Abstract: An excimer laser system includes first and second gas cylinders connected to a laser chamber for selectively supplying the laser chamber with gases that are needed to generate and emit laser pulsations having a certain energy level from the laser chamber. At least one of the first and second gas cylinders includes a halogen gas. The halogen gas is consumed during the operation of the excimer laser system. A computer system, included within the excimer laser system, is used to determine whether to resupply the laser chamber with halogen gas from the first and/or second cylinders, or to entirely flush out the gas contents of the laser chamber, and to resupply the flushed gas chamber with gas sourced from the first and/or second cylinders.

Abstract: A robotic singulation system is disclosed. In various embodiments, sensor data image data associated with a plurality of items present in a workspace is received. The sensor data is used to determine and implement a plan to autonomously operate a robotic structure to pick one or more items from the workspace and place each item singly in a corresponding location in a singulation conveyance structure. The plan includes performing an active measure to change or adapt to a detected state or condition associated with one or more items in the workspace.

Abstract: Disclosed are moisture resistant engineered hardwood veneer flooring panels. Also disclosed are methods for making same.

Abstract: A method for acquiring an X-ray image of anatomical features and surgical effectors in a surgical space of a patient includes detecting a particular pose of a particular C-arm used to acquire the X-ray of the surgical space. Characterization parameters of the particular C-arm in the particular pose are determined and incorporated into equations implemented in imaging software that is operable to generate an image of the anatomical features and surgical effectors in the surgical space. When the live X-ray of the surgical space is acquired, the imaging software generates a live image of the anatomical features and surgical effectors as a function of the characterization parameters to account for potential deviations due to the pose of the C-arm. In another feature, a potential error in the imaging process can be visually or automatically detected.

Abstract: A robotic system to control multiple robots to perform a task cooperatively is disclosed. A first robot determines to perform a task cooperatively with a second robot, moves independently to a first grasp position to grasp an object associated with the task, receives an indication that the second robot is prepared to perform the task cooperatively, and moves the object independently of the second robot in a leader mode along a trajectory determined by the first robot. The second robot assists the first robot in performing the task cooperatively, at least in part by moving independently to a second grasp position, grasping the object, and cooperating with the first robot to move the object, at least in part by operating in a follower mode of operation to maintain engagement with the object as the first robot moves the object along the trajectory.

Abstract: Distance-sensing techniques (between probes and a sample) utilize at least one of squeeze-film damping and temperature sensing for scanning probe microscopy. Squeeze-film damping may be used for “approach;” that is, z-position detection. It may also be used for “imaging;” that is, to obtain a topographic map of the surface of a sample.

Abstract: A robotic singulation system is disclosed. In various embodiments, sensor data image data associated with a plurality of items present in a workspace is received. The sensor data is used to determine and implement a plan to autonomously operate a robotic structure to pick one or more items from the workspace and place each item singly in a corresponding location in a singulation conveyance structure. The plan includes performing an active measure to change or adapt to a detected state or condition associated with one or more items in the workspace.

Abstract: An electric pushback vehicle includes a frame having a forward portion and a rear portion. The vehicle further includes front drive axle and a rear drive axle configured to communicate power to ground engaging members. A traction battery is housed within the electric pushback vehicle and provides electric power to an electric motor to drive an output shaft. A transmission is connected to receive mechanical power from the electric motor through a torque converter.

Abstract: An augmented reality (AR) platform for the Internet of Things (IoT) is disclosed. The AR platform enables a user to associate AR objects with IoT devices. These associations may further enable a user to direct a control input to a particular IoT device and receive outputs such as sensor measurements or state information from the IoT device via interaction with an associated AR object. These AR objects may be perceived by the user via a client device, such as via an AR viewer or other human interface. The AR platform further enables users to create shareable objects that define an association among or between multiple AR objects and their IoT devices that can be shared with and modified by other users.

Abstract: The present disclosure seeks to provide a handpiece configuration for a surgical instrument such as an electrosurgical instrument to reduce the risk of a burn to the operator handling the handpiece. In particular, the present disclosure firstly provides an inner moulding in the handpiece for housing a motor and a suction path of the electrosurgical instrument. The inner moulding comprises a thermal conduction path between the motor and the suction path for the purpose of transferring heat generated from the motor to the exiting irrigation fluid in the suction path. The handpiece is further configured to comprise a thermally insulating outer casing surrounding the inner moulding. This configuration of the handpiece enables heat transfer from the motor to the irrigation fluid in the suction path while keeping the external surface of the handpiece cool.

Abstract: Systems and methods include monitoring packets, by a network edge device, from one or more endpoint devices where the packets are destined for corresponding application services in a network; classifying the one or more endpoint devices based on the monitoring into a corresponding trust level of a plurality of trust levels; and, responsive to a first endpoint device of the one or more endpoint devices being untrusted, steering the packets from the first endpoint device into a restricted zone.

Abstract: An erroneous transmission, of a record of data, to a distributed ledger system can be prevented. A first operation can confirm that a format of a content within the record of data is correct. A second operation can confirm that formats of elements of a set of information, about authorizations used to cause the record of data to be communicated via the distributed ledger system, are correct. A third operation can confirm that subject matters of the elements and a subject matter of the record of data are the same. A fourth operation can retrieve credentials associated with entities that produced the elements. A fifth operation, using the credentials, can confirm that the entities that produced the elements were authorized to produce them. A sixth operation can confirm that the set of information is sufficient to authorize causing the record of data to be communicated via the distributed ledger system.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying images of internal anatomy includes an image processing device configured to provide high resolution images of the surgical field from low resolution scans during the procedure. The image processing device digitally manipulates a previously-obtained high resolution baseline image to produce many representative images based on permutations of movement of the baseline image. During the procedure a representative image is selected having an acceptable degree of correlation to the new low resolution image. The selected representative image and the new image are merged to provide a higher resolution image of the surgical field. The image processing device is also configured to provide interactive movement of the displayed image based on movement of the imaging device, and to permit placement of annotations on the displayed image to facilitate communication between the radiology technician and the surgeon.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and materials for providing a benefit to a seed or seedling of an agricultural plant (e.g., an agricultural grass plant or a Glycine plant), or the agricultural plant derived from the seed or seedling. For example, this application provides purified bacterial populations that include novel seed bacterial endophytes, and synthetic combinations of seeds and/or seedlings (e.g., cereal or soy seeds and/or cereal or soy seedlings) with heterologous seed-derived bacterial endophytes.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a surgical instrument having a hollow shaft for transferring fluid and/or debris generated during use of the surgical instrument. The apparatus comprises: a drive unit comprising a driving part configured to generate a driving force for driving the surgical instrument, and a driven part driven by the driving part to transfer the driving force to the surgical instrument; and a channel arranged to receive the hollow shaft of the surgical instrument, the channel extending through the driven part of the drive unit.

Abstract: A display panel includes a first set of pixels that each include a respective red sub-pixel and a respective green sub-pixel and a second set of pixels that each include a respective blue sub-pixel and a respective green sub-pixel, where the first set of pixels and the second set of pixels are arranged on the display panel such that at least one side of each of the pixels in the first set of pixels is adjacent to at least one of the pixels in the second set of pixels, at least one side of each of the pixels in the first set of pixels is not adjacent to any pixel, and the green sub-pixels are arranged on the display panel such that the green sub-pixels are evenly distributed in the display panel.

Abstract: An augmented reality (AR) platform supports concurrent operation of multiple AR applications developed by third-party software developers. The AR platform may include an application programming interface (API) that third-party software developers can use to integrate features of the AR platform into the overall user experience of their AR applications. The AR platform includes a feature set having a variety of AR-specific features that interact with and are accessible to the AR applications or AR layers that define a collection of AR content.

Abstract: A surgical device includes a handpiece having a socket, including a distal opening providing access to a passage having a longitudinal axis, and first and second electrical contacts located therein, wherein the contacts are displaced along the longitudinal axis so the first contact is more distal than the second. Also, a surgical instrument includes an elongate shaft having distal and proximal ends, wherein an end effector at the distal end is for treating tissue. Further, a connecting portion includes third and fourth electrical contacts, wherein the contacts are displaced along the shaft so the third contact is more distal than the fourth. The surgical instrument is coaxially coupled to the handpiece by the connecting portion received in the passage, so the first contact is aligned with the third and the second is aligned with the fourth to provide an electrical power signal from the handpiece to the surgical instrument.