Abstract: A system includes a casino management server and an electronic casino device that includes a beacon configured to wirelessly communicate with personal devices of players. The device transmits a request for a custom beacon ID to the casino management server, receives the custom beacon ID from the casino management server in response to the request; and configures the beacon with the custom beacon ID, thereby broadcasting the custom beacon ID to the personal device of the player. The server receives, from the personal device of the player, a pairing request that includes a received beacon ID as received by the personal device based on the broadcasting, validates that the received beacon ID matches the custom beacon ID, stores a valid association between the personal device of the player and the electronic casino device; and authorizes connected actions to be performed by the personal device based on the association.

Abstract: A system for proximity-based digital interactions includes a beacon transmitter configured to wirelessly broadcast a first interaction prompt message that includes a first interaction event code. A system server is configured to: receive an event activation message that includes the first interaction event code; identify and perform a first pre-programmed action; identify proximity between a mobile computing device and the beacon transmitter based on receipt of the first interaction event code from the mobile computing device; create a second interaction event code that is targeted to be performed by the mobile computing device; and transmit a configuration message to the beacon transmitter that includes the second interaction event code, causing the beacon transmitter to begin broadcasting a second interaction prompt message including the second interaction event code together with the first interaction prompt message, where the first interaction event code is different than the second interaction even code.

Abstract: A winch includes a motor, a gear reduction unit, a tie structure, an external power cable, and a rotatable drum. The motor includes a motor housing with a motor case and a first drum support attached to the motor case. The gear reduction unit is drivingly attached to the motor and has a gear housing including a gear case and a second drum support. The tie structure connects said first and second drum supports. The external power cable having a first end and a second end. The first end of the external power cable is configured to be coupled to an external power source. The second end of the external power cable is coupled to a bus bar. The rotatable drum is drivingly connected to the motor and supported by the first and second drum supports.

Abstract: A winch includes a motor, a gear reduction unit, a tie structure, an external power cable, and a rotatable drum. The motor includes a motor housing with a motor case and a first drum support attached to the motor case. The gear reduction unit is drivingly attached to the motor and has a gear housing including a gear case and a second drum support. The tie structure connects said first and second drum supports. The external power cable having a first end and a second end. The first end of the external power cable is configured to be coupled to an external power source. The second end of the external power cable is coupled to a bus bar. The rotatable drum is drivingly connected to the motor and supported by the first and second drum supports.

Abstract: A delivery robot includes a propulsion system, a storage area arranged to contain at least one item for delivery, a wireless interface, a memory device, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive, from a robot management system (RMS) and via the wireless interface, a delivery request, wherein the delivery request identifies at least the item contained within the storage area, a delivery location, and a recipient. The processor is also configured to control the propulsion system to navigate the delivery robot to the delivery location in response to receiving the delivery request, receive an authentication credential from the recipient, authenticate the recipient based upon the authentication credential, and in response to authenticating the recipient, control the storage area to provide the at least one item contained within the storage area to the recipient.

Abstract: A robot is described. The robot includes a camera device, a memory device, and a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory device. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive an input prompting the robot to navigate to a location in a venue for providing photo services with the camera device and cause the robot to navigate to the location. The instructions further cause the processor to capture, by the camera device, at least one photo at the location and provide access to a copy of the at least one photo to an authorized person.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices, methods of forming such devices, and elements of such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a heating member that can be formed of a heating element conformed to a heater substrate configured as a truncated cone (or similar shape) having a first end of a first size and a second end of greater size. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods of forming an aerosol delivery device, which can include providing a shell, providing a heating member formed of a heating element conformed to a substrate, configuring the heating member as a truncated cone (or similar shape) having a first end of a first size and a second end of greater size, and inserting the heating member within the shell.

Abstract: A compressor system is provided that includes a contact cooled compressor and a coolant separator. The coolant separator is used to remove coolant fluid from a compressed flow stream produced by the contact cooled compressor during its operation. The coolant separator routes the removed coolant fluid back to the contact cooled compressor for further use. In some forms the coolant fluid is cooled prior to delivery back to the compressor. A stop valve can be provided in the coolant fluid return line to halt the flow of the fluid. A pressure sensitive member can be disposed to sense pressure of the coolant fluid that has been routed past the stop valve. Operation of the compressor can be changed as a result of the sensed pressure from the pressure sensitive member. Information from a temperature sensitive member can also be used to change operation of the compressor.

Abstract: The invention provides a smokeless tobacco composition adapted for oral use, the composition including a tobacco material and an effervescent material. The effervescent material includes a sugar material containing an entrapped gaseous component, such that release of the entrapped gaseous component occurs upon dissolution of the sugar material in the oral cavity. The invention also provides a method for making a smokeless tobacco composition that involves mixing a tobacco material with an effervescent material, the mixing step including either admixing a granulated composition comprising a tobacco material with a gasified sugar material in particulate form, or forming a gasified sugar material in situ by mixing a water source with a molten composition comprising a tobacco material and a sugar alcohol.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices, methods of forming such devices, and elements of such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a heating member that can be formed of a heating element conformed to a heater substrate configured as a truncated cone (or similar shape) having a first end of a first size and a second end of greater size. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods of forming an aerosol delivery device, which can include providing a shell, providing a heating member formed of a heating element conformed to a substrate, configuring the heating member as a truncated cone (or similar shape) having a first end of a first size and a second end of greater size, and inserting the heating member within the shell.

Abstract: A kiosk robot includes a propulsion system configured to allow the kiosk robot to move within an operations venue, a wireless interface configured to allow wireless networked communication between the kiosk robot and a wireless network, a touchscreen display device, a memory device, and a processor. The robot is configured to receive, from a robot management system (RMS) and via the wireless interface, a relocation request identifying a service location within the operations venue and at which the kiosk robot is to provide kiosk functionality, in response to receiving the relocation request, control the propulsion system to navigate the kiosk robot to the service location, and provide a kiosk graphical user interface (GUI) using the touchscreen display device, the kiosk GUI provides kiosk functionality to a user at the service location.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices and related methods of delivering aerosol to a user. The aerosol delivery devices may include a housing providing multiple aerosol pathways having a mouth-end opening through which aerosol can be inhaled by a user, the housing defining a first aerosol delivery pathway in fluid communication with the mouth-end opening and a second aerosol delivery pathway separate from the first aerosol delivery pathway and in fluid communication with the mouth-end opening. An atomizer including a heating element or piezoelectric element and a liquid transport element in fluid communication with an aerosol precursor composition is provided in fluid communication with the first aerosol delivery pathway. A flavorant-infused material is positioned within the second aerosol delivery pathway and adapted to produce a second aerosol upon contact between the flavorant-infused material and flowing air.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an improved method and apparatus for thermal monitoring for a metal additive manufacturing system. An emissivity value of a top surface of an object to be manufactured is determined based, at least in part, on an arithmetic product of a predetermined roughness value and a predetermined slope-related value. The predetermined roughness value and slope-related values are predetermined based, at least in part, on measurements of a previously manufactured object. The system sinters a metal to form the top surface of the object to be manufactured. An infrared sensor detects radiation from at least a portion of the top surface of the object to be manufactured. A temperature is generated based, at least in part, on the detected infrared radiation and the emissivity value and the generated temperature is applied to a temperature utilization component of the system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a reservoir containing a liquid aerosol precursor composition and an atomizer including an electrical resistance heating element and a nonfibrous liquid transport element having a microtextured surface adapted for surface wicking of the liquid aerosol precursor composition across the microtextured surface, the microtextured surface of the liquid transport element being in fluid communication with the reservoir and in fluid communication with the electric resistance heating element.

Abstract: An on-site controller for an HVAC system is operated to maintain temperature and humidity set points inside an enclosed facility. A weather station inside the facility records microclimate data pertinent to environmental conditions inside the facility, and a weather station outside the facility records microclimate data pertinent to meteorological conditions outside the facility. A summing network compares the inside microclimate data with the outside meteorological data to establish an actuating signal. A throttle, responsive to the actuating signal, varies the power demand for the HVAC system to maintain the predetermined set points for environmental conditions inside the facility.

Abstract: A kiosk robot includes a propulsion system configured to allow the kiosk robot to move within an operations venue, a wireless interface configured to allow wireless networked communication between the kiosk robot and a wireless network, a touchscreen display device, a memory device, and a processor. The robot is configured to receive, from a robot management system (RMS) and via the wireless interface, a relocation request identifying a service location within the operations venue and at which the kiosk robot is to provide kiosk functionality, in response to receiving the relocation request, control the propulsion system to navigate the kiosk robot to the service location, and provide a kiosk graphical user interface (GUI) using the touchscreen display device, the kiosk GUI provides kiosk functionality to a user at the service location.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device that includes a reservoir housing that defines a mouthpiece channel. The aerosol delivery device includes a sealing member configured to be received within the reservoir housing to define a reservoir chamber configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition therein. The aerosol delivery device also includes a substrate member that is configured to be received within the reservoir housing and to be directly engaged with a vaporizing assembly for forming an aerosol. The reservoir housing, sealing member, substrate member, and/or vaporizing assembly can be used for forming aerosols with precise and reproducible compositions.

Abstract: A blockchain system for facilitating preparation and installation of electronic gaming devices using a blockchain network is provided. The blockchain system includes an electronic gaming machine (EGM). The EGM includes a memory, a network interface, and at least one processor. The processor is configured to execute the operating system and the blockchain client, initiate a software installation on the EGM of a software component after the EGM has been delivered to an operational venue, including transmitting a software request transaction into the blockchain network for addition to the blockchain, identify a software permission blockchain transaction from the blockchain authorizing the installation of the software component on the EGM, download the software component from a cloud server of a regulated cloud storing certified software images of software components for EGMs in the blockchain network, and install the software component on the EGM.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices and related methods of delivering aerosol to a user. The aerosol delivery devices may include a housing providing multiple aerosol pathways having a mouth-end opening through which aerosol can be inhaled by a user, the housing defining a first aerosol delivery pathway in fluid communication with the mouth-end opening and a second aerosol delivery pathway separate from the first aerosol delivery pathway and in fluid communication with the mouth-end opening. An atomizer including a heating element or piezoelectric element and a liquid transport element in fluid communication with an aerosol precursor composition is provided in fluid communication with the first aerosol delivery pathway. A flavorant-infused material is positioned within the second aerosol delivery pathway and adapted to produce a second aerosol upon contact between the flavorant-infused material and flowing air.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a reservoir containing a liquid aerosol precursor composition and an atomizer including an electrical resistance heating element and a nonfibrous liquid transport element having a microtextured surface adapted for surface wicking of the liquid aerosol precursor composition across the microtextured surface, the microtextured surface of the liquid transport element being in fluid communication with the reservoir and in fluid communication with the electric resistance heating element.