Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described for compact radar systems. In some examples, a compact radar system can include a first set of transmit antennas, a second set of receive antennas, one or more processors, and at least one computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the radar system to coordinate digital beam steering of the first set of transmit antennas and the second set of receive antennas, and coordinate digital beam forming with one or more of the second set of receive antennas to detect one or more objects within a distance of the radar system.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for organizing execution of distributed operating systems for network devices. A device comprising hardware computing nodes may be configured to perform the techniques. The hardware computing nodes may execute a protocol by which to discover a topology of the plurality of hardware computing nodes, and determine, based on the topology, a subset of the plurality of hardware computing nodes to manage execution of a distributed operating system. The determined subset of the plurality of hardware computing nodes may execute a communication bus by which to synchronize operating system state information between the subset of the plurality of hardware computing nodes. The hardware computing nodes may further execute, based on the operating system state information, the distributed operating system to provide an execution environment in which one or more applications execute.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for treating an electromembrane process aqueous composition comprising sodium and/or potassium sulfate, said process comprising removing water from said electromembrane process aqueous composition under conditions suitable for substantially selectively precipitating sodium and/or potassium sulfate monohydrate.

Abstract: A method and system device provides a unique object identification process by obtaining information from one or more of radar signals, infrared signals, optical signals, audio signals, and other signals. The method includes continuously receiving object data at the device, applying by a machine learning system, a set of parameters to process the object identification and confidence level, and outputting or updating the object identification, confidence level, and actionable recommendations. The radar data includes a Doppler signature having a wrapped signal due to a sampling rate of the radar system. The Doppler signature is used to train the machine learning system to identify drone types.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer programs for authorizing transactions are described. A server system receives, from a first computing device, verification information relating to a verification process for verifying a user associated with the first computing device. A verification status associated with the user is set in a memory of the server system, based on the verification information. The server system receives an authorization request for a payment transaction from a payment terminal, the request including an identifier associated with the user, and having been provided to the payment terminal by a payment device different from the first computing device. Responsive to receipt of the authorization request, the verification status associated with the user is identified, and a determination as to whether to authorize the payment transaction is made at least partly on the basis of the identified verification status.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods are provided to monitor operation of a compound water meter comprising a low flow meter and a high flow meter. In the disclosed embodiments, a first sensor package is coupled to the low flow meter to generate a first set of sensor data for monitoring operation of the low flow meter, and a second sensor package is coupled to the high flow meter to generate a second set of sensor data for monitoring operation of the high flow meter. The first and second sensor packages may each include, e.g., an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor and a vibration sensor. In the disclosed embodiments, the first and second sets of sensor data are analyzed to detect various potential problems within the compound water meter, such as a register failure, a crossover failure, a measurement failure, a bypass open condition and/or an incorrect flow meter size.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for performing a validity check of a user device having an application stored thereon. The apparatus comprises a coupling device operable to communicate with the user device via near field communication, a processor, and memory storing program code for execution by the processor and validity check data. The program code comprises executable instructions to receive a determinate user device identifier from the user device via the coupling device and to receive application data from the user device via the coupling device, the application data being characteristic of the application stored on the user device. The program code processes the user device identifier and the application data to generate a test token, and determines whether the test token is a valid token using the validity check data.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described for combining digital and analog beamsteering in a channelized antenna array. In some examples, a method can include receiving one or more signals at each of a plurality of groups of antenna elements, each group of antenna elements defining a respective channel from a plurality of channels, and steering, by each respective channel and using analog steering, the one or more signals in a respective direction to yield a steered analog signal pattern. The method can further include converting the steered analog signal pattern associated with each respective channel into a respective digital signal and, based on the respective digital signal, generating, using digital steering, digital signal patterns steered within the steered analog signal pattern associated with the respective digital signal.

Abstract: A radar system is generated by a process including generating a first substrate layer adjacent to a ground plane of a patch antenna array in the radar system, etching an opening in the substrate layer, inserting a mechanically-locking foot of a threaded insert into the opening, adding a second substrate layer adjacent to the first substrate layer to embed the threaded insert, applying a thermal coupling between a heat sink layer and the second substrate layer of the radar system and screwing a screw through the heat sink layer and into the threaded insert to adhere the heat sink layer to the radar system. Such a radar system can enable the attachment of the heat sink layer to the radar system in a removable fashion such that the heat sink layer can be removed by removing the screw and repairs can be done without damaging respective layers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described for combining digital and analog beamsteering in a channelized antenna array. In some examples, a method can include receiving one or more signals at each of a plurality of groups of antenna elements, each group of antenna elements defining a respective channel from a plurality of channels, and steering, by each respective channel and using analog steering, the one or more signals in a respective direction to yield a steered analog signal pattern. The method can further include converting the steered analog signal pattern associated with each respective channel into a respective digital signal and, based on the respective digital signal, generating, using digital steering, digital signal patterns steered within the steered analog signal pattern associated with the respective digital signal.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described for compact radar systems. In some examples, a compact radar system can include a first set of transmit antennas, a second set of receive antennas, one or more processors, and at least one computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the radar system to coordinate digital beam steering of the first set of transmit antennas and the second set of receive antennas, and coordinate digital beam forming with one or more of the second set of receive antennas to detect one or more objects within a distance of the radar system.

Abstract: There is described a process for obtaining a target chemical species, in particular alginate and/or cellulose, from seaweed. The process comprises the steps of: (i) providing a seaweed portion; (ii) bleaching the seaweed portion; and (iii) extracting the target chemical species from the seaweed portion; wherein the bleaching comprises a neutral or alkaline bleaching step, the neutral or alkaline bleaching step comprising using a bleaching composition under neutral or alkaline conditions. The neutral or alkaline bleaching step may precede the extraction step. Also described is alginate, an alginate salt, alginic acid, an alginic acid salt, an alginate derivative, an alginate derivative salt, cellulose, and/or a cellulose derivative obtained by the process.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods are provided to monitor operation of a compound water meter comprising a low flow meter and a high flow meter. In the disclosed embodiments, a first sensor package is coupled to the low flow meter to generate a first set of sensor data for monitoring operation of the low flow meter, and a second sensor package is coupled to the high flow meter to generate a second set of sensor data for monitoring operation of the high flow meter. The first and second sensor packages may each include, e.g., an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor and a vibration sensor. In the disclosed embodiments, the first and second sets of sensor data are analyzed to detect various potential problems within the compound water meter, such as a register failure, a crossover failure, a measurement failure, a bypass open condition and/or an incorrect flow meter size.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described for compact radar systems. In some examples, a compact radar system can include a first set of transmit antennas, a second set of receive antennas, one or more processors, and at least one computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the radar system to coordinate digital beam steering of the first set of transmit antennas and the second set of receive antennas, and coordinate digital beam forming with one or more of the second set of receive antennas to detect one or more objects within a distance of the radar system.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for performing a validity check of a user device having an application stored thereon. The apparatus comprises a coupling device operable to communicate with the user device via near field communication, a processor, and memory storing program code for execution by the processor and validity check data. The program code comprises executable instructions to receive a determinate user device identifier from the user device via the coupling device and to receive application data from the user device via the coupling device, the application data being characteristic of the application stored on the user device. The program code processes the user device identifier and the application data to generate a test token, and determines whether the test token is a valid token using the validity check data.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described using radar systems to avoid vehicle collisions. An example radar system can include antennas mounted on an aircraft, where each antenna has a different orientation facing a different direction away from the aircraft. The radar system can include one or more processing devices and a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the radar system to coordinate digital beam steering and digital beam forming with the antennas to produce a radar coverage area that includes a portion of an airspace around the aircraft; detect, based a signal transmitted by the antennas using the digital beam steering and digital beam forming, an object within the radar coverage area; and generate collision avoidance information including an indication of the object detected within the radar coverage area and/or an instruction for avoiding a collision with the object.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for performing a validity check of a user device having an application stored thereon. The apparatus comprises a coupling device operable to communicate with the user device via near field communication, a processor, and memory storing program code for execution by the processor and validity check data. The program code comprises executable instructions to receive a determinate user device identifier from the user device via the coupling device and to receive application data from the user device via the coupling device, the application data being characteristic of the application stored on the user device. The program code processes the user device identifier and the application data to generate a test token, and determines whether the test token is a valid token using the validity check data.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described for combining digital and analog beamsteering in a channelized antenna array. In some examples, a method can include receiving one or more signals at each of a plurality of groups of antenna elements, each group of antenna elements defining a respective channel from a plurality of channels, and steering, by each respective channel and using analog steering, the one or more signals in a respective direction to yield a steered analog signal pattern. The method can further include converting the steered analog signal pattern associated with each respective channel into a respective digital signal and, based on the respective digital signal, generating, using digital steering, digital signal patterns steered within the steered analog signal pattern associated with the respective digital signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for configuring and using a contactless application on a chip within a portable device comprising input/output connections arranged to communicate with other devices via a contact connection and via a contactless connection. One such method comprises a first process and a second process. The first process comprises receiving, at the chip and from a first other device, a set of computer instructions, to be executed by the chip, to create a contactless application in a data store of the chip and initialise at least one file associated with the contactless application. The second process comprises executing, by the chip of the portable device, the contactless application, to transmit data to a second other device.

Abstract: A system and method of recording data from a number of devices in a distributed network system in a manner adaptable for auditing the device output. The devices may include one or more control, sensor, edge, or peripheral computing devices physically separate in the distributed network system and in communication with a control server. Such distributed networks systems are common in SCADA or IoT applications. The content stream of data records output from the devices are recorded; a payload stripped stream of data records which are stripped of the payload are recorded and preferably retained by an escrow service. The metadata of the data records includes the hash value of one or more predecessor data records. The hash values are calculated based on the payload and a linkage function, preferably a cryptographic function. A comparison of hash values of the payload stripped stream and the content stream provides the audit ability.