Abstract: A system may include a first vehicle and a first control system that may control one or more vehicle operations of the first vehicle. The first control system may perform operations including receiving a first vehicle operation signal from a second control system associated with a second vehicle, sending one or more requests to one or more computing systems for a confirmation of the first vehicle operation signal, and determining a set of vehicle instructions to control the one or more vehicle operations based on whether one or more responses from the one or more computing systems provide the confirmation. The first control system may then control the first vehicle based on the set of vehicle instructions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to detecting the use of fake voice command to activate microphones of smart devices. In one embodiment, sound characteristics associated with an audio signal from a microphone of smart device may be compared with other microphones of the smart device in order to detect fake voice commands. In another embodiment, sound characteristics associated with the audio signal from the microphone may be compared with a threshold range of stored sound characteristics in order to detect fake voice commands. In some embodiments, a controller may triangulate a position associated with a source of a sound in order to detect a fake voice command. In a further embodiment, a controller may verify that a user or associated electronic device are near a smart device to authorize a voice command.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can include a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, wherein the shaft defines an axis, and a disposable loading unit which is assembled to the shaft in a direction which is transverse to the shaft axis. Such a connection between the disposable loading unit and the shaft can prevent, or at least inhibit, the disposable loading unit from being unintentionally displaced proximally and/or distally relative to the shaft of the surgical instrument. The surgical stapling instrument and/or disposable loading unit can further include a threaded collar and/or detent assembly configured to hold the disposable loading unit in place. In various embodiments, a disposable loading unit can include a lockout feature which can prevent, or at least inhibit, an expended disposable loading unit from being reassembled to the elongated body of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A system configured to control operation of an ultrasonic surgical instrument is disclosed. The system comprises a generator configured to generate a signal, and a computer communicably coupled to the generator. The computer is configured to receive a first set of variables corresponding to a first signal at a first power level of the instrument, evaluate the first set of variables with a model to generate a first output, wherein the first output comprises a value between the first set of variables and a condition set, and wherein the condition set comprises a plurality of conditions that correspond to a plurality of responses, determine the first output meets a first threshold value for a first condition; determine a first response corresponding to the first condition, wherein the first response is a second power level for the instrument, and transmit the second power level to the generator for a second signal.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a body, an actuation assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The actuation assembly includes an activation member that is operable to move in a first direction to select a mode of operation. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body and includes an acoustic waveguide. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade that is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide. The activation member is operable to move in a second direction to activate the end effector in a mode of operation selected by movement of the activation member in the first direction.

Abstract: Features for loading, transporting and unloading of items are disclosed. Systems, devices and methods for such operations using a tray are described. In some embodiments, a tray having a moveable bottom allows for switching between a configuration for loading and unloading items in and out of the tray and a configuration for transportation of items inside the tray. The trays may also be stacked, for transportation of multiple trays at once, and nested, for saving space when storing the trays. In some embodiments, the trays may be used in conjunction with loading and unloading systems.

Abstract: Pointing interfaces that can be used to assemble/disassemble instruments/payloads from a spacecraft/host are disclosed. The disclosed interfaces provide structural, communications, power, and fluid connections (for thermal control). Such interfaces also provide active and passive vibration isolation capability for precision pointing. They can further act as an interface to the launch vehicle for secondary delivery of the instrument/payload to the spacecraft.

Abstract: Compositions, such as consumer products and/or fragrance compositions, that include an adamantyl ester-containing compound.

Abstract: An authentication system for granting access to an account associated with a user. An authenticator of the authentication system including a processor and a memory, the authenticator configured to: receive a request for authentication that identifies the user; access an authentication account associated with the user, wherein the authentication account indicates a smart device associated with the user; activate a control parameter of the smart device, wherein the control parameter may cause an effect in a media sample from the smart device; receive the media sample from the smart device and determine if the effect corresponding to the control parameter is observed in the media sample; and in response to a determination that the effect is not observed in the media sample, indicate that the request for authentication is a fraudulent request.

Abstract: An autonomous agricultural system comprising an implement configured to perform an agricultural operation. The system additionally comprises an autonomous power unit for autonomously propelling the implement. The system further comprises a coupling assembly configured to connect the implement to the power unit. The coupling assembly provides at least six degrees of freedom of movement between the implement and the power unit.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices configured to build and utilize an intelligent cipher transfer object are provided. The. intelligent cipher transfer object includes a set of participants protected by cloaking patterns. A portable dynamic rule set, which includes executable code for managing access to the protected set of participants, is included within the intelligent cipher transfer object. For a given user, the intelligent cipher transfer object may provide access to some of the participants while preventing access to other participants, based on the portable dynamic rule set therein.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices configured to build and utilize an intelligent cipher transfer object are provided. The. intelligent cipher transfer object includes a set of participants protected by cloaking patterns. A portable dynamic rule set, which includes executable code for managing access to the protected set of participants, is included within the intelligent cipher transfer object. For a given user, the intelligent cipher transfer object may provide access to some of the participants while preventing access to other participants, based on the portable dynamic rule set therein.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices configured to build and utilize an intelligent cipher transfer object are provided. The intelligent cipher transfer object includes a set of participants protected by cloaking patterns. A portable dynamic rule set, which includes executable code for managing access to the protected set of participants, is included within the intelligent cipher transfer object. For a given user, the intelligent cipher transfer object may provide access to some of the participants while preventing access to other participants, based on the portable dynamic rule set therein.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly is provided that includes two sections, the first section may be contoured and the second section may be a converging and diverging section that is downstream from the second section in the direction of gas flow. The contoured section, with a range of bend angles, allows for non-line-of-sight cold spray deposition, thereby providing location-specific control of the cold spray deposition process.

Abstract: A system and method for human motion detection and tracking are disclosed. In one embodiment, a smart device having an optical sensing instrument monitors a stage having a mat. Memory is accessible to a processor and communicatively coupled to the optical sensing instrument. The system captures an image frame from the optical sensing instrument while capturing a data frame from the mat. The image frame is then converted into a designated image frame format, which is provided to a pose estimator. A two-dimensional dataset is received from the pose estimator. The system then converts, using inverse kinematics, the two-dimensional dataset into a three-dimensional dataset, which includes time-independent static joint positions, and then calculates, using the three-dimensional dataset in conjunction with the data frame, the position of each of the respective plurality of body parts in the image frame.

Abstract: Methods are provided for a post-treatment process for use with coatings deposited via thermal spray and/or cold spray to modify the microstructures of the coatings and improve associated cohesion and adhesion properties. Such process includes performing ultrasonic consolidation of the spray coating as a post-treatment step after deposition of the spray coating onto a substrate. A system for spray deposition and ultrasonic consolidation is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for human motion detection and tracking are disclosed. In one embodiment, a smart device having an optical sensing instrument monitors a stage having a mat. Memory is accessible to a processor and communicatively coupled to the optical sensing instrument. The system captures an image frame from the optical sensing instrument while capturing a data frame from the mat. The image frame is then converted into a designated image frame format, which is provided to a pose estimator. A two-dimensional dataset is received from the pose estimator. The system then converts, using inverse kinematics, the two-dimensional dataset into a three-dimensional dataset, which includes time-independent static joint positions, and then calculates, using the three-dimensional dataset in conjunction with the data frame, the position of each of the respective plurality of body parts in the image frame.

Abstract: A cooling system for a cold spray nozzle or a thermal spray barrel and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The cooling system includes a sleeve with cooling fins that encapsulate a spray nozzle or barrel to enable heat transfer from the nozzle or barrel to the fins and then to the external ambient environment. The sleeve may optionally include one or more channels with cooling tubes to enable enhanced cooling with a cooling medium flowing through the tubes and across the fins.

Abstract: A computing system includes an input driver and a virtual input controller. The input driver is configured to receive input data from a first controller of a recognized data protocol and to provide the input data to an API of an application to control actions of a first participant in the gaming application. The virtual input controller is, in contrast, configured to receive input data from a second controller of a protocol incompatible with the input driver, translate the input data to the recognized data protocol; request a broadcast application identifier for a currently-broadcasting application from the broadcasting agent, and provide the translated input data to the input driver in association with the broadcast application identifier for controlling actions of a second participant in the application via the API of the gaming application.

Abstract: A cooling system for a cold spray nozzle or a thermal spray barrel and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The cooling system includes a sleeve with cooling fins that encapsulate a spray nozzle or barrel to enable heat transfer from the nozzle or barrel to the fins and then to the external ambient environment. The sleeve may optionally include one or more channels with cooling tubes to enable enhanced cooling with a cooling medium flowing through the tubes and across the fins.