Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method of creating a design for an optoelectronic device is provided. A computing system determines an initial heater design that includes one or more heater parameters. The computing system determines a temperature gradation by simulating performance of the initial heater design in adjusting an environmental temperature to a nominal temperature. The computing system simulates performance of a nominal optimized design of a dispersive region of the optoelectronic device, given the temperature gradation, to determine a temperature-influenced performance loss value. The computing system determines a heater parameter gradient based on the temperature-influenced performance loss value, and revises the heater parameters based at least in part on the heater parameter gradient to create a revised heater design.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method of creating a design for an optoelectronic detector device is provided. A computing system determines an initial design that includes circuit parameters for at least one photodetector region and for conductors that couple the photodetector region to circuitry. The computing system simulates performance of an optically active region to generate a plurality of field values, and simulates performance of the at least one photodetector region based on the plurality of field values to generate charge values. The computing system simulates performance of at least the conductors based on the charge values to generate a performance loss value, and determines a loss metric based on the performance loss value. The computing system backpropagates the loss metric to determine a circuit parameter gradient, and revises the circuit parameters based at least in part on the circuit parameter gradient to create an updated initial design.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for designing a physical device is provided. A computing system generates an initial design based on a design specification. The initial design includes a list of features, and each feature of the list of features represents a convex shape. The computing system determines a set of signed distance fields that includes a signed distance field for each feature of the list of features, and determines a set of structural parameters using the set of signed distance fields. The computing system simulates performance of the initial design using the set of structural parameters to determine a performance loss value. The computing system determines at least one fabrication loss value using the set of signed distance fields. The computing system updates at least one feature of the list of features using the at least one fabrication loss value and a gradient of the performance loss value.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for designing a physical device is provided. A computing system determines whether a feature from a list of features is present in a set of structural parameters by, in response to determining whether a feature presence function indicates that the feature should be included in the set of structural parameters or not, updating the set of structural parameters to include the feature or refraining from updating the set of structural parameters to include the feature, accordingly. The computing system simulates performance of the initial design using the set of structural parameters to determine a performance loss value, determines a structural gradient based on the performance loss value, determines a feature gradient based on the performance loss value, and updates the features in the list of features based on the structural gradient and the feature gradient.

Abstract: A system may include a first wearable sensor in operable communication with a microcontroller. A system may include a second wearable sensor, wherein the microcontroller is configured to. A system may include receive a sensor signal from the first wearable sensor. A system may determine, based on the sensor signal, whether a collaborative interaction event occurred between the first wearable sensor and the second wearable sensor.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for designing a physical device is provided. A computing system generates an initial design that includes an input waveguide starting at an input location and extending to a end position, an output waveguide starting at a start position and extending to an output location, and a dispersive region. The computing system determines a set of structural parameters based on the initial design. The computing system simulates performance of the initial design using the set of structural parameters to determine a performance loss value based on at least one performance goal. The computing system updates at least one of the end position of the input waveguide, the start position of the output waveguide, or a size of the dispersive region in the initial design using a gradient of the performance loss value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for training photonic neural networks in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for training a set of one or more optical interference units (OIUs) of a photonic artificial neural network (ANN), wherein the method includes calculating a loss for an original input to the photonic ANN, computing an adjoint input based on the calculated loss, measuring intensities for a set of one or more phase shifters in the set of OIUs when the computed adjoint input and the original input are interfered with each other within the set of OIUs, computing a gradient from the measured intensities, and tuning phase shifters of the OIU based on the computed gradient.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for designing a physical device is provided. A computing system generates an initial design based on a design specification. The initial design includes a list of geometric shape primitives. The computing system determines a set of structural parameters using the list of geometric shape primitives. The computing system simulates performance of the initial design using the set of structural parameters to determine a performance loss value. The computing system updates at least one of a size or a location of at least one of the geometric shape primitives using a gradient of the performance loss value.

Abstract: Described herein are systems for collaborative interaction using wearable technology. An example system includes a wearable sensor configured to sense a collaborative interaction event, a microcontroller including a wireless transceiver, where the microcontroller is in operable communication with the wearable sensor, and where the microcontroller is configured to receive a sensor signal from the wearable sensor, and transmit, using the wireless transceiver, the sensor signal. The system also includes a computing device in operable communication with the microcontroller.

Abstract: In some embodiments, techniques for optimizing a design for a physical device to be fabricated by a fabrication system is provided. A computing system receives an initial design. The computing system simulates performance of the initial design to determine a simulated performance metric of the initial design. The computing system determines a Jacobian of the simulated performance metric of the initial design. The computing system backpropagates a gradient of the simulated performance metric of the initial design to generate an updated design. The computing system estimates performance of the updated design using the Jacobian of the simulated performance metric of the initial design to determine an estimated performance metric. The computing system backpropagates a gradient of the estimated performance metric to generate a further updated design.

Abstract: In some embodiments, techniques for optimizing a design for a physical device to be fabricated by a fabrication system is provided. A computing system receives an initial design. The computing system uses a fabrication model to determine structural parameters based on the initial design, wherein using the fabrication model includes applying one or more morphological transformations to the initial design that are predicted to be introduced by the fabrication system. The computing system obtains a performance metric by simulating performance of the structural parameters. The computing system determines a loss metric based on the performance metric. The computing system backpropagates a gradient of the loss metric to generate an updated design.

Abstract: Systems and methods for activation in an optical circuit in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes an optical activation circuit, wherein the circuit comprises a directional coupler, an optical-to-electrical conversion circuit, a time delay element, a nonlinear signal conditioner, and a phase shifter. The directional coupler receives an optical input and provides a first portion to the optical-to-electrical conversion circuit and a second portion to the time delay element, the time delay element provides a delayed signal to the phase shifter, and the optical-to-electrical conversion circuit converts an optical signal from the directional coupler to an electrical signal used to activate the phase shifter to shift the phase of the delayed signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for training photonic neural networks in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for training a set of one or more optical interference units (OIUs) of a photonic artificial neural network (ANN), wherein the method includes calculating a loss for an original input to the photonic ANN, computing an adjoint input based on the calculated loss, measuring intensities for a set of one or more phase shifters in the set of OIUs when the computed adjoint input and the original input are interfered with each other within the set of OIUs, computing a gradient from the measured intensities, and tuning phase shifters of the OIU based on the computed gradient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for activation in an optical circuit in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes an optical activation circuit, wherein the circuit comprises a directional coupler, an optical-to-electrical conversion circuit, a time delay element, a nonlinear signal conditioner, and a phase shifter. The directional coupler receives an optical input and provides a first portion to the optical-to-electrical conversion circuit and a second portion to the time delay element, the time delay element provides a delayed signal to the phase shifter, and the optical-to-electrical conversion circuit converts an optical signal from the directional coupler to an electrical signal used to activate the phase shifter to shift the phase of the delayed signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a range of particulate energetic materials with tailored particle sizes and extremely narrow particle size distributions. The use of membrane emulsification apparatus provides a means of formulating explosives with a selectable particle size, without the use of milling techniques to physically reduce the size of the particulates.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus (10) for cleaning an exposed surface (11) of an optical element (12), such as the exposed optical surface of a wide angle lens installed on a vehicle. The apparatus includes a collar (30) arranged to be disposed circumferentially around, and to rotate around, an axis (16) of the optical element which the apparatus is arranged to clean, and a wiper arm (20) coupled to the collar so as to rotationally clean the exposed surface as the collar rotates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a range of particulate energetic materials with tailored particle sizes and extremely narrow particle size distributions. The use of membrane emulsification apparatus provides a means of formulating explosives with a selectable particle size, without the use of milling techniques to physically reduce the size of the particulates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid flow device, in particular a capillary testing device provided as a chip, comprising a second pathway which intersects the first pathway at a downstream point of convergence, so that the two pathways share an outlet and when liquid in the second pathway reaches the point of convergence, liquid flow in the first pathway stops. Means for measuring the distance travelled by liquid in the first pathway are provided to determine the extent of liquid flow and to enable correlation with the amount of analyte in the liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying at least one cyclical load to an elongate specimen, comprising at least two reciprocating mass means 1 each comprising a mass (6) and an actuator (16), wherein the actuator (16) is (5) operatively associated with the mass (6) to move the mass (6) along a linear displacement path, mounting means (2) for mounting each actuator (16) to a specimen, and a control system operatively associated with each actuator (16), the control system operating each actuator (16) to reciprocate its corresponding mass (6) along its respective linear displacement path, wherein the reciprocating mass means (1) are spaced apart such that the actuators (16) move their corresponding masses (6) on separate, and substantially parallel, linear displacement paths is disclosed.

Abstract: A receiver includes a pre-correlation filter that forms an image of the average chip shape of a received signal over a specified period of time. The filter includes an array of complex accumulation registers that accumulate measurements that are associated with signal samples from specific ranges of locations, or code chip phase angles, along a spread-spectrum chip. Using the accumulated measurements, the receiver estimates the location of the chip transitions in a direct path signal component. The receiver may thereafter change the starting points, sizes and numbers of ranges, such that the accumulation registers accumulate more detail from the chip edges. The receiver in addition may use the accumulated measurements from selected registers and/or selected groups of registers, to produce the correlation values that are needed to perform one or more correlation techniques and/or one or more multipath mitigation techniques.