Abstract: An example system includes an electrical energy storage system (ESS) comprising: an upper node and a lower node; a first set of battery modules that are connected in series; a second set of battery modules that are connected in series; a DC/DC converter electrically in series with the first set of battery modules between the upper node and the lower node, wherein the DC/DC converter sources electrical energy from the second set of battery modules; and a controller configured to adjust an output voltage of the DC/DC converter such that a voltage across the upper node and the lower node is maintained at a specified output voltage level.

Abstract: We utilize high-quality-factor (high-Q) metasurfaces patterned either in or adjacent to electro-optical or thermo-optical materials such as lithium niobate, barium titanate, or thermally-sensitive polymers. The metasurface includes nanoantennas that act as dipole emitters; the particular structure and arrangement of nanoantennas can steer light to particular directions or focus light, The electromagnetic metasurface supports one or more guided mode resonances. The metasurface also includes a perturbation superposed on the metasurface features and configured to couple free-space radiation to the guided mode resonances.

Abstract: A cartridge is provided for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. The cartridge has a housing defining a chamber and a pouch containing smokable material. The pouch is located within the chamber. At least part of the pouch is made of porous material for permitting aerosol or volatilized material generated within the pouch to pass out of the pouch from within the pouch. There is also provided a pouch having a first wall and a second wall. The pouch contains smokable material between the first wall and the second wall. A method of manufacturing a pouch is also disclosed in which the first wall is attached to the second wall with smokable material between the first wall and second wall.

Abstract: A gap blocking system includes a loading platform having a gap separating a first portion of the loading platform from a second portion of the loading platform. A ride vehicle is coupled to a transport extending through the gap. A guardrail assembly having a plurality of guardrail units is coupled to the first portion, where the guardrail units are configured to transition between a first position and a second position. The guardrail units are configured to block access to the gap when in the first position. The ride vehicle includes an engagement feature configured to interface with an individual guardrail unit of the guardrail units to selectively transition the individual guardrail unit from the first position to the second position. The individual guardrail unit is configured to permit the ride vehicle to occupy a guest-accessible position adjacent to or on the loading platform in the second position.

Abstract: Self-isolated lasers are provided by using a chiral metasurface in combination with a spin-selective gain medium and symmetry-breaking (i.e., not linearly polarized) optical pumping. In preferred embodiments the chiral metasurface is resonant, thereby proving an integrated optical resonator to support lasing. The chiral metasurface can be the spin-selective gain medium, or it can be formed on a surface of the spin-selective gain medium, or it can be distinct from the spin-selective gain medium.

Abstract: An example system includes an electric machine, an alternating current (AC)/direct current (DC) converter, a Y-capacitor, and a controller. The AC/DC converter being connected to the electric machine and having a DC side and an AC side. The Y-capacitor is located on the DC side of the AC/DC converter. The controller is configured to determine, based on a measurement of the DC side of the AC/DC converter, an occurrence of a ground fault on the AC side of the AC/DC converter, and control, based on the occurrence of the ground fault, operation of the AC/DC converter.

Abstract: A wireless charging device has a controller and at least one coil that is positioned near the surface of the charging device and configured to transmit an electromagnetic field and a first driver circuit configured to drive the transmitting coil. The controller is configured to cause the driver circuit to provide a charging current to the transmitting coil, decode a request for lower transmission power from a modulation of the charging current, reduce the amplitude of the charging current in accordance with the request for lower transmission power when a temperature measured at a surface of the charging device is less than a threshold temperature, and initiate a cool down sequence when the temperature measured at the surface of the charging device equals or exceeds the threshold temperature. In one example, the request for lower transmission power may be provided in an ASK-modulated signal superimposed on the charging current.

Abstract: A system for providing propulsive electrical power for an aircraft, the system comprising: a first generator configured to output a first plurality of AC electrical signals; a second generator configured to output a second plurality of AC electrical signals; a first set of rectifiers configured to convert the first plurality of AC electrical signals into a first plurality of DC electrical signals for output onto a first DC electrical bus of a plurality of DC electrical busses; and a second set of rectifiers configured to convert the second plurality of AC electrical signals into a second plurality of DC electrical signals for output onto a second DC electrical bus of the plurality of DC electrical busses, wherein each rectifier of the plurality of rectifiers includes a respective controller of a plurality of controllers, and wherein the plurality of controllers are configured to coordinate response to detected faults.

Abstract: A turbo-generator system for generating propulsive electrical power for an aircraft includes an electric machine comprising: a rotor configured to be rotated by a gas-turbine of the turbo-generator system; a stator comprising: a first active section comprising first windings surrounding a first portion of the rotor; and a second active section comprising second windings surrounding a second portion of the rotor.

Abstract: A system includes a first generator configured to output a first plurality of AC signals; a second generator configured to output a second plurality of AC signals; a first set of rectifiers configured to convert the first plurality of AC signals into a first plurality of DC signals for output onto a first DC bus, wherein each of the first set of rectifiers includes a respective contactor configured to de-couple a DC output of the respective rectifier from the first DC electrical bus; and a second set of rectifiers configured to convert the second plurality of AC signals into a second plurality of DC signals for output onto a second DC bus, wherein each of the second set of rectifiers includes a respective contactor configured to de-couple a DC output of the respective rectifier from the second DC bus.

Abstract: A cartridge is provided for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material. The cartridge has a housing defining a chamber and a pouch containing smokable material. The pouch is located within the chamber. At least part of the pouch is made of porous material for permitting aerosol or volatilized material generated within the pouch to pass out of the pouch from within the pouch. There is also provided a pouch having a first wall and a second wall. The pouch contains smokable material between the first wall and the second wall. A method of manufacturing a pouch is also disclosed in which the first wall is attached to the second wall with smokable material between the first wall and second wall.

Abstract: A target shooting game is disclosed herein. The target shooting game includes a at least one frame, a plurality of targets, at least one actuator means, a controller means, and at least one power source. Further, preferably, the target shooting game includes a software application usable on an external device, such as a smartphone. The plurality of targets preferably include a gopher animal shape and are independently movable between a raised position and a lowered position, providing a user with an exciting shooting game and/or shooting training session.

Abstract: A gap blocking system includes a loading platform having a gap separating a first portion of the loading platform from a second portion of the loading platform. A ride vehicle is coupled to a transport extending through the gap. The gap blocking system also includes a panel assembly coupled to the loading platform and comprising a plurality of panels, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels is coupled to a respective biasing mechanism coupled to the first portion of the loading platform and configured to bias each panel towards a closed configuration in which each panel extends radially away from the first portion of the loading platform.

Abstract: A critical data path of an integrated circuit includes a flip flop configured to receive a data input and provide a latched data output. A monitoring circuit includes a delay generator configured to receive the data input and provide a plurality of delayed data outputs corresponding to delayed versions of the data input with increasing amounts of delay, a selector circuit configured to select one of the plurality of delayed outputs based on a programmable control value, and a shadow latch coupled to an output of the selector circuit and configured to latch a value at its input to provide as a latched shadow output. A comparator circuit provides a match error indicator based on a comparison between the first latched data output and the latched shadow output, and an error indicator is provided which indicates whether or not an impending failure of the critical data path is detected.

Abstract: An attraction loading system is provided that includes a turntable configured to rotate about a vertical axis. A ride vehicle is configured to travel along a loading path disposed about a perimeter of the turntable. A first track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle to a main portion of the loading path from an attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle to the main portion of the loading path from a secondary portion of the loading path. A second track switch of the system is disposed along the loading path to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the attraction path, or to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to the secondary portion of the loading path.

Abstract: Systems and methods include providing an aircraft with a fuselage and a wing assembly rotatable relative to the fuselage about a stow axis between a flight position and a stowed position. The aircraft includes an engine reduction gearbox having a retractable driveshaft that selectively engages the mid-wing gearbox via axially translatable motion along a rotation axis when the wing assembly is in the flight position. The mid-wing gearbox includes a plunger seal that is displaced in response to contact with the retractable driveshaft. Displacement of the plunger seal allows lubricant to flow through an inner bore in the retractable driveshaft, across splines of the retractable driveshaft and the mid-wing gearbox, and through lubrication ports in the mid-wing gearbox to lubricate the engine reduction gearbox, splines of the retractable driveshaft and the mid-wing gearbox, and the mid-wing gearbox via a single lubrication system.

Abstract: A wireless charging device has a controller and at least one coil that is positioned near the surface of the charging device and configured to transmit an electromagnetic field and a first driver circuit configured to drive the transmitting coil. The controller is configured to cause the driver circuit to provide a charging current to the transmitting coil, decode a request for lower transmission power from a modulation of the charging current, reduce the amplitude of the charging current in accordance with the request for lower transmission power when a temperature measured at a surface of the charging device is less than a threshold temperature, and initiate a cool down sequence when the temperature measured at the surface of the charging device equals or exceeds the threshold temperature. In one example, the request for lower transmission power may be provided in an ASK-modulated signal superimposed on the charging current.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for performing autonomous agricultural operations are described herein. An exemplary device may include a toolbar to which a plurality of implements may be interchangeably coupled, and a pair of parallel chassis beams mounted perpendicularly on the toolbar. At least a portion of each of the chassis beams may be telescopic and configured to be extended outward from, and retracted inward towards, the toolbar. The device may also include a plurality of drive assemblies each mounted on one of the chassis beams, and a plurality of motors corresponding to the drive assemblies and configured to drive the drive assemblies in accordance with one or more drive parameters to move the device throughout a site. The device may further include a computing device configured to automatically determine the drive parameters, and cause the plurality of motors to drive the corresponding drive assemblies in accordance with the drive parameters.

Abstract: A gap blocking system includes a loading platform having a gap separating a first portion of the loading platform from a second portion of the loading platform. A ride vehicle is coupled to a transport extending through the gap. The gap blocking system also includes a panel assembly coupled to the loading platform and comprising a plurality of panels, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels is coupled to a respective biasing mechanism coupled to the first portion of the loading platform and configured to bias each panel towards a closed configuration in which each panel extends radially away from the first portion of the loading platform.

Abstract: A circuit includes a P-channel transistor formed in a P-well and an N-channel transistor formed in an N-well. The first P-channel transistor has a control electrode connected to the P-well. The N-channel transistor is coupled in series with the P-channel transistor and has a control electrode connected to the N-well. Connecting the control electrodes of the P-channel and N-channel transistors to respective P-well and N-well effectively reduces crowbar current in the circuit.