Abstract: A crop prediction system performs various machine learning operations to predict crop production and to identify a set of farming operations that, if performed, optimize crop production. The crop prediction system uses crop prediction models trained using various machine learning operations based on geographic and agronomic information. Responsive to receiving a request from a grower, the crop prediction system can access information representation of a portion of land corresponding to the request, such as the location of the land and corresponding weather conditions and soil composition. The crop prediction system applies one or more crop prediction models to the access information to predict a crop production and identify an optimized set of farming operations for the grower to perform.

Abstract: Advanced metering infrastructure integrated within electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). An example EVSE includes a housing, an AMI meter situated within the housing, an output terminal configured to connect to an electric vehicle, an output device, and an EVSE controller situated within the housing. The AMI meter is connected to a power grid. The EVSE controller is connected to the AMI meter, the output terminal, and the output device. The EVSE controller is configured to advertise a first charging current value to the output terminal and receive an indication of a high demand period of the power grid. The EVSE controller is configured to advertise, in response to the indication of the high demand period, a second charging current value to the output terminal, the second charging current value being less than the first charging current value, and provide, via the output device, a notification.

Abstract: An automatic lubricator for lubricating an object is provided. The lubricator includes a housing with a coupling section configured to couple with a lubricant container containing a lubricant, wherein the lubricant container comprises a rotatable shaft with a piston to dispense the lubricant from an output of the lubricant container. The lubricator further comprises an electric motor configured to drive the rotatable shaft of the lubricant container, such that at least a part of the lubricant is dispensable from the lubricant container, at least one sensor configured to provide a sensor signal indicative of at least one of a force exerted by the electric motor onto the rotatable shaft and a force exerted by the lubricant onto the container, and a control circuitry configured to determine a blockage of the output of the lubricant container based on the sensor signal of the at least one sensor.

Abstract: An automatic lubrication system for lubricating an object is provided, which includes a lubricant container configured to contain a lubricant and including a rotatable shaft with a piston to dispense the lubricant from an output of the lubricant container, a housing with a coupling section coupled with the lubricant container, an electric motor configured to drive the rotatable shaft of the lubricant container during at least one lubrication action, such that at least a part of the lubricant is dispensable from the lubricant container during the at least one lubrication action, at least one capacitive sensor including at least one electrode, wherein the at least one capacitive sensor is arranged at a wall of the lubricant container and configured to provide at least one sensor signal indicative of a capacitance in a vicinity of the at least one electrode, and a control circuitry configured to determine, based on the at least one sensor signal of the at least one capacitive sensor, at least one lubrication par

Abstract: An automatic lubricator for lubricating an object comprises a housing with a coupling section configured to couple with a lubricant container containing a lubricant. The lubricant container comprises a rotatable shaft with a piston to dispense the lubricant from an output of the lubricant container. The lubricator further comprises an electric motor configured to drive the rotatable shaft of the lubricant container during at least one lubrication action, such that at least a part of the lubricant is dispensable from the lubricant container during the at least one lubrication action, and a control circuitry for controlling the electric motor. The control circuitry is configured to determine a back electromotive force (BEMF) generated by the electric motor during at least a part of the at least one lubrication action, and to determine, based on the determined BEMF, at least one lubrication parameter indicative of the at least one lubrication action.

Abstract: An automatic lubricator for lubricating an object is described, which comprises a housing with a coupling section configured to couple with a lubricant container containing a lubricant, wherein the lubricant container comprises a rotatable shaft with a piston to dispense the lubricant from an output of the lubricant container. The lubricator further comprises an electric motor configured to drive the rotatable shaft of the lubricant container during at least one lubrication action, such that at least a part of the lubricant is dispensable from the lubricant container during the at least one lubrication action, and a power supply configured to supply the electric motor with a supply current during the at least one lubrication action.

Abstract: An exhaust gas heating element comprises a wafer that is substantially cylindrical with an axis and is made of metallic foam. A flexible, electrical insulating sheet covers an edge of the wafer with an overlap on each face of the wafer. A rigid assembly ring, a housing, and two electrodes are also provided. The rigid assembly ring is made from a cylinder trunk, at least a first edge of which is serrated in such a way as to be able to immobilize the wafer and the flexible, electrical insulating sheet in the rigid assembly ring by folding teeth, substantially at 90°.

Abstract: An automatic lubricator for lubricating an object. The lubricator includes a housing with a coupling section configured to couple with a lubricant container containing a lubricant. The lubricant container includes a rotatable shaft with a piston to dispense the lubricant from an output of the lubricant container. An electric motor is configured to drive the rotatable shaft of the lubricant container during at least one lubrication action, such that at least a part of the lubricant is dispensable from the lubricant container during the at least one lubrication action. At least one sensor is arranged within the housing and configured to provide a sensor signal indicative of a distance between the at least one sensor and the piston of the lubricant container, and a control circuitry configured to determine, based on the sensor signal, at least one lubrication parameter indicative of the at least one lubrication action.

Abstract: An automatic lubricator for lubricating an object. The lubricator includes a housing with a coupling section configured to couple with a lubricant container containing a lubricant. The lubricant container includes a rotatable shaft with a piston to dispense the lubricant from an output of the lubricant container. An electric motor is configured to drive the rotatable shaft of the lubricant container during at least one lubrication action, such that at least a part of the lubricant is dispensable from the lubricant container during the at least one lubrication action. At least one sensor is arranged within the housing and configured to provide a sensor signal indicative of a distance between the at least one sensor and the piston of the lubricant container, and a control circuitry configured to determine, based on the sensor signal, at least one lubrication parameter indicative of the at least one lubrication action.

Abstract: An automatic lubricator for lubricating an object is provided. The lubricator includes a housing with a coupling section configured to couple with a lubricant container containing a lubricant, wherein the lubricant container comprises a rotatable shaft with a piston to dispense the lubricant from an output of the lubricant container. The lubricator further includes an electric motor configured to drive the rotatable shaft of the lubricant container during at least one lubrication action, such that at least a part of the lubricant is dispensable from the lubricant container during the at least one lubrication action.

Abstract: An automatic lubricator for lubricating an object is provided. The lubricator includes a housing with a coupling section configured to couple with a lubricant container containing a lubricant, wherein the lubricant container comprises a rotatable shaft with a piston to dispense the lubricant from an output of the lubricant container. The lubricator further comprises an electric motor configured to drive the rotatable shaft of the lubricant container, such that at least a part of the lubricant is dispensable from the lubricant container, at least one sensor configured to provide a sensor signal indicative of at least one of a force exerted by the electric motor onto the rotatable shaft and a force exerted by the lubricant onto the container, and a control circuitry configured to determine a blockage of the output of the lubricant container based on the sensor signal of the at least one sensor.

Abstract: An automatic lubrication system for lubricating an object is provided, which includes a lubricant container configured to contain a lubricant and including a rotatable shaft with a piston to dispense the lubricant from an output of the lubricant container, a housing with a coupling section coupled with the lubricant container, an electric motor configured to drive the rotatable shaft of the lubricant container during at least one lubrication action, such that at least a part of the lubricant is dispensable from the lubricant container during the at least one lubrication action, at least one capacitive sensor including at least one electrode, wherein the at least one capacitive sensor is arranged at a wall of the lubricant container and configured to provide at least one sensor signal indicative of a capacitance in a vicinity of the at least one electrode, and a control circuitry configured to determine, based on the at least one sensor signal of the at least one capacitive sensor, at least one lubrication par

Abstract: An automatic lubricator for lubricating an object is described, which comprises a housing with a coupling section configured to couple with a lubricant container containing a lubricant, wherein the lubricant container comprises a rotatable shaft with a piston to dispense the lubricant from an output of the lubricant container. The lubricator further comprises an electric motor configured to drive the rotatable shaft of the lubricant container during at least one lubrication action, such that at least a part of the lubricant is dispensable from the lubricant container during the at least one lubrication action, and a control circuitry for controlling the electric motor. Therein, the control circuitry is configured to determine a back electromotive force, BEMF, generated by the electric motor during at least a part of the at least one lubrication action, and to determine, based on the determined BEMF, at least one lubrication parameter indicative of the at least one lubrication action.

Abstract: An automatic lubricator for lubricating an object is described, which comprises a housing with a coupling section configured to couple with a lubricant container containing a lubricant, wherein the lubricant container comprises a rotatable shaft with a piston to dispense the lubricant from an output of the lubricant container. The lubricator further comprises an electric motor configured to drive the rotatable shaft of the lubricant container during at least one lubrication action, such that at least a part of the lubricant is dispensable from the lubricant container during the at least one lubrication action, and a power supply configured to supply the electric motor with a supply current during the at least one lubrication action.

Abstract: A rotation rod assembly includes a first linkage rod having a first bore extending therein. The rotation rod assembly includes a second linkage rod having a piston section extending axially therefrom, the piston section is disposed for rotation in the first bore. The piston section is axially restrained in the bore. The piston section has a self-lubricating liner secured to at least one outer surface thereof. The self-lubricating liner is in sliding engagement with portions of the bore. The liner is secured to the radially and/or axially outer surfaces of the piston section and has at least one groove therein for collection of wear materials and debris.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor shield for use in a multi-shelf merchandise display unit including a plurality of sensors mounted on a wall of the unit and opposite a source of illumination, in which each sensor corresponds to a single shelf and in which the shelves are at least semi-porous to the illumination. The shield comprises i) a plate having a length that is sufficient substantially to reduce or prevent incident illumination from the shelf above reaching the sensor; and ii) means to attach the plate to casing of or around the sensor or the wall of the unit. The plate is opaque to the illumination detected by the sensor. Also disclosed is a method to reduce the interference of light in a multi-shelf merchandise display unit from shelves above a shelf on which stock levels are being measured and a method for monitoring stock levels in a retail display cabinet by measuring light entering the retail display cabinet.

Abstract: A rotation rod assembly includes a first linkage rod having a first bore extending therein. The rotation rod assembly includes a second linkage rod having a piston section extending axially therefrom, the piston section is disposed for rotation in the first bore. The piston section is axially restrained in the bore. The piston section has a self-lubricating liner secured to at least one outer surface thereof. The self-lubricating liner is in sliding engagement with portions of the bore. The liner is secured to the radially and/or axially outer surfaces of the piston section and has at least one groove therein for collection of wear materials and debris.

Abstract: Described is a method for maintaining a retail display or vending unit. The method includes obtaining and storing data from sensors located in or on the unit in a control system including data communication means, wherein the data is sent to and accessed by remote telecommunication means via the data communication means, and wherein operation of the unit is changed based on the data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method to enable a retail display or vending unit to switch to or from an energy saving mode. The method comprises listening for a radio frequency emitted by a mobile telephone and switching the unit from an energy saving mode when a radio frequency is detected and switching the unit to an energy saving mode when no radio frequency is detected. Also described is a retail display or vending unit comprising means to detect a radio frequency emitted from a mobile telephone and means to enable automatic switching off of components and/or processes and systems within the unit when low or no radio frequency is detected and to switch on components and/or processes and systems within the unit when radio frequency is detected.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor shield for use in a multi-shelf merchandise display unit including a plurality of sensors mounted on a wall of the unit and opposite a source of illumination, in which each sensor corresponds to a single shelf and in which the shelves are at least semi-porous to the illumination. The shield comprises i) a plate having a length that is sufficient substantially to reduce or prevent incident illumination from the shelf above reaching the sensor; and ii) means to attach the plate to casing of or around the sensor or the wall of the unit. The plate is opaque to the illumination detected by the sensor. Also disclosed is a method to reduce the interference of light in a multi-shelf merchandise display unit from shelves above a shelf on which stock levels are being measured and a method for monitoring stock levels in a retail display cabinet by measuring light entering the retail display cabinet.