Abstract: A small to mid-scale liquefied natural gas production system and method is provided. The disclosed liquefied natural gas production system employs a nitrogen-based refrigerant, at least one heat exchanger, three turbine/expanders and two or more refrigerant compression stages. The expansion ratio of one turbine/expander is appreciably lower than the expansion ratio of the other turbine/expanders such that the temperature of the exhaust stream from the turbine/expander with the lower expansion ratio is above the critical point temperature of the compressed natural gas containing feed stream but colder than -15° C.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a unique identifier of a device, the device including a quantum tunnelling barrier unique to the device. The method comprises applying a potential difference across the quantum tunnelling barrier, the potential difference sufficient to enable tunnelling of charge carriers through the quantum tunnelling barrier. The method further comprises measuring an electrical signal, the electrical signal representative of a tunnelling current through the quantum tunnelling barrier, the tunnelling current characteristic of the quantum tunnelling barrier. The method further comprises determining, from the measured electrical signal, a unique identifier for the device. Related apparatuses, systems, computer-readable media and methods are also provided herein.

Abstract: This disclosure enables various technologies that can (1) learn new synonyms for a given concept without manual curation techniques, (2) relate (e.g., map) some, many, most, or all raw named entity recognition outputs (e.g., “United States”, “United States of America”) to ontological concepts (e.g., ISO-3166 country code: “USA”), (3) account for false positives from a prior named entity recognition process, or (4) aggregate some, many, most, or all named entity recognition results from machine learning or rules based approaches to provide a best of breed hybrid approach (e.g., synergistic effect).

Abstract: This disclosure enables various technologies that can (1) learn new synonyms for a given concept without manual curation techniques, (2) relate (e.g., map) some, many, most, or all raw named entity recognition outputs (e.g., “United States”, “United States of America”) to ontological concepts (e.g., ISO-3166 country code: “USA”), (3) account for false positives from a prior named entity recognition process, or (4) aggregate some, many, most, or all named entity recognition results from machine learning or rules based approaches to provide a best of breed hybrid approach (e.g., synergistic effect).

Abstract: A system and method for liquefaction of natural gas using two distinct refrigeration circuits having compositionally different working fluids and operating at different temperature levels is provided. The turbomachinery associated with the liquefaction system are driven by a single three-pinion, three-turbine integral gear machine with customized pairing arrangements. The system and method of natural gas liquefaction further includes the conditioning of a lower pressure natural gas containing feed stream to produce a purified, compressed natural gas stream at a pressure equal to or above the critical pressure of natural gas and substantially free of heavy hydrocarbons to be liquefied.

Abstract: A system and method for liquefaction of natural gas using two distinct refrigeration circuits having compositionally different working fluids and operating at different temperature levels is provided. The turbomachinery associated with the liquefaction system are driven by a single three-pinion or four-pinion integral gear machine with customized pairing arrangements. The system and method of natural gas liquefaction further includes the conditioning of a lower pressure natural gas containing feed stream to produce a purified, compressed natural gas stream at a pressure equal to or above the critical pressure of natural gas and substantially free of heavy hydrocarbons to be liquefied.

Abstract: A system and method for liquefaction of natural gas using two distinct refrigeration circuits having compositionally different working fluids and operating at different temperature levels is provided. The turbomachinery associated with the liquefaction system are driven by a single three-pinion, three-turbine integral gear machine with customized pairing arrangements. The system and method of natural gas liquefaction further includes the conditioning of a lower pressure natural gas feed stream to produce a purified, compressed natural gas stream at a pressure equal to or above the critical pressure of natural gas and substantially free of heavy hydrocarbons to be liquefied.

Abstract: A system and method for liquefaction of natural gas using two distinct refrigeration circuits having compositionally different working fluids and operating at different temperature levels is provided. The turbomachinery associated with the liquefaction system are driven by a single three-pinion or four-pinion integral gear machine with customized pairing arrangements. The system and method of natural gas liquefaction further includes the conditioning of a lower pressure natural gas containing feed stream to produce a purified, compressed natural gas containing stream at a pressure equal to or above the critical pressure of natural gas and substantially free of heavy hydrocarbons to be liquefied.

Abstract: A system and method for liquefaction of natural gas using two distinct refrigeration circuits having compositionally different working fluids and operating at different temperature levels is provided. The turbomachinery associated with the liquefaction system are driven by a single three-pinion or four-pinion integral gear machine with customized pairing arrangements. The system and method of natural gas liquefaction further includes the conditioning of a lower pressure natural gas containing feed stream to produce a purified, compressed natural gas stream at a pressure equal to or above the critical pressure of natural gas and substantially free of heavy hydrocarbons to be liquefied.

Abstract: A system and method for liquefaction of natural gas containing feed stream using two distinct refrigeration circuits having compositionally different working fluids and operating at different temperature levels is provided. The turbomachinery associated with the liquefaction system are driven by a single three-pinion or four-pinion integral gear machine with customized pairing arrangements. The system and method of natural gas liquefaction further includes the conditioning of a lower pressure natural gas containing feed stream to produce a purified, compressed natural gas containing stream at a pressure equal to or above the critical pressure of natural gas and substantially free of heavy hydrocarbons to be liquefied.

Abstract: A disclosed system is configured to estimate an attention state of a subject within a scene. An imaging camera captures digital images of the subject and one or more light sources illuminate the subject during a period in which the digital images are captured. The system also includes a processor that processes the captured images to generate subject attention data of the subject. The processor further generates a primary visual attention ray of the subject from current subject attention data; generates a distribution of visual attention rays having an origin common to the primary visual attention ray; projects the visual attention rays onto a digital representation of the scene having a plurality of predefined regions of interest; determines an intersection of the projected visual attention rays with one or more of the regions of interest; and based on the intersection, estimates an attention state of the subject's attention.

Abstract: An aircraft includes an active drag control system such as a Laminar Flow Control (LFC) system having a port LFC apparatus and a starboard LFC apparatus. The aircraft has a control system to test how efficiently the LFC system is working by differentially operating the port LFC apparatus and the starboard LFC apparatus, for example by deactivating either LFC apparatus, and measuring the effect on the direction of flight of the aircraft. The control system also can change the direction of the aircraft, and trim the aircraft, by differentially operating the port LFC apparatus and the starboard LFC apparatus.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with computerized item rental using beacons are described. In one embodiment, a method includes maintaining a data structure mapping user identifiers to beacon identifiers associated with rental items being rented by corresponding users. The example method may also receiving a beacon signal from a beacon device associated with a rental time. The example method may also include querying the data structure using a beacon identifier extracted from the beacon signal to determine if the rental item is rented or available for rent. The example method may also include creating an entry within the data structure to indicate that the rental item is now being rented.

Abstract: A wing assembly mount for mounting a wing to a fuselage of an aircraft. The wing assembly mount includes a spigot arrangement between a wing assembly and a fuselage assembly. The spigot arrangement is able to react a load between the wing assembly and the fuselage assembly.

Abstract: A method of providing ice protection on a surface of an aircraft using exhaust air from a laminar flow control compressor. An aircraft structure, for example a wing, includes a skin. The skin has an external surface, on an outer face of the skin. The skin has an internal surface, located opposite the external surface on an inner face of the skin. The aircraft structure includes a laminar flow control system including a compressor. The aircraft structure is so arranged that the exhaust air from the compressor is directed onto the internal surface of the skin of the aircraft structure, for example thus providing hot exhaust air which function as an ice protection system (whether by de-icing or anti-icing).

Abstract: Described herein is a mount (1) for supporting a mobile device (3) having a wireless transceiver (60) within a vehicle (5) having a driver. The mount (1) includes a body (7) having a supporting formation (9) adapted to releasably support the mobile device (3) in a supported operative position within the vehicle (5). The mount (1) also includes an electrical interface (25) for connecting to an external power source, the interface (25) being positioned to engage a complementary electrical port (27) of the mobile device (3) when the mobile device (3) is in the operative position to supply power to the mobile device (3). The mount (1) and the mobile device (3) collectively define an illumination device (29, 31) and a first camera (33) that cooperate to obtain predetermined performance information about the driver.

Abstract: An aircraft is disclosed having a structure at least part of which is capable of generating aerodynamic lift. A body having a mass is movably mounted to a portion of the structure by an active support. The active support includes an actuator to move the body relative to the portion of the structure, and a controller for controlling movement of the actuator in response to a dynamic input. The active support provides a range of movement for the body in at least one degree of freedom. The actuator moves the body across the entire range of movement in that one degree of freedom in a time period of less than 3 seconds. The actuator moves the body sufficiently rapidly to generate an inertial force that is equal to or greater than any aerodynamic force generated by the body during that movement of the body. The active support may be used to reduce loads on the aircraft structure.

Abstract: A disclosed system is configured to estimate an attention state of a subject within a scene. An imaging camera captures digital images of the subject and one or more light sources illuminate the subject during a period in which the digital images are captured. The system also includes a processor that processes the captured images to generate subject attention data of the subject. The processor further generates a primary visual attention ray of the subject from current subject attention data; generates a distribution of visual attention rays having an origin common to the primary visual attention ray; projects the visual attention rays onto a digital representation of the scene having a plurality of predefined regions of interest; determines an intersection of the projected visual attention rays with one or more of the regions of interest; and based on the intersection, estimates an attention state of the subject's attention.

Abstract: A disclosed monitoring system includes infrared light sources that illuminate a subject in a sequenced manner and a camera that captures images of the subject during periods in which the subject is illuminated by one of the light sources. The system includes a processor that analyzes captured images to determine a brightness measure of the images, and a controller controls output power of the infrared light sources in response to the brightness measure. In response to the processor detecting a brightness measure below a predetermined brightness threshold, the controller is configured to switch off or reduce an output illumination intensity of one of the infrared light sources. A disclosed method further determines whether an emission source is occluded by modulating an intensity of an electromagnetic emission source, detecting whether the modulation pattern is present in captured images, and determining that the emission source is occluded based on the detected modulation.

Abstract: An aircraft landing gear arrangement with an airbag attached inside a landing gear bay is disclosed. The airbag has a deflated configuration and a first inflated configuration, wherein, when the landing gear is in the extended position and when the airbag is in the first inflated configuration, the airbag closes off the landing gear bay. The airbag may substantially close off the landing gear bay. The airbag may comprise an external surface, wherein the external surface of the airbag closes off at least a significant proportion of the landing gear bay and lies substantially flush with an external surface of the aircraft body. An aircraft, methods of operating a landing gear arrangement, and methods of operating an aircraft are disclosed.