Abstract: A method comprises determining an occupancy grid of an area for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigation. The method further comprises determining, based on the occupancy grid, a candidate flyable airspace through which to permit UAV navigation and determining, by a UAV route planner, a plurality of UAV flight paths through the candidate flyable airspace. The method further comprises determining, based on the occupancy grid, a probability value of the plurality of UAV flight paths intersecting an occupied volume. The method additionally comprises determining whether the probability value of the plurality of UAV flight paths intersecting the occupied volume is below a threshold value and, based on determining that the probability value of the plurality of UAV flight paths intersecting the occupied volume is below the threshold value, validating the candidate flyable airspace for the UAV route planner to plan a route for a UAV to navigate through the area.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a display, a memory, and a processor. The memory stores events and available conversion options for a policy. The events include a conversion expiration event occurring on a conversion expiration date. Each conversion option is associated with a new policy type into which the policy is convertible prior to occurrence of the conversion expiration event. The processor presents a first page of a GUI, displaying a timeline of the events. The first page also displays a feature selectable to investigate the available conversion options. In response to receiving information associated with a selection of the feature, the processor presents a second page of the GUI, displaying the conversion options. The processor receives information associated with a selection of a first conversion option, and, in response, displays a graph illustrating the behavior of the policy upon conversion to the new policy type associated with the first conversion option.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for providing controlled delivery of energy treatment to a tissue site. The systems, apparatuses, and methods may include medical instrument designs with features for retaining a flexible substrate with an electrode array in position against an expandable member during delivery to the tissue site, treatment, and retraction from the tissue site. The medical instrument further includes features for retaining the flexible substrate in a compact, stowed configuration during delivery and for retracting the flexible substrate post-deployment to facilitate retraction of the medical instrument after completion of treatment.

Abstract: A supply cart includes a transceiver, a processor, at least one sensor and at least one indicator. A transceiver receives endoscope procedure data from a server. A processor is configured to read the endoscope procedure data and determine an instrument and one or more consumables needed for a procedure associated with the endoscope procedure data. At least one sensor is configured to determine a presence or absence of the instrument at the supply cart. At least one indicator is configured to provide an indication relating to the presence or the absence of the instrument at the supply cart.

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 dual motor handwheel actuator assembly for a vehicle includes a housing. A shaft is rotatably mounted with respect to the housing and is configured for attachment of a steering wheel at one end. A first gear is connected to and configured to rotate with the shaft. Each of first and second motors has an output driving a respective output gear. The output gears are engaged with the first gear. Each motor includes a permanent magnet motor that has the same number of poles and stators such that each motor produces the same pattern of cogging torque over a complete mechanical revolution of the motor. The system is arranged so that in an unpowered condition where both motors are undriven at least one part of one of the phases of each motor is short circuited such that both motors provided a braking torque as the driver turns the wheel.

Abstract: A motor includes a stator and a rotor. The stator carries a plurality of phase windings and the rotor carries a plurality of magnet poles. The stator has a stack of laminations which each have a ferromagnetic plate. Each lamination includes at least one hole within the plate that is aligned with a corresponding hole in adjacent plates in the stack. At least one electrically conductive pin extends axially along a length of the stator passing through the aligned holes to provide a path for currents axially along the stator.

Abstract: A motor includes a stator and a rotor. The stator carries a plurality of phase windings and the rotor carries a plurality of magnet poles and is connected to a shaft. The stator has a ferromagnetic material defining a yoke and a plurality of teeth and further includes at least one band of electrically conductive material that encompasses at least a portion of one of the teeth or encompasses at least a portion of the yoke in a region between adjacent teeth and is in direct contact with the tooth. The band provides an electrical path between the band and the portion of the tooth or yoke. The band wraps around upper and lower end regions of the portion of the tooth or yoke and extends axially down the opposing side faces of the tooth or yoke. The band is isolated from any external source of motor drive current.

Abstract: A method includes, during a delivery process of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), receiving, by an image processing system, a depth image captured by a downward-facing stereo camera on the UAV. One or more pixels are within a sample area of the depth image and are associated with corresponding depth values indicative of distances of one or more objects to the downward-facing stereo camera. The method also includes determining, by the image processing system an estimated depth value representative of depth values within the sample area. The method further includes determining that the estimated depth value is below a trigger depth. The method further includes, based at least on determining that the estimated depth value is below the trigger depth, aborting the delivery process of the UAV.

Abstract: Electronic stethoscopes may have various accessories, modular components, and various configurations for powering the various components and accessories of the electronic stethoscope. In one embodiment, an electronic stethoscope apparatus includes a microphone configured to generate an electrical signal in response to received sound from a living subject; amplification circuitry; a speaker operably coupled to the amplification circuitry to output the electric signal after amplification; and a power supply configured to power the amplification circuitry. Circuitry for advanced signal processing may also be included, such as noise cancelling circuitry. The electronic stethoscope may also include removable electronic modules for wired or wireless headphones, battery packs, lights, and/or an electronic device for implementing the percussive method.

Abstract: A handwheel actuator assembly for a steer-by-wire system of a vehicle comprises a housing, a shaft rotatably mounted to the housing, the shaft connectable to a handwheel, and one or more motors each having a stator and a rotor. The stator carries a plurality of phase windings and the rotor carries a plurality of magnet poles and is connected to the shaft. A control circuit is adapted to control the current flowing into or out of each motor to cause a net torque to be applied to the shaft during normal operation. The stator of at least one of the motors is configured such that in the event that the control circuit is powered down or disconnected and the handwheel is rotated at 180 degrees per second, the combination of motors overall provides a drag torque of at least 50 percent of the resistance to rotation of the shaft and a torque at the handwheel of at least 2 Nm.

Abstract: Electronic stethoscopes may have various accessories, modular components, and various configurations for powering the various components and accessories of the electronic stethoscope. In one embodiment, an electronic stethoscope apparatus includes a microphone configured to generate an electrical signal in response to received sound from a living subject; amplification circuitry; a speaker operably coupled to the amplification circuitry to output the electric signal after amplification; and a power supply configured to power the amplification circuitry. Circuitry for advanced signal processing may also be included, such as noise cancelling circuitry. The electronic stethoscope may also include removable electronic modules for wired or wireless headphones, battery packs, lights, and/or an electronic device for implementing the percussive method.

Abstract: A dual motor drive assembly comprising a housing, a shaft rotatably mounted to the housing, a first gear rotatably connected to the shaft, first and second motors, each having an output driving a respective output gear, the output gears being engaged with the first gear, a torque allocation arrangement for allocating torque demands to each of the first and second motors, a measurement arrangement for measuring first and second temperature relating to the first and second motors respectively, a torque limit allocation arrangement for allocating a maximum torque limit based on the first and second temperature respectively, wherein a maximum total torque is equal to the sum of maximum torque limits of the first and second motors, wherein in a first mode the allocated torque demand to each of the motors is to provide opposing torques to the shaft, and in a second mode to provide torques in the same direction to the shaft, wherein the torque demand allocations change from the first mode to the second mode at a thr

Abstract: A method for manufacturing calcined clays comprising extracting and mixing raw clays; dosing a reducing agent to the mixed raw clays and homogenizing the resulting mixture; reducing the particle size of the mixture to less than 10 mm; heating the mixture in a flash dryer or flash calciner until the mixture has between 0% and 5% moisture; calcining the dried mixture from 600 to 900° C., maintaining an oxygen concentration between 1 and 5%; and cooling the calcined clay from 900° C. to 120° C., and uses of such calcined clay resulting from the claimed method in cement and/or a cementitious material for preparing concrete.

Abstract: A method includes, during a delivery process of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), receiving, by an image processing system, a depth image captured by a downward-facing stereo camera on the UAV. One or more pixels are within a sample area of the depth image and are associated with corresponding depth values indicative of distances of one or more objects to the downward-facing stereo camera. The method also includes determining, by the image processing system an estimated depth value representative of depth values within the sample area. The method further includes determining that the estimated depth value is below a trigger depth.

Abstract: A method of making a meat structured protein product includes combining a denatured plant protein and a polysaccharide in the presence of an aqueous solvent to provide a phase-separated mixture including a dispersed phase rich in polysaccharide and a continuous phase rich in the denatured plant protein. The method further includes forming fibrous structures of the polysaccharide in a protein matrix of the plant protein at a temperature of less than 100° C. The protein matrix can be crosslinked to provide the meat structured protein product. Meat structured protein products made by the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A handwheel actuator assembly 600 for a steer by wire steering system of a vehicle is disclosed. The assembly 600 comprises a steering wheel 601 and a feedback torque generator. The steering wheel 601 has at least one hand grip portion rotatable around an axis of rotation of the steering wheel 601 which can be gripped by a driver and a hub 602 that supports the hand grip portion. The feedback torque generator comprises an electric motor which has a stator 609 and a rotor 610. The rotor 610 is directly or indirectly fixed to and rotates with the hub of the steering wheel 601 and the stator 609 is secured to a fixed part of the vehicle body such that it cannot rotate relative to the vehicle body. The motor comprises a brushless permanent magnet Vernier motor.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a digital surface model of an area for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigation. The digital surface model represents an environmental surface in the area. The method includes determining, for each grid cell of a plurality of grid cells in the area, a confidence value of an altitude of the environmental surface at the grid cell and determining a terrain clearance value based at least on the confidence value of the altitude of the environmental surface at the grid cell. The method includes determining a route for a UAV through the area such that the altitude of the UAV is above the altitude of the environmental surface at each grid cell of a sequence of grid cells of the route by at least the terrain clearance value determined for the grid cell. The method includes causing the UAV to navigate through the area using the determined route.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of measuring the rate of reaction between a target molecule and a ligand candidate, ligands of interest identified according to this method and drugs developed from such ligands. The present invention also relates to a method of measuring the rate of reaction between a thiol and a molecule capable of reacting with said thiol.