Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems, apparatuses, methods, products, and other implementations of vapor pressure solids. In some embodiments, a vapor pressure solid may include a one- or multi-component matrix material. In some embodiments, the multi-components matrix material is a two-part PDMS comprising a first and second matrix material. The first matrix material is capable of being mixed with one or more vaporizable fluids that causes the first matrix material to swell. The second matrix material is capable of being mixed with the swelled first matrix material to produce an actuating material. When the actuating material is heated, the one or more vaporizable fluids expand, resulting in vapors. The increased pressure applied by the vapors causes the actuating material to expand.

Abstract: Technologies are provided herein for a modular deposition tool design that allows for both, the fast interchanging of materials and for easy cleaning of all wetted surfaces. A drive assembly for use in a solid freeform fabrication system, includes a drive module having a drive mechanism and a detachable material bay assembly that is detachable from the drive module. The material bay assembly includes a material bay holder, a material deposition tool, and a corresponding material bay actuation mechanism that can engage with the drive mechanism of the drive module when the material bay assembly is coupled to the drive module such that when the drive mechanism of the drive module is actuated, the material bay actuation mechanism is actuated, which causes the material deposition tool to deposit material from a material bay inserted in the material bay holder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article fabrication system having a plurality of material deposition tools containing one or more materials useful in fabricating the article, and a material deposition device having a tool interface for receiving one of the material deposition tools. A system controller is operably connected to the material deposition device to control operation of the material deposition device. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating an article using the system of the invention and a method of fabricating a living three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article fabrication system having a plurality of material deposition tools containing one or more materials useful in fabricating the article, and a material deposition device having a tool interface for receiving one of the material deposition tools. A system controller is operably connected to the material deposition device to control operation of the material deposition device. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating an article using the system of the invention and a method of fabricating a living three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article fabrication system having a plurality of material deposition tools containing one or more materials useful in fabricating the article, and a material deposition device having a tool interface for receiving one of the material deposition tools. A system controller is operably connected to the material deposition device to control operation of the material deposition device. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating an article using the system of the invention and a method of fabricating edible foodstuffs.

Abstract: A dexterous robotic apparatus includes an asymmetrical hand mechanism including only two finger components: a first independent finger and a second independent finger, and a respective first finger motor and a respective second finger motor disposed in the hand mechanism, wherein the hand mechanism is characterized by only two continuous degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A hybrid additive manufacturing approach that incorporates three-dimensional (3D) printing and placement of modules selected from a library of modules to fabricate an electromechanical assembly. By virtue of fabrication of the electromechanical assembly, mechanical properties and electrical properties of the assembly are created. The invention overcomes the material and process limitations of current printable electronics approaches, enabling complete, complex electromechanical assemblies to be fabricated.

Abstract: A bidirectional gear set includes a male bidirectional gear component having an array of addendum teeth and a female bidirectional gear component having an array of dedendum sockets, wherein each dedendum socket has a full boundary edge around an open end thereof. One or both of the male and female gear components may have a circular cross sectional geometry, or one may have a non-circular cross sectional geometry. The non-circular cross sectional geometry may be a flat sheet or a sheet with surface contour. In an intermeshed state, neither the male nor the female component can ‘slide’ relative to the other regardless of whether the male and female components are arranged in a parallel or perpendicular orientation. A method of making a bidirectional gear set is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention exploits a widely used device in micro-fluidics, the electro-osmotic pump (EOP), to create very low energy micro-scale and macro-scale mechanical actuators. The EOP uses electrical fields to move naturally occurring charged particles (ions) through a fluid medium. As the ions move in response to the applied field, they drag the (non-charged) fluid along, establishing bulk flow. When confined to a narrow chamber, a pressure gradient can be established. The combination of pressure gradient and flow performs mechanical work. With the use of electro-osmotic pumps, the invention enables actuators to be constructed in a variety of embodiments, including for example, a sheet structure, a piston structure, and a cellular structure to name a few.

Abstract: Competency of a participant is based on the probability of a participant selecting a particular answer is a function of that participant's ability (or ranking) and the correctness of the answer (either presented to or created by the participant). The participant's competency—or level of understanding of the content—is used to generate optimal test content.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article fabrication system having a plurality of material deposition tools containing one or more materials useful in fabricating the article, and a material deposition device having a tool interface for receiving one of the material deposition tools. A system controller is operably connected to the material deposition device to control operation of the material deposition device. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating an article using the system of the invention and a method of fabricating a living three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: Natural language learning in context is provided by generating combined text of a user's native tongue and language to be learned. The combined text is generated based on elements of code-switching including syntax and semantics. Combining text based on elements of code-switching maximizes the learnability or the likelihood of retaining certain text of a foreign language.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article fabrication system having a plurality of material deposition tools containing one or more materials useful in fabricating the article, and a material deposition device having a tool interface for receiving one of the material deposition tools. A system controller is operably connected to the material deposition device to control operation of the material deposition device. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating an article using the system of the invention and a method of fabricating a living three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: A device for inferring a probabilistic finite state automation is described. The device that may infer a probabilistic finite state automation from an observed trace. A device may include a computing device configured to infer a probabilistic finite state automation in order to predict the distribution of future symbols based on the recent past. Devices described herein may be useful in analyzing one or more of the following: probability of errors in signal transmission, flow of wealth in the stock market, geophysical phenomena (e.g., climate changes and seismic events, such as, earthquakes), ecology of evolving ecosystems (e.g., populations), genetic regulatory circuits and even social interaction dynamics (e.g., traffic patterns).

Abstract: A dexterous robotic apparatus includes an asymmetrical hand mechanism including only two finger components: a first independent finger and a second independent finger, and a respective first finger motor and a respective second finger motor disposed in the hand mechanism, wherein the hand mechanism is characterized by only two continuous degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A passive universal gripper includes a mass of granular material encased in an elastic membrane. Using a combination of positive and negative pressure, the gripper can rapidly grip and release a wide range of objects that are typically challenging for conventional universal grippers, such as flat objects, soft objects, or objects with complex geometries. The gripper passively conforms to the shape of a target object, then vacuum-hardens to grip it rigidly; later using positive pressure to reverse this transition—releasing the object and returning to a deformable state. The apparatus and method enable the fast ejection of objects from the gripper, as well as essentially instantaneous reset time between releasing and gripping.

Abstract: Data processing including a universal metric to quantify and estimate the similarity and dissimilarity between data sets. Data streams are perfectly annihilated by a correct realization of their anti-streams. Any deviation of the collision product from a baseline, for example flat white noise, quantifies statistical dissimilarity. The invention relates generally to data mining. More specifically, the invention relates to the analysis of data using a universal metric to quantify and estimate the similarity and dissimilarity between sets of data.

Abstract: A passive universal gripper includes a mass of granular material encased in an elastic membrane. Using a combination of positive and negative pressure, the gripper can rapidly grip and release a wide range of objects that are typically challenging for conventional universal grippers, such as flat objects, soft objects, or objects with complex geometries. The gripper passively conforms to the shape of a target object, then vacuum-hardens to grip it rigidly; later using positive pressure to reverse this transition—releasing the object and returning to a deformable state. The apparatus and method enable the fast ejection of objects from the gripper, as well as essentially instantaneous reset time between releasing and gripping.

Abstract: Given an image and an aligned depth map of an object, the invention predicts the 3D location, 3D orientation and opening width or area of contact for an end of arm tooling (EOAT) without requiring a physical model.

Abstract: The invention exploits a widely used device in micro-fluidics, the electro-osmotic pump (EOP), to create very low energy micro-scale and macro-scale mechanical actuators. The EOP uses electrical fields to move naturally occurring charged particles (ions) through a fluid medium. As the ions move in response to the applied field, they drag the (non-charged) fluid along, establishing bulk flow. When confined to a narrow chamber, a pressure gradient can be established. The combination of pressure gradient and flow performs mechanical work. With the use of electro-osmotic pumps, the invention enables actuators to be constructed in a variety of embodiments, including for example, a sheet structure, a piston structure, and a cellular structure to name a few.