Abstract: Embodiments of display control based on dynamic user interactions generally include capturing a plurality of temporally sequential images of the user, or a body part or other control object manipulated by the user, and computationally analyzing the images to recognize a gesture performed by the user. In some embodiments, the gesture is identified as an engagement gesture, and compared with reference gestures from a library of reference gestures. In some embodiments, a degree of completion of the recognized engagement gesture is determined, and the display contents are modified in accordance therewith. In some embodiments, a dominant gesture is computationally determined from among a plurality of user gestures, and an action displayed on the device is based on the dominant gesture.

Abstract: A stowable and deployable shelter may include a frame structure with a first support arch pivotably attached to a base at a pair of pivot points, and a second support arch pivotably attached to the first support arch via a pair of slidable hinges. The slidable hinges are positioned to translate along the first support arch toward and away from the pair of pivot points. In some embodiments, at least one of the slidable hinges includes a locking mechanism for releasably locking the at least one slidable hinge at a selected location along the first support arch. In some embodiments, the hinges may be fixed instead of being slidable. The support arches support a fabric shell to form an interior of the shelter. The base may include a sled container having runners for sliding through snow or across terrain.

Abstract: An aircraft wing configuration for a vertical or a short take-off and landing aircraft having a plurality of propeller-blown wings mounted at different longitudinal locations along a fuselage of the vertical take-off and landing aircraft, producing two or more lifting surfaces, fixed at a predetermined acute wing angle greater than 0° and substantially less than 90° relative to a horizontal plane, and having a plurality of flaps disposed behind the wings. The configuration has a plurality of propellers distributed in front of the plurality of wings producing two or more lifting surfaces and mounted such that the wings are externally blown by forced airstreams from the propellers. The propellers produce distributed thrust components, and the plurality of flaps are in the forced airstreams of the propellers when one or more of the flaps is in an extended position.

Abstract: A stowable and deployable shelter may include a frame structure with a first support arch pivotably attached to a base at a pair of pivot points, and a second support arch pivotably attached to the first support arch via a pair of slidable hinges. The slidable hinges are positioned to translate along the first support arch toward and away from the pair of pivot points. In some embodiments, at least one of the slidable hinges includes a locking mechanism for releasably locking the at least one slidable hinge at a selected location along the first support arch. In some embodiments, the hinges may be fixed instead of being slidable. The support arches support a fabric shell to form an interior of the shelter. The base may include a sled container having runners for sliding through snow or across terrain.

Abstract: A stowable and deployable shelter may include a frame structure with a first support arch pivotably attached to a base at a pair of pivot points, and a second support arch pivotably attached to the first support arch via a pair of slidable hinges. The slidable hinges are positioned to translate along the first support arch toward and away from the pair of pivot points. In some embodiments, at least one of the slidable hinges comprises a locking mechanism for releasably locking the at least one slidable hinge at a selected location along the first support arch. In some embodiments, the hinges may be fixed instead of being slidable. The support arches support a fabric shell to form an interior of the shelter. The base may include a sled container having runners for sliding through snow or across terrain.

Abstract: A stowable and deployable shelter may include a frame structure with a first support arch pivotably attached to a base at a pair of pivot points, and a second support arch pivotably attached to the first support arch via a pair of slidable hinges. The slidable hinges are positioned to translate along the first support arch toward and away from the pair of pivot points. In some embodiments, at least one of the slidable hinges includes a locking mechanism for releasably locking the at least one slidable hinge at a selected location along the first support arch. In some embodiments, the hinges may be fixed instead of being slidable. The support arches support a fabric shell to form an interior of the shelter. The base may include a sled container having runners for sliding through snow or across terrain.

Abstract: A multi piston machine includes a rotor, pistons, a first control valve, and a second control valve. The pistons abut against a cam surface with multiple lobes. The machine is switchable between at least three non-zero displacement volumes using the first and the second control valves. The first control valve is connected to a first and a third fluid chamber. The second control valve is connected to a second and a fourth fluid chamber. The first and the second control valve are connected to first and the second working port respectively. A third number of second control openings is twice a second number of the lobes. There is a first and a second group of the second control openings. Adjacent second control openings belong to a different first or second group. The second control openings of the first group are either connected to the first or the second fluid chamber.

Abstract: A stowable and deployable shelter may include a frame structure with a first support arch pivotably attached to a base at a pair of pivot points, and a second support arch pivotably attached to the first support arch via a pair of slidable hinges. The slidable hinges are positioned to translate along the first support arch toward and away from the pair of pivot points. In some embodiments, at least one of the slidable hinges comprises a locking mechanism for releasably locking the at least one slidable hinge at a selected location along the first support arch. In some embodiments, the hinges may be fixed instead of being slidable. The support arches support a fabric shell to form an interior of the shelter. The base may include a sled container having runners for sliding through snow or across terrain.

Abstract: An aircraft wing configuration for a vertical or a short take-off and landing aircraft having a plurality of propeller-blown wings mounted at different longitudinal locations along a fuselage of the vertical take-off and landing aircraft, producing two or more lifting surfaces, fixed at a predetermined acute wing angle greater than 0° and substantially less than 90° relative to a horizontal plane, and having a plurality of flaps disposed behind the wings. The configuration has a plurality of propellers distributed in front of the plurality of wings producing two or more lifting surfaces and mounted such that the wings are externally blown by forced airstreams from the propellers. The propellers produce distributed thrust components, and the plurality of flaps are in the forced airstreams of the propellers when one or more of the flaps is in an extended position.

Abstract: A cam profile for a hydrostatic radial piston machine includes lobes positioned along a circumferential direction, each lobe comprising a lobe portion of rising type and a lobe portion of falling type. As the cam profile extends in the circumferential direction, a radial dimension of the cam profile mostly increases in each portion of rising type, and mostly decreases in each portion of falling type Shapes of at least two lobe portions of the same type are different.

Abstract: A radial piston motor includes a cam body and a working member. The cam body includes circumferentially arranged lobes. Each lobe includes a cam section for guiding a piston radially outwards. Each cam section includes a deceleration phase configured to radially decelerate an engaging piston in the case of constant rotational speed and an acceleration phase configured to radially accelerate an engaging piston in the case of constant rotational speed. The working member is rotatable relative to the cam body and has circumferentially arranged pistons. The number of pistons and the number of lobes have the number one as the only common factor and the numbers differ from each other. The deceleration phase is smaller than the acceleration phase.

Abstract: A pressure control device for isolating a section of a conduit comprises a support member, a flexible cup member mounted to the support member, a first swellable element, the first swellable element adapted, upon activation by an activation fluid, to urge a first portion of the cup member outwards into engagement with a conduit surface and at least one bypass arranged to permit the activation fluid to bypass the swellable element and build up behind a second portion of the cup member.

Abstract: An electric auger including an auger assembly with a coupling assembly at a proximal end, a cutting assembly having at least one cutting blade located at a distal end, and a helical flight located between the proximal end and the distal end. The electric power head includes an A/C motor with a drive shaft configured to mechanically couple with the proximal end of the auger assembly. An on-board 36-volt DC battery pack powers the A/C motor. A controller includes an inverter that converts DC power to A/C power for the A/C motor. The ratio of cubic inches of ice cut per battery ampere-hour per weight in pounds of the electric auger is at least about 900 (inches3/ampere-hour/pounds).

Abstract: A sealing apparatus (10) for use in establishing a seal in an annulus (12) between a mandrel (18) and a bore wall (14) has an annular seal element (20) initially activateable between a first, retracted, configuration and a second, expanded, configuration. The seal element (20) is disposed around a mandrel (18) and is free to move relative the mandrel (18) such that when the seal element (20) defines the second, expanded, configuration, pressurised fluid from the annulus (12) urges the seal element (20) into sealing or enhanced sealing engagement with the bore wall (14).

Abstract: An improved sealing apparatus (10, 110) for use in establishing a seal in an annulus (12,112) between a mandrel (18,118) and a bore wall (14,114) has an annular seal element (20,120) initially activateable between a first, retracted, configuration and a second, expanded, configuration. The seal element (20, 120) is disposed around a mandrel (18,118) and is free to move relative the mandrel (18,118) such that when the seal element (20,120) defines the second, expanded, configuration, pressurised fluid from the annulus (12;112) urges the seal element (20,120) radially outwards into sealing or enhanced sealing engagement with the bore wall (14,114).

Abstract: A sealing element (10) for use in establishing a seal in an annulus (50) between a mandrel (52) and a bore wall (54) comprises an annular body (12) which defines a through bore (14) to permit mounting of the sealing element (10) on a mandrel (52), and further defines an inner surface (16), an outer surface (18) and opposing axial ends (20, 22). A pair of inner circumferential grooves (24, 26) are formed in the inner surface (16) of the annular body (12), wherein each groove (24, 26) is defined by first and second opposing ramp surfaces (224a, 24b, 26a, 26b) extending from the inner surface (16) of the annular body (12), wherein the first ramp surface (24a, 26a) defines a shallower ramp angle than the second ramp surface (24b, 26b).

Abstract: A sealing apparatus (10) for use in establishing a seal in an annulus (12) between a mandrel (14) and a bore wall (16) has an annular seal element (18) which extends to sealingly engage the bore wall (16) and a back-up assembly (30) for supporting the seal element (18) and preventing or resisting extrusion of the seal element (18). The back-up assembly (30) includes a collar (54) interposed between a support member (40) of the back-up assembly (30) and the end (32) of the seal element (18) and which defines a sea-engaging surface (60), the collar (54) in use preventing or mitigating damage to the support member (40) from the seal element (18).

Abstract: A portable ice shelter with a base, a bottom wall and side walls that form an upper perimeter. At least one frame bracket is mounted to the base. A chair is located in the base with a user orientation directed at a fishing area. A plurality of folding frame members is pivotally attached to the frame bracket. The folding frame members are moveable between a transport configuration and a deployed configuration configured to support a canopy covering. A bottom frame member is moveable between the transport configuration and a deployed configuration. The bottom frame member extends beyond the upper perimeter of the base in the deployed configuration to surround a first fishing area with a first width generally perpendicular to the user orientation. At least one joint on the bottom frame member is configured to modify the bottom frame member to a second fishing area with a second width at least 40% greater than the first width. The second fishing area is greater than the first fishing area.

Abstract: An electric auger including an auger assembly with a coupling assembly at a proximal end, a cutting assembly having at least one cutting blade located at a distal end, and a helical flight located between the proximal end and the distal end. The electric power head includes an A/C motor with a drive shaft configured to mechanically couple with the proximal end of the auger assembly. An on-board 36-volt DC battery pack powers the A/C motor. A controller includes an inverter that converts DC power to A/C power for the A/C motor. The ratio of cubic inches of ice cut per battery ampere-hour per weight in pounds of the electric auger is at least about 900 (inches3/ampere-hour/pounds).