Abstract: A Web-based system and method creates one or more qualitatively distinct process plans for machining a part. The surfaces of the part are modeled and parameters for a plurality of CNC machining tools are obtained, including the orientations along which the tool cuts away raw material. A maximal set of translations for each tool is also obtained, where each translation includes a collision-free orientation of the tool and a maximal machinable volume of material removable from the part in that orientation. A search engine navigates through a hierarchically-structured search space that starts at an initial state and transitions to successive states based on actions that satisfy a cost constraint function. Each state and each action includes a tool, orientation of the tool, and a maximal machinable volume. The search ends when a goal condition is satisfied. The actions constitute the process plan.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for cleaning a sensor are provided. A sensor can include a housing. The housing can include a curved lens. The sensor can further include an inlet configured to receive a pressurized fluid. The sensor can further include a rotatable fluid distributor positioned within the housing. The rotatable fluid distributor can be configured to receive the pressurized fluid from the inlet. The sensor can further include a plurality of nozzles positioned around an exterior of the housing. Each of the plurality of nozzles can be configured to direct a flow of the pressurized fluid onto at least a portion of the curved lens. When the pressurized fluid is provided to the inlet, the rotatable fluid distributor can be configured to receive the pressurized fluid from the inlet and distribute the pressurized fluid to only a subset of the plurality of nozzles at any time.

Abstract: A design analysis system includes a graphics viewer that renders computer-aided design (CAD) models of objects and enables annotation and review of the rendered object within the context of the graphics viewer. A first annotation from a set of annotations is displayed in the graphics viewer by displaying annotation data and rendering the object in the graphics viewer according to viewer state data captured at the time the first annotation was created. A second annotation from the set of annotations is then displayed by the graphics viewer displaying corresponding annotation data and modifying the rendering of the object according to viewer state data captured at the time the second annotation was created. Based on the CAD model and the annotations, instructions for manufacturing the object are generated.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for cleaning a sensor are provided. A sensor can include a housing. The housing can include a curved lens. The sensor can further include an inlet configured to receive a pressurized fluid. The sensor can further include a rotatable fluid distributor positioned within the housing. The rotatable fluid distributor can be configured to receive the pressurized fluid from the inlet. The sensor can further include a plurality of nozzles positioned around an exterior of the housing. Each of the plurality of nozzles can be configured to direct a flow of the pressurized fluid onto at least a portion of the curved lens. When the pressurized fluid is provided to the inlet, the rotatable fluid distributor can be configured to receive the pressurized fluid from the inlet and distribute the pressurized fluid to only a subset of the plurality of nozzles at any time.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for cleaning a sensor are provided. A sensor can include a housing, a rotatable disc, a plurality of nozzles, an inlet configured to receive a pressurized fluid, and one or more distribution channels configured to direct the pressurized fluid from the inlet to the rotatable disc. The housing can include a curved lens and a channel circumferentially positioned around a base of the housing. The rotatable disc can be positioned within the channel and configured to rotate around at least a portion of the housing within the channel. The plurality of nozzles can be positioned on the rotatable disc. The rotatable disc can direct the pressurized fluid onto at least a portion of the curved lens via the plurality of nozzles, thereby causing the rotatable disc to rotate around at least the portion of the housing.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a method for automatic analysis of design drawings to increase accuracy of quoting and generating manufacturing feedback as part of the manufacturing process of a product or mechanical part. A design drawing depicting a product can be automatically inspected to identify and classify characters included in the design drawing. The classified characters can then be processed by one or more tasks included in a rule engine to modify at least one of a quote or manufacturing feedback relating to the manufacturing process of the product.

Abstract: A Web-based system and method creates one or more qualitatively distinct process plans for machining a part. The surfaces of the part are modeled and parameters for a plurality of CNC machining tools are obtained, including the orientations along which the tool cuts away raw material. A maximal set of translations for each tool is also obtained, where each translation includes a collision-free orientation of the tool and a maximal machinable volume of material removable from the part in that orientation. A search engine navigates through a hierarchically-structured search space that starts at an initial state and transitions to successive states based on actions that satisfy a cost constraint function. Each state and each action includes a tool, orientation of the tool, and a maximal machinable volume. The search ends when a goal condition is satisfied. The actions constitute the process plan.

Abstract: A Web-based system and method creates one or more qualitatively distinct process plans for machining a part. The surfaces of the part are modeled and parameters for a plurality of CNC machining tools are obtained, including the orientations along which the tool cuts away raw material. A maximal set of translations for each tool is also obtained, where each translation includes a collision-free orientation of the tool and a maximal machinable volume of material removable from the part in that orientation. A search engine navigates through a hierarchically-structured search space that starts at an initial state and transitions to successive states based on actions that satisfy a cost constraint function. Each state and each action includes a tool, orientation of the tool, and a maximal machinable volume. The search ends when a goal condition is satisfied. The actions constitute the process plan.

Abstract: A method of generating a tool path for an additive manufacturing process, the tool path having an input polygon for a thick region, and an input path for a wire region. The method includes offsetting the input polygon by a minimum step over distance, creating a set of contour parallel offset lines, computing path segments from a medial axis transform of the input polygon, computing a dilation of the medial axis path by a radius approximately half the step over distance, producing a dilated medial axis, clipping the contour parallel offset paths by the medial axis path, producing, and recursively connect the medial axis paths with the clipped contour parallel paths.

Abstract: A Web-based system and method creates one or more qualitatively distinct process plans for machining a part. The surfaces of the part are modeled and parameters for a plurality of CNC machining tools are obtained, including the orientations along which the tool cuts away raw material. A maximal set of translations for each tool is also obtained, where each translation includes a collision-free orientation of the tool and a maximal machinable volume of material removable from the part in that orientation. A search engine navigates through a hierarchically-structured search space that starts at an initial state and transitions to successive states based on actions that satisfy a cost constraint function. Each state and each action includes a tool, orientation of the tool, and a maximal machinable volume. The search ends when a goal condition is satisfied. The actions constitute the process plan.

Abstract: A method of generating a tool path for an additive manufacturing process, the tool path having an input polygon for a thick region, and an input path for a wire region. The method includes offsetting the input polygon by a minimum step over distance, creating a set of contour parallel offset lines, computing path segments from a medial axis transform of the input polygon, computing a dilation of the medial axis path by a radius approximately half the step over distance, producing a dilated medial axis, clipping the contour parallel offset paths by the medial axis path, producing, and recursively connect the medial axis paths with the clipped contour parallel paths.

Abstract: A Web-based system and method uses a model of the manufacturing setup and knowledge of a designed part with arbitrary geometry to produce process plans in two successive stages. First, the part geometry is analyzed. A query of determining the maximal volume machinable from an oriented machining tool is transformed into determining the visibility of the part surface from the perspective of a hypothetical camera placed at the tip of the oriented machining tool. Second, a collection of the maximal machinable volumes over the set of all tool orientations is collected. Combinations of the maximal machinable volumes covering the entire difference between the raw stock and the desired part are evaluated for providing feedback on manufacturability and process plans. In a further embodiment, manufacturability is analyzed for tools and machines with arbitrary geometric complexity using high dimensional configuration space analysis.

Abstract: A method and system for measurement of ground based vehicle speed includes a movable platform that includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) located in proximity to a roadway, the UAV operates under control and navigation of a UAV control unit, and the UAV also carries camera and monitoring equipment, the camera and monitoring equipment including an onboard computing system, and a camera with a wide angle lens and a camera with a telephoto lens, the cameras being mounted on a pan/tilt device. An algorithm operated by the on-board computing system is used to detect and track vehicles moving on a roadway. The algorithm is configured to detect and track the vehicles despite motion created by movement of the UAV. The cameras mounted on the pan/tilt device are moved under the direction of the computer vision algorithm to maintain a target vehicle of the detected moving vehicles in view, and the speed of the target vehicle is measured.

Abstract: A method and system for measurement of ground based vehicle speed includes a movable platform that includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) located in proximity to a roadway, the UAV operates under control and navigation of a UAV control unit, and the UAV also carries camera and monitoring equipment, the camera and monitoring equipment including an onboard computing system, and a camera with a wide angle lens and a camera with a telephoto lens, the cameras being mounted on a pan/tilt device. An algorithm operated by the on-board computing system is used to detect and track vehicles moving on a roadway. The algorithm is configured to detect and track the vehicles despite motion created by movement of the UAV. The cameras mounted on the pan/tilt device are moved under the direction of the computer vision algorithm to maintain a target vehicle of the detected moving vehicles in view, and the speed of the target vehicle is measured.

Abstract: A Web-based system and method uses a model of the manufacturing setup and knowledge of a designed part with arbitrary geometry to produce process plans in two successive stages. First, the part geometry is analyzed. A query of determining the maximal volume machinable from an oriented machining tool is transformed into determining the visibility of the part surface from the perspective of a hypothetical camera placed at the tip of the oriented machining tool. Second, a collection of the maximal machinable volumes over the set of all tool orientations is collected. Combinations of the maximal machinable volumes covering the entire difference between the raw stock and the desired part are evaluated for providing feedback on manufacturability and process plans. In a further embodiment, manufacturability is analyzed for tools and machines with arbitrary geometric complexity using high dimensional configuration space analysis.