a shuttle that enforces the contour, advancing the wing panel through work stations via the shuttle, and installing a rib or a spar (or another wing panel) at a work station, while the contour is enforced. Other methods include locating a wing panel beneath a shuttle, coupling adjustable-length pogos to the wing panel at locations distinct from those corresponding with an installation location, e.g. for a rib or a spar, and controlling the length of the pogos to enforce a contour to the wing panel. Some systems include a track, work stations disposed along the track, and a shuttle to advance along the track and convey a wing panel to each of the work stations while enforcing a contour onto the wing panel.

Abstract: An example method for simultaneously manufacturing a plurality of objects is described. The method includes simultaneously cycling a plurality of pallets through a conveyor system. The conveyor system is cyclical, and the conveyor system includes an entrance point for each pallet, an exit point, and a plurality of manufacturing points corresponding to a plurality of manufacturing devices. Simultaneously cycling the plurality of pallets includes simultaneously cycling the plurality of pallets past the plurality of manufacturing points for two or more cycles, wherein each pallet is associated with a set of manufacturing instructions for a corresponding object. The method further includes, while simultaneously cycling the plurality of pallets through the conveyor system, using a different combination of the plurality of manufacturing devices to manufacture each object in accordance with the set of manufacturing instructions associated with each pallet, thereby manufacturing different objects for each pallet.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assembling a section of a fuselage of an aircraft. The method includes pulsing a half barrel section of the fuselage along a track in a process direction, utilizing an indexing feature associated with the half barrel section to determine a desired contour for a portion of the half barrel section, and enforcing the desired contour onto the half barrel section using components that enforce an inner mold line and components that enforce an outer mold line when the half barrel section is out of tolerance from the desired contour.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus involved in the process of hardening a composite part are disclosed herein. The methods include applying a preform to a mandrel, covering the preform with a caul plate, sealing the caul plate to the mandrel, pushing the caul plate toward the preform and the mandrel and hardening the preform into a composite part while the caul plate is held against the preform. The apparatus include a mandrel, a caul plate which defines a surface of a preform and where the caul plate may include a rigid material and seals disposed between the mandrel and the caul plate. In an additional aspect, the apparatus may include a sealed chamber with a mandrel and a caul plate and a circumferential seal between the mandrel and the caul plate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assembling a wing. Methods include suspending an upper wing panel of an aircraft beneath a shuttle, translating a rib to a position it, and placing the rib into contact with, then affixing the rib to, the upper wing panel, while suspended. Some methods include installing ribs and spars to the upper wing panel, and joining a lower wing panel to the ribs and spars, while the upper wing panel is suspended. Some methods involve joining ribs to spars (e.g., all, or some) to produce a support structure that is then affixed to the upper wing panel. Systems include a shuttle that suspends an upper wing panel, and a cart that includes supports to hold a rib, a chassis to translate the rib to a position beneath the upper wing panel, and a lifting apparatus to lift the rib into contact with the upper wing panel.

Abstract: A method for employing a plurality of automated machines to deposit composite material includes a first tool located in a first station and a second tool located in a second station. The first station and the second station are located on a production line. The first station includes at least one automated machine of the plurality of automated machines and the second station includes at least two automated machines of the plurality of automated machines. At least one of the automated machines is movable from the second station to the first station. The method includes monitoring machine capacity and workload requirements of the plurality of automated machines. The method further includes determining an efficiency threshold based upon the machine capacity and workload requirements. The method further includes reallocating at least one of the automated machines from the second station to the first station once the efficiency threshold is met.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabricating a fuselage of an aircraft. The method includes: disposing arcuate sections of fuselage at a track of a factory such that concavities of the arcuate sections of the fuselage face a floor of the factory, and bearing edges of the arcuate sections of fuselage directly contact the track; advancing the arcuate sections of fuselage synchronously along the track in a process direction; and performing work within concavities of the arcuate sections of fuselage during pauses between pulses of the arcuate section of fuselage via stations that are disposed beneath the concavities and that are directly mounted to the floor of the factory.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabrication of frames for aircraft.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabricating a wing panel. Methods include aligning a strongback over a wing panel, vacuum attaching a wing panel surface and pogos extending beneath the strongback, and adjusting the length of pogos to enforce a contour to the wing panel. Systems include a strongback to extend over a wing panel, adjustable-length pogos extending beneath the strongback, and vacuum couplers to attach to a wing panel surface. Other systems include a track, work stations along the track, a strongback to extend over the wing panel and move along the track, adjustable-length pogos extending beneath the strongback, and vacuum couplers to attach to a wing panel surface. Apparatus includes a shuttle having adapters that mate the shuttle with a track, adjustable-length carriers with vacuum couplers to couple with a wing panel surface, and indexing units that interact with indexing features in a manufacturing excess of the wing panel.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assembly line processing of aircraft wing panels. The method includes inputting wing panels into an assembly line, the assembly line having a number of work stations, the wing panels oriented such that leading edges are all on a first side of the work stations, and trailing edges are all on a second side of the work stations, and advancing the wing panels in a process direction through the number of work stations, at least a first portion of the work stations dedicated to wing panel leading edge processing, and a second portion of the work stations dedicated to wing panel trailing edge processing.

Abstract: System and methods for generating a work plan for a headland of an agricultural field (e.g., the portion of the agricultural field that is used by an agricultural machine to perform edge turns while working a main work partition of the field). A field boundary polygon indicative of a workable area of the agricultural field is segmented into multiple segments including a headland polygon and a work partition polygon. A seed track is generated based on a shape of a portion of the boundary of the headland polygon that is shared in common with the boundary of the field boundary polygon. The work plan is generated by replicating the seed track at a defined spacing throughout the headland polygon. In some implementations, the agricultural machine is operated autonomously or semi-autonomously to work the headland area based on the defined work plan.