Abstract: An ignition and combustion assist system and method comprising a plasma igniter and electronic driver unit for use with gas turbine engines operating under low air densities, reduced voltage conditions and overall pressure ratios of 3:1 to 7:1. The plasma igniter has an inner chamber housing a centrally positioned and electrically isolated electrode attached to an electrical lead, driver unit, and AC or DC power supply. The electrode features a corner positioned near an outlet end of the igniter, where a plasma arc ignites a fuel-air mixture creating a flame extending into a primary burn region of a combustor of the gas turbine. The driver unit is in two embodiments and configured with low-cost microsecond voltage wave time periods or energy-efficient nano-second pulses. The method uses the plasma igniter and the electronic driver units described herein separately with other components or together.

Abstract: An ignition and combustion assist system and method comprising a plasma igniter and electronic driver unit for use with gas turbine engines operating under low air densities, reduced voltage conditions and overall pressure ratios of 3:1 to 7:1. The plasma igniter has an inner chamber housing a centrally positioned and electrically isolated electrode attached to an electrical lead, driver unit, and AC or DC power supply. The electrode features a corner positioned near an outlet end of the igniter, where a plasma arc ignites a fuel-air mixture creating a flame extending into a primary burn region of a combustor of the gas turbine. The driver unit is in two embodiments and configured with low-cost microsecond voltage wave time periods or energy-efficient nano-second pulses. The method uses the plasma igniter and the electronic driver units described herein separately with other components or together.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an autonomous cart is provided. The method includes determining a mission type for the autonomous cart and determining a power system for powering the autonomous cart based on the mission type. The method further includes determining a drive system suitable for converting a power delivered by the power system into motive power suitable for moving the autonomous cart based on the power system and the mission type. The method further includes installing the power system onto a chassis of the autonomous cart and installing the drive system onto the chassis of the autonomous cart, wherein the autonomous cart comprises a control system configured to drive the autonomous cart autonomously via the power system and the drive system.

Abstract: A method for seismic surveying includes deploying a first seismic energy source at a plurality of locations along a source line. Locations are determined by, (i) setting a shot point at one end of the line, setting a minimum distance between shot points and setting a nominal shot point interval being greater than a Nyquist maximum spacing at a maximum spatial frequency to be evaluated in the subsurface area, (ii) calculating a maximum distance between shot points as a difference between twice the nominal shot point interval and the minimum distance, (iii) dividing a span between the maximum distance and the minimum distance into equally spaced samples, and choosing at random one of the equally spaced samples to calculate a shot point subsequent to the initial shot point; and (iv) setting the calculated shot point as the initial shot point and repeating (ii) and (iii) until the subsequent calculated shot point is within a predetermined distance of an opposed end of the first source line.

Abstract: An ignition and combustion assist system and method comprising a plasma igniter and electronic driver unit for use with gas turbine engines operating under low air densities, reduced voltage conditions and overall pressure ratios of 3:1 to 7:1. The plasma igniter has an inner chamber housing a centrally positioned and electrically isolated electrode attached to an electrical lead, driver unit, and AC or DC power supply. The electrode features a corner positioned near an outlet end of the igniter, where a plasma arc ignites a fuel-air mixture creating a flame extending into a primary burn region of a combustor of the gas turbine. The driver unit is in two embodiments and configured with low-cost microsecond voltage wave time periods or energy-efficient nano-second pulses. The method uses the plasma igniter and the electronic driver units described herein separately with other components or together.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for automatic creation of a catalog map for reconciliation of a merchant catalog, as used in a merchant point-of-sale system and a third-party reseller catalog configured to receive an order from a consumer for one or more items from the merchant. The disclosed invention provides for extraction of a merchant catalog and at least one reseller catalog for the merchant from a third-party reseller service. Subsequently, terms are compared between the extracted catalog using an automatic three-tiered approach consisting of pattern (or string) based mapping, structure based mapping into a hierarchical model, and semantic based matching. From this, a hierarchical catalog map is generated for equivalent terms between the two extracted catalog. The catalog map can then be used to create a new Master Catalog.

Abstract: A turbine blade tip includes a tip cap disposed over a blade airfoil and having a pressure side edge and a suction side edge. A notch is formed by a radially inward step adjacent to the suction side edge of the tip cap. The notch is defined by a radially extending step wall and a radially outward facing land. The step wall extends radially inward from the suction side edge of the tip cap to the land, whereby the land is positioned radially inward in relation to a radially outer surface of the tip cap. The notch extends along at least a portion of the suction sidewall in a direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge. In a further aspect, a method is provided for servicing a blade that includes machining a suction side notch as described above.

Abstract: An autonomous grain cart includes a width less than or equal to a distance from an end of the header of an agricultural vehicle to a lateral side of the agricultural vehicle, wherein the end and the lateral side are on a same longitudinal side of a lateral centerline of the agricultural vehicle, wherein the autonomous grain cart is configured to receive grain from the agricultural vehicle. The autonomous grain cart also includes a controller, comprising a processor and a memory. The autonomous grain cart further includes a drive system communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the drive system to propel the autonomous grain cart. The autonomous grain cart also includes a steering system communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the steering system to steer the autonomous grain cart.

Abstract: A turbine blade includes a tip cap disposed over an outer wall of a blade airfoil. A trench is defined on a radially outer side of the tip cap facing a hot gas path fluid. The trench is formed by a trench floor flanked on laterally opposite sides by first and second trench side faces such that the trench floor is located radially inwardly in relation to a radially outer surface of the tip cap. The trench extends from a trench inlet located at or proximal to an airfoil leading edge to a trench outlet located at or proximal to an airfoil trailing edge. The trench is configured to entrain a tip leakage flow from the trench inlet to the trench outlet.

Abstract: An agricultural system includes a carrier configured to transport an agricultural cart to a position proximate to or within an agricultural field. The carrier includes a rotatable base and is configured to receive the agricultural cart on the rotatable base in a docking position. The carrier is configured to move the agricultural cart from the docking position to an unloading position to unload agricultural product from within the agricultural cart to a storage bin via rotation of the rotatable base.

Abstract: A method for continuously conveying agricultural product from an agricultural vehicle to an agricultural product storage tank includes receiving a signal at an autonomous grain cart indicating that another autonomous grain cart is moving to the agricultural product storage tank from the agricultural vehicle. The method also includes determining an expected location of the agricultural vehicle based on a harvesting map for the agricultural vehicle. The method further includes determining a route to the expected location of the agricultural vehicle based on the expected location of the agricultural vehicle and the location of the autonomous grain cart. The method also includes controlling the autonomous grain cart based on the route to the expected location of the agricultural vehicle after the signal indicating that the other autonomous grain cart is moving to the agricultural product storage tank from the agricultural vehicle is received.

Abstract: A turbine blade includes a tip cap disposed over an outer wall of a blade airfoil. A trench is defined on a radially outer side of the tip cap facing a hot gas path fluid. The trench is formed by a trench floor flanked on laterally opposite sides by first and second trench side faces such that the trench floor is located radially inwardly in relation to a radially outer surface of the tip cap. The trench extends from a trench inlet located at or proximal to an airfoil leading edge to a trench outlet located at or proximal to an airfoil trailing edge. The trench is configured to entrain a tip leakage flow from the trench inlet to the trench outlet.

Abstract: A method for continuously conveying agricultural product from an agricultural vehicle to an agricultural product storage tank includes receiving a signal at an autonomous grain cart indicating that another autonomous grain cart is moving to the agricultural product storage tank from the agricultural vehicle. The method also includes determining an expected location of the agricultural vehicle based on a harvesting map for the agricultural vehicle. The method further includes determining a route to the expected location of the agricultural vehicle based on the expected location of the agricultural vehicle and the location of the autonomous grain cart. The method also includes controlling the autonomous grain cart based on the route to the expected location of the agricultural vehicle after the signal indicating that the other autonomous grain cart is moving to the agricultural product storage tank from the agricultural vehicle is received.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an autonomous cart is provided. The method includes determining a mission type for the autonomous cart and determining a power system for powering the autonomous cart based on the mission type. The method further includes determining a drive system suitable for converting a power delivered by the power system into motive power suitable for moving the autonomous cart based on the power system and the mission type. The method further includes installing the power system onto a chassis of the autonomous cart and installing the drive system onto the chassis of the autonomous cart, wherein the autonomous cart comprises a control system configured to drive the autonomous cart autonomously via the power system and the drive system.

Abstract: An autonomous grain cart includes a width less than or equal to a distance from an end of the header of an agricultural vehicle to a lateral side of the agricultural vehicle, wherein the end and the lateral side are on a same longitudinal side of a lateral centerline of the agricultural vehicle, wherein the autonomous grain cart is configured to receive grain from the agricultural vehicle. The autonomous grain cart also includes a controller, comprising a processor and a memory. The autonomous grain cart further includes a drive system communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the drive system to propel the autonomous grain cart. The autonomous grain cart also includes a steering system communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the steering system to steer the autonomous grain cart.

Abstract: A turbine blade tip includes a tip cap disposed over a blade airfoil and having a pressure side edge and a suction side edge. A notch is formed by a radially inward step adjacent to the suction side edge of the tip cap. The notch is defined by a radially extending step wall and a radially outward facing land. The step wall extends radially inward from the suction side edge of the tip cap to the land, whereby the land is positioned radially inward in relation to a radially outer surface of the tip cap. The notch extends along at least a portion of the suction sidewall in a direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge. In a further aspect, a method is provided for servicing a blade that includes machining a suction side notch as described above.

Abstract: A method for seismic surveying includes deploying a group of vertically sensitive seismic particle motion responsive sensors at each of a plurality of geodetic survey positions. The groups each include at least two sensors spaced apart by a first selected horizontal distance. The groups are separated from each other by a second selected distance larger than the first distance. Signals detected by each of the sensors resulting from actuation of a seismic energy source are recorded. At least one of an in-line and a cross-line component of a gradient of the vertical component of the seismic wavefield is determined at each group location by determining a difference between the signals detected by each sensor in a respective group.

Abstract: Specific binding members, in particular human anti-IL-13 antibody molecules and especially those which neutralize IL-13 activity. Methods for using anti-IL-13 antibody molecules in diagnosis or treatment of IL-13 related disorders, including asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Abstract: Specific binding members, in particular human anti-IL-13 antibody molecules and especially those which neutralize IL-13 activity. Methods for using anti-IL-13 antibody molecules in diagnosis or treatment of IL-13 related disorders, including asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Abstract: Secure transfer of electronic files containing confidential information is achieved by selecting and copying files to be transferred to an intended recipient and, prior to transfer, subjecting the copies to consolidation, compression, chunking and encryption. Decryption, unchunking and decompression of the transferred files can only be performed by a recipient who has also received a verification code, an encrypted and password protected sector file, and an encrypted password file. Decryption of the password file requires a private certificate available only to the intended recipient. Decryption of the other files requires a one-time random transaction password contained in the password file.