Abstract: A system for monitoring performance of a rope includes a drawn form factor that has a plurality of radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices (e.g., embedded therein). The form factor is integrated into a core portion of the rope. Each RFID device is configured to transmit a corresponding message to at least one receiver in response to an interrogation initiated by at least one transmitter. The messages enable the determination of at least one characteristic of the rope based on a spatial relationship of the plurality of RFID devices and a timing of the received messages.

Abstract: An autonomous loading/unloading system and method for transferring material includes: a buoy for releasing onto water; a messenger line coupled to the buoy for being pulled; a carrier line loop coupled to the messenger line for being pulled, where a payload is coupled to the carrier loop for transferring the material to or from an unmanned ship; a fetch/release platform to fetch or release the payload from or onto the water; a loading/unloading dock for the payload; a plurality of line guides for guiding the carrier loop; and a platform-to-payload interconnect for autonomous loading or unloading of the material from/to the payload.

Abstract: An autonomous loading/unloading system and method for transferring material includes: a buoy for releasing onto water; a messenger line coupled to the buoy for being pulled; a carrier line loop coupled to the messenger line for being pulled, where a payload is coupled to the carrier loop for transferring the material to or from an unmanned ship; a fetch/release platform to fetch or release the payload from or onto the water; a loading/unloading dock for the payload; a plurality of line guides for guiding the carrier loop; and a platform-to-payload interconnect for autonomous loading or unloading of the material from/to the payload.

Abstract: An autonomous loading/unloading system and method for transferring material includes: a buoy for releasing onto water; a messenger line coupled to the buoy for being pulled; a carrier line loop coupled to the messenger line for being pulled, where a payload is coupled to the carrier loop for transferring the material to or from an unmanned ship; a fetch/release platform to fetch or release the payload from or onto the water; a loading/unloading dock for the payload; a plurality of line guides for guiding the carrier loop; and a platform-to-payload interconnect for autonomous loading or unloading of the material from/to the payload.

Abstract: A sensing system including in-ground sensors not requiring battery power. A thermoelectric generator sensor rod includes an upper thermal contact and a lower thermal contact at or near its two ends. When the thermoelectric generator sensor rod is buried in the ground with one end buried more deeply than the other, a temperature gradient in the soil produces a temperature difference between the upper thermal contact and the lower thermal contact. The upper thermal contact and the lower thermal contact are thermally connected to a thermoelectric generator, e.g., by heat pipes or thermally conductive rods. Electrical power generated by the thermoelectric generator powers sensors for monitoring conditions in the ground, and circuitry for transmitting sensor data to a central data processing system.

Abstract: Embodiments of a near-field communication (NFC) system and method for private near-field communication are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a resonance-coupled channel is masked with a random channel-masking signal. The channel-masking signal may be scaled based on near-field channel conditions. Signals received through the channel may be unmasked with the scaled channel-masking signal to determine data that may have been conveyed by an NFC transmitting device by affecting the impedance of the resonance-coupled channel. In some embodiments, a reference signal may be scrambled with a mask to generate the channel-masking signal. The mask may include at least one of a random symbol mask, an amplitude mask and a phase mask. For additional privacy, the mask may include a random symbol mask and at least one of an amplitude mask and a phase mask.

Abstract: A system for charging rechargeable devices. A landing surface includes a plurality of conductive patches, and a rechargeable device includes a plurality of contacts. The configurations of the conductive patches and of the contacts are selected to establish, when the contacts of the rechargeable device come into contact with the landing surface, a plurality of separate conductive paths between a charger and the rechargeable device.

Abstract: A sensing system including in-ground sensors not requiring battery power. A thermoelectric generator sensor rod includes an upper thermal contact and a lower thermal contact at or near its two ends. When the thermoelectric generator sensor rod is buried in the ground with one end buried more deeply than the other, a temperature gradient in the soil produces a temperature difference between the upper thermal contact and the lower thermal contact. The upper thermal contact and the lower thermal contact are thermally connected to a thermoelectric generator, e.g., by heat pipes or thermally conductive rods. Electrical power generated by the thermoelectric generator powers sensors for monitoring conditions in the ground, and circuitry for transmitting sensor data to a central data processing system.

Abstract: A system for charging rechargeable devices. A landing surface includes a plurality of conductive patches, and a rechargeable device includes a plurality of contacts. The configurations of the conductive patches and of the contacts are selected to establish, when the contacts of the rechargeable device come into contact with the landing surface, a plurality of separate conductive paths between a charger and the rechargeable device.

Abstract: A method for supplying power to detected devices coupled to a conductive backplane includes: supplying a plurality of sensing signals at a plurality of transmit impedance values to the conductive backplane; analyzing a plurality of return signals received from the conductive backplane, the return signals corresponding to the sensing signals; detecting the presence of a sink device coupled to the conductive backplane based on the analyzed return signals; and supplying power from a power supply to the sink device via the conductive backplane after detecting the presence of the sink device.

Abstract: A method for supplying power to detected devices coupled to a conductive backplane includes: supplying a plurality of sensing signals at a plurality of transmit impedance values to the conductive backplane; analyzing a plurality of return signals received from the conductive backplane, the return signals corresponding to the sensing signals; detecting the presence of a sink device coupled to the conductive backplane based on the analyzed return signals; and supplying power from a power supply to the sink device via the conductive backplane after detecting the presence of the sink device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods of measuring atmospheric conditions using networked radar systems. A processor receives sensed data from the radar nodes of the network to determine weather conditions within the atmospheric region measured by network. Preferred embodiments use a velocity processor to determine the velocity of the atmosphere in real time for display.

Abstract: Embodiments of a near-field communication (NFC) system and method for private near-field communication are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a resonance-coupled channel is masked with a random channel-masking signal. The channel-masking signal may be scaled based on near-field channel conditions. Signals received through the channel may be unmasked with the scaled channel-masking signal to determine data that may have been conveyed by an NFC transmitting device by affecting the impedance of the resonance-coupled channel. In some embodiments, a reference signal may be scrambled with a mask to generate the channel-masking signal. The mask may include at least one of a random symbol mask, an amplitude mask and a phase mask. For additional privacy, the mask may include a random symbol mask and at least one of an amplitude mask and a phase mask.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods of measuring atmospheric conditions using networked radar systems. A processor receives sensed data from the radar nodes of the network to determine weather conditions within the atmospheric region measured by network. Preferred embodiments use a velocity processor to determine the velocity of the atmosphere in real time for display.