Abstract: An autonomous vehicle having sensors advantageously varied in capabilities, advantageously positioned, and advantageously impervious to environmental conditions. A system executing on the autonomous vehicle that can receive a map including, for example, substantially discontinuous surface features along with data from the sensors, create an occupancy grid based upon the map and the data, and change the configuration of the autonomous vehicle based upon the type of surface on which the autonomous vehicle navigates. The device can safely navigate surfaces and surface features, including traversing discontinuous surfaces and other obstacles.

Abstract: A computer-based system for monetizing social media profiles on social media platforms including providing a link or URL for a user publish to a social media profile on a social media platform, where the link or URL is controlled by the system, providing at least one article for the user to publish to the social media platform instructing viewers to select or follow the link or URL, and directing or redirecting a viewer who selects or follows the link or URL to a webpage containing advertising.

Abstract: A computer-based system for monetizing social media profiles on social media platforms including providing a link or URL for a user publish to a social media profile on a social media platform, where the link or URL is controlled by the system, providing at least one article for the user to publish to the social media platform instructing viewers to select or follow the link or URL, and directing or redirecting a viewer who selects or follows the link or URL to a webpage containing advertising.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus ultimately for converting a carbonaceous material to liquid hydrocarbons suitable for use, for example, as transportation fuels. In a first step the carbonaceous material is converted to a syngas product, and in subsequent steps the syngas product is converted to the desired liquid hydrocarbons. In one embodiment, coal and methane are converted to syngas, and the syngas product is converted to hydrocarbons through a methanol intermediate. An example use for the methods and apparatus of the invention is in the preparation of aviation fuels.

Abstract: A computer-based system for monetizing social media profiles on social media platforms including providing a link or URL for a user publish to a social media profile on a social media platform, where the link or URL is controlled by the system, providing at least one article for the user to publish to the social media platform instructing viewers to select or follow the link or URL, and directing or redirecting a viewer who selects or follows the link or URL to a webpage containing advertising.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus ultimately for converting a carbonaceous material to liquid hydrocarbons suitable for use, for example, as transportation fuels. In a first step the carbonaceous material is converted to a syngas product, and in subsequent steps the syngas product is converted to the desired liquid hydrocarbons. In one embodiment, coal and methane are converted to syngas, and the syngas product is converted to hydrocarbons through a methanol intermediate. An example use for the methods and apparatus of the invention is in the preparation of aviation fuels.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning apparatus includes a vacuum cleaner base and a handle configured to be attached to the base. A nozzle is configured for the base to draw air through the nozzle to clean the floor as the nozzle is moved along the floor by a user pushing the base by the handle. A power head assembly includes a power head having a brushroll and an electric motor that drives the brushroll. The assembly further includes a tube structure configured to connect the power head to the base for the base to draw air through the power head and the tube structure to clean the floor as the power head is moved along the floor by a user pushing the tube structure.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning attachment. A base has an outlet port configured to be attached to the cleaning attachment and draw air from a household surface through the attachment and exhaust the air through the outlet port. A handle is configured to have an installed position removably attached to the base for manually moving the base by the handle. The handle has an inlet port configured to be connected to a dirt receptacle and to move toward and into connection with the outlet port by movement of the handle toward and into the installed position, for the air exhausted through the outlet port to flow through the inlet port into the receptacle.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a base, a cleaning head and a handle. The cleaning head is configured to be attached to the base and moved against a household surface to clean the surface. The handle is configured to be removably attached to the base for manually moving the base by the handle. The handle has an electronic user interface with which a user can control or monitor operation of the base.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a base having first and second inlet ports and a fan configured to draw air through the inlet ports into the base. A vacuuming head is removably attachable to the base to channel air from a surface into the first inlet port to clean the surface while covering and blocking the second inlet port. An attachment, different than the head, is removably attachable to the base to channel air into the second inlet port.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus includes a base having an electric motor. A cleaning head is configured to be removably attached to and fully supported by the base and moved with the head along a surface to clean the surface. The cleaning head has a headlamp for illuminating the surface.

Abstract: A small, reusable interceptor unmanned air vehicle (UAV), an avionics control system for the UAV, a design method for the UAV and a method for controlling the UAV, for interdiction of small scale air, water and ground threats. The UAV includes a high performance airframe with integrated weapon and avionics platforms. Design of the UAV first involves the selection of a suitable weapon, then the design of the interceptor airframe to achieve weapon aiming via airframe maneuvering. The UAV utilizes an avionics control system that is vehicle-centric and, as such, provides for a high degree of autonomous control of the UAV. A situational awareness processor has access to a suite of disparate sensors that provide data for intelligently (autonomously) carrying out various mission scenarios. A flight control processor operationally integrated with the situational awareness processor includes a pilot controller and an autopilot controller for flying and maneuvering the UAV.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is directed to a system for controlling and managing a small unmanned air vehicle (UAV) between capture and launch of the UAV. The system includes an enclosure that provides environmental protection and isolation for multiple small UAVs in assembled and/or partially disassembled states. Control and management of the UAVs includes reorientation of a captured UAV from a landing platform and secure hand-off to the enclosure, decontamination, de-fueling, ingress to the enclosure, downloading of mission payload, UAV disassembly, stowage, retrieval and reassembly of the UAV, mission uploading, egress of the UAV from the enclosure, fueling, engine testing and launch readiness. An exemplary system includes two or more robots controlled by a multiple robot controller for autonomously carrying out the functions described above. A modular, compact, portable and autonomous system of UAV control and management is described.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is directed to a platform for launching and/or capturing an unmanned air vehicle (UAV), particularly a small UAV. The launch/capture platform includes a frame, a floor attached to the frame that is capable of supporting the UAV, means for acquiring and tracking the UAV in flight, a connector and a connector controller, connecting the platform to an external support structure, providing a controllable, adaptive motion of the platform in response to approaching UAV position and attitude, means for launching the UAV from the platform and for capturing an in-flight UAV to the platform, and means for locking down the UAV between the capture and launch of the UAV.

Abstract: A carpet cleaning apparatus comprises a housing and wheels rotatably connected to the housing for moving the housing over a carpet. A brushroll, supported by the housing, is rotatable about a first axis. A pulley, supported by the housing, is rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis. A drive wheel, supported by the housing, is rotatable about a third axis parallel to the first axis. A belt has inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface extends about and engages the brushroll and the pulley. The outer surface engages the drive wheel. The belt is pulled by the pulley downward against the drive wheel for the drive wheel to drive the brushroll through the belt.

Abstract: A method of joining detonating cord lengths by encapsulation of the cord lengths in heat-shrunk synthetic plastics film. The method is useful in splicing detonating cord ends and assembling multi-strand charges.

Abstract: An explosive fusecord comprising a core of explosive material surrounded by at least two layers of wrapping material, two adjacent layers being bonded together by an intermediate layer of waterproof hot-melt adhesive material which is preferably a blend of polymeric film former and a tackifying resin. The fusecord is especially useful as an energy source for seismic prospecting .

Abstract: A fuse-cord comprising an explosive core and outer layer of elastomeric material formed with external ribs. The invention also includes a method of seismic prospecting using a detonating cord of this construction.