Abstract: Low profile object detection can be performed on mowers or other vehicles that may be autonomous. An autonomy controller can be employed on a mower to receive and process sensor data for a detection area to determine whether an object may be present in a region of interest within the detection area. When the autonomy controller determines that an object may be present, it can cause the ground speed of the mower to be slowed and can commence buffering region of interest sensor data over a period of time. The autonomy controller can process the buffered region of interest sensor data to determine whether an object is present in the region of interest, and if so, can alter the path of the mower appropriately.

Abstract: An integrated circuit thermal management system includes an enclosure, a heat exchanger, an integrated circuit, a slide having a moveable slide body, an electromagnetic coil, a magneto caloric material and controller circuitry. The heat exchanger is positioned on a first side of the enclosure, and the integrated circuit is positioned on a second side of the enclosure with a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the integrated circuit. The slide is disposed in the enclosure extending between the heat exchanger and the integrated circuit. The electromagnetic coil and the magnetocaloric material are included on the slide body. The controller is configured to control energization of the magnetic coil and movement of the magnetocaloric material on the slide body between the heat exchanger and the integrated circuit based on the temperature signal.

Abstract: In some examples, propulsion, electrical generation, and cooling system. The system comprises a gas turbine engine including a compressor and a bleed air outlet from the compressor, wherein the compressor is configured to compress a first fluid, wherein a portion of the compressed first fluid is directed out of the bleed air outlet to define bleed air from the compressor. The system also includes a turbo-generator including a combustor, wherein the combustor is configured to receive the bleed air from the compressor and combust a fuel with the bleed air, wherein the turbo-generator is configured to generate electrical energy via the combustion of the fuel by the combustor. The system also includes an air cycle cooling system configured to remove heat via an air cycle cooling process, wherein the air cycle cooling process is charged via the bleed air from the compressor. A compressor of the air cycle cooling system may be driven by a turbine of the turbo-generator or a turbine of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: An integrated circuit thermal management system includes an enclosure, a heat exchanger, an integrated circuit, a slide having a moveable slide body, an electromagnetic coil, a magneto caloric material and controller circuitry. The heat exchanger is positioned on a first side of the enclosure, and the integrated circuit is positioned on a second side of the enclosure with a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the integrated circuit. The slide is disposed in the enclosure extending between the heat exchanger and the integrated circuit. The electromagnetic coil and the magnetocaloric material are included on the slide body. The controller is configured to control energization of the magnetic coil and movement of the magnetocaloric material on the slide body between the heat exchanger and the integrated circuit based on the temperature signal.

Abstract: In examples, a propulsion and electrical generation system including a gas turbine engine including a compressor and a bleed air outlet from the compressor, wherein the compressor is configured to compress a fluid, wherein a portion of the compressed fluid is directed out of the bleed air outlet to define bleed air from the compressor; and a turbo-generator including a combustor, wherein the combustor includes a fuel inlet and a bleed air inlet, wherein the bleed air inlet is in fluid communication with the bleed air outlet from the compressor, wherein the combustor is configured to receive the bleed air via the bleed air inlet from the bleed air outlet of the gas turbine engine and receive fuel via the fuel inlet, wherein the combustor is configured to combust the received fuel with the received bleed air, wherein the turbo-generator is configured to generate electrical energy via the combustion of the fuel by the combustor.

Abstract: In some examples, a propulsion and electrical generation system including a gas turbine engine including a compressor and a bleed air outlet from the compressor, wherein the compressor is configured to compress a fluid, wherein a portion of the compressed fluid is directed out of the bleed air outlet to define bleed air from the compressor; and a turbo-generator including a combustor, wherein the combustor includes a fuel inlet and a bleed air inlet, wherein the bleed air inlet is in fluid communication with the bleed air outlet from the compressor, wherein the combustor is configured to receive the bleed air via the bleed air inlet from the bleed air outlet of the gas turbine engine and receive fuel via the fuel inlet, wherein the combustor is configured to combust the received fuel with the received bleed air, and wherein the turbo-generator is configured to generate electrical energy via the combustion of the fuel by the combustor.

Abstract: In some examples, propulsion, electrical generation, and cooling system. The system comprises a gas turbine engine including a compressor and a bleed air outlet from the compressor, wherein the compressor is configured to compress a first fluid, wherein a portion of the compressed first fluid is directed out of the bleed air outlet to define bleed air from the compressor. The system also includes a turbo-generator including a combustor, wherein the combustor is configured to receive the bleed air from the compressor and combust a fuel with the bleed air, wherein the turbo-generator is configured to generate electrical energy via the combustion of the fuel by the combustor. The system also includes an air cycle cooling system configured to remove heat via an air cycle cooling process, wherein the air cycle cooling process is charged via the bleed air from the compressor. A compressor of the air cycle cooling system may be driven by a turbine of the turbo-generator or a turbine of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A cooling system may include a cooling pump, a cooling source, a thermal energy storage, a mixing valve, a recharge valve, a recharge pump. The mixing valve may be in fluid communication with a thermal load. A first input of the mixing valve may be in fluid communication with the thermal energy storage. A second input of the mixing valve may be in fluid communication with the recharge pump. Operation of the recharge pump may cause heated cooling fluid output from the thermal load to bypass the cooling pump and flow to the second input of the mixing valve. The recharge valve may be in fluid communication with the thermal energy storage and the cooling pump. The recharge valve may regulate a recharge fluid flow comprising cooling fluid received from the thermal energy storage.

Abstract: A cooling system may include a cooling pump that causes cooling fluid received from a thermal load to flow to a cooling source, a low-load valve, a high-load valve, a thermal energy store, and a mixing valve. The cooling source and the low-load valve may be downstream from the cooling pump. The high load valve and thermal energy storage may be downstream from the cooling source. The first input of the mixing valve may be downstream from the thermal energy storage. The second input of the mixing valve may be downstream from the low-load valve and the high-load valve. The thermal load may be downstream from an output of the mixing valve. The cooling system may switch between a low load mode and a high load mode with coordinated operation of the low-load valve and high-load valve.

Abstract: A refrigeration system is described that includes a compression device configured to increase a pressure of a refrigerant. The refrigeration system further includes a first heat exchanger configured to reject heat from the refrigerant and reduce a temperature of the refrigerant. The refrigeration system further includes a storage device configured to store the refrigerant at a supercritical state. The refrigeration system further includes an expansion device configured to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant. The refrigeration system further includes a second heat exchanger configured to absorb heat into the refrigerant and increase the temperature of the refrigerant. The refrigeration system further includes a controller configured to release the refrigerant from the storage device to the expansion device to provide cooling capacity to the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A cooling system may include a cooling pump that causes cooling fluid received from a thermal load to flow to a cooling source, a low-load valve, a high-load valve, a thermal energy store, and a mixing valve. The cooling source and the low-load valve may be downstream from the cooling pump. The high load valve and thermal energy storage may be downstream from the cooling source. The first input of the mixing valve may be downstream from the thermal energy storage. The second input of the mixing valve may be downstream from the low-load valve and the high-load valve. The thermal load may be downstream from an output of the mixing valve. The cooling system may switch between a low load mode and a high load mode with coordinated operation of the low-load valve and high-load valve.

Abstract: A cooling system may include a cooling pump, a cooling source, a thermal energy storage, a mixing valve, a recharge valve, a recharge pump. The mixing valve may be in fluid communication with a thermal load. A first input of the mixing valve may be in fluid communication with the thermal energy storage. A second input of the mixing valve may be in fluid communication with the recharge pump. Operation of the recharge pump may cause heated cooling fluid output from the thermal load to bypass the cooling pump and flow to the second input of the mixing valve. The recharge valve may be in fluid communication with the thermal energy storage and the cooling pump. The recharge valve may regulate a recharge fluid flow comprising cooling fluid received from the thermal energy storage.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an oil circuit for providing oil to the engine, a fuel supply line, and an air-oil separating unit. The air-oil separating unit is configured to receive aerated oil from the engine via the oil circuit, flow the aerated oil in approximately a helical direction to de-aerate the oil, receive fuel from the fuel supply line, cool the aerated oil with the fuel while the aerated oil flows in the approximately helical direction, causing the fuel to heat, and pass the cooled and de-aerated oil and pass the heated fuel to the engine.

Abstract: In some examples, a technique includes forming, on a surface of a first layer of material, a second layer of material using an additive manufacturing process. The technique also may include imaging the second layer using a laser imaging device to generate a second layer image. Further, the technique may include determining, by a computing device, whether a thickness of the second layer, in a direction substantially normal to the surface of the first layer of material, is within a defined range of thickness for the second layer.

Abstract: A refrigeration system is described that includes a compression device configured to increase a pressure of a refrigerant. The refrigeration system further includes a first heat exchanger configured to reject heat from the refrigerant and reduce a temperature of the refrigerant. The refrigeration system further includes a storage device configured to store the refrigerant at a supercritical state. The refrigeration system further includes an expansion device configured to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant. The refrigeration system further includes a second heat exchanger configured to absorb heat into the refrigerant and increase the temperature of the refrigerant. The refrigeration system further includes a controller configured to release the refrigerant from the storage device to the expansion device to provide cooling capacity to the refrigeration system.

Abstract: An exemplary electrical system may include a power plant and a dual motor/generator assembly coupled to each other. The power plant may be a gas turbine engine, and may be operable to provide motive power. The dual motor/generator assembly may include a first motor/generator and a second motor/generator operatively coupled to a common gear shaft, and a gear box configured to couple the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator to the power plant. The first motor/generator and the second motor/generator may be operable to selectively provide power to or extract power from the power plant. The dual motor/generator assembly may be configured such that the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator may operate together at part loads, or individually as a main and a redundant, backup to the other.

Abstract: A turbine engine includes an electrical system having at least two generator circuits, one coupled to a high pressure portion of a gas turbine engine and the other coupled to a low pressure portion of the gas turbine engine. The electrical system actively cools an electrical generator during operation in order to ensure proper operation as well as extend the lifespan of the generator.

Abstract: An exemplary electrical system may include a power plant operable to provide motive power, and a first and a second motor/generator operatively coupled to a common gear shaft, and to the power plant via a gearbox and drive shaft. The exemplary electrical system may further include a system controller configured to selectively operate at least one of the first motor/generator and the second motor/generator in one of a motor operating mode and a generator operating mode based on at least one parameter. The at least one parameter may be, but is not limited to, vibration and torque. In the motor operating mode, the first and/or second motor/generator provides power to the power plant. In the generator operating mode, the first and/or the second motor/generator extracts power from the power plant.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an oil circuit for providing oil to the engine, a fuel supply line, and an air-oil separating unit. The air-oil separating unit is configured to receive aerated oil from the engine via the oil circuit, flow the aerated oil in approximately a helical direction to de-aerate the oil, receive fuel from the fuel supply line, cool the aerated oil with the fuel while the aerated oil flows in the approximately helical direction, causing the fuel to heat, and pass the cooled and de-aerated oil and pass the heated fuel to the engine.

Abstract: A turbine engine includes an electrical system having at least two generator circuits, one coupled to a high pressure portion of a gas turbine engine and the other coupled to a low pressure portion of the gas turbine engine. The electrical system actively cools an electrical generator during operation in order to ensure proper operation as well as extend the lifespan of the generator.