Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for preparing an extruded product from a solid billet. The methods can include providing an as-cast billet for extrusion; applying a simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force to the as-cast billet to plasticize the as-cast billet; and extruding the plasticized as-cast billet with an extrusion die to form an extruded product. Methods for preparing extruded products from billets can also include: providing a billet for extrusion; while maintaining a majority of the billet below 100° C., applying a simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force to one end of the billet to plasticize the one end of the billet; and extruding the plasticized one end of the billet with an extrusion die to form an extruded product.

Abstract: A Friction Stir Welding (FSW) approach can be used to join two structures, such as a plate to a base structure, or two portions of a wall of a structure such as a tubular structure (e.g., a pipe or vessel). According to various examples, FSW can be used for forming welds on an exterior-facing portion of a structure (e.g., externally), or on an interior-facing portion of a structure, such as within a confined environment. As an example, FSW can be performed within the confined environment using a compact spindle configuration as shown and described herein. FSW generally refers to a solid-phase processing technique where a tool is applied to a work piece, with rotation of the tool relative to the workpiece along with application of a forging force to drive a face of the tool into the workpiece to frictionally induce plastic deformation of material.

Abstract: Devices and methods for performing shear-assisted extrusion processes for forming extrusions of a desired composition from a feedstock material are provided. The processes can use a device having a scroll face having an inner diameter portion bounded by an outer diameter portion, and a member extending from the inner diameter portion beyond a surface of the outer diameter portion. Extrusion feedstocks and extrusion processes are provided for forming extrusions of a desired composition from a feedstock. The processes can include providing a feedstock having at least two different materials and engaging the materials with one another within a feedstock container. Methods for preparing metal sheets are provided that can include preparing a metal tube via shear assisted processing and extrusion; opening the metal tube to form a sheet having a first thickness; and rolling the sheet to a second thickness that is less than the first thickness.

Abstract: Implementations are described herein that relate to manufacturing articles comprised of one or more metallic materials. In one or more examples, the one or more metallic materials can have a preformed shape that is inserted into the die. In one or more additional examples, the one or more metallic materials can include one or more powders or flakes disposed in the die. The material is then contacted within the die by a tool that moves in a rotational direction and in a vertical direction. The manufactured articles can have a shape that corresponds to the shape of the die.

Abstract: An automated order fulfillment system and mobile robot are disclosed, where the mobile robot includes a compliant drive for moving between levels of a multilevel storage structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a wall module. The wall module includes a panel that includes a first portion having an end and a second portion having a first end offset laterally from the end of the first portion in a first direction along a virtual plane. The wall module includes a plurality of pieces coupled to the first portion. Each piece of the plurality of pieces is configured to receive an end of an elongate member. The plurality of pieces include a first piece proximate to the end of the first portion of the panel. The first piece is configured to receive an end of a first elongate member. The wall modules includes a band coupled to the second portion in a position proximate to a second end of the second portion opposite to the first end of the second portion.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and products for use in a pole support system. Apparatus include a hinge joint comprising: a base having an insertion end with a longitudinal slot and with a fulcrum protrusion on an inner surface; a cup having a receiving end selectively receiving the insertion end of the base; a securing assembly configured to selectively release the cup from the base, the securing assembly comprising a rotatable shaft that translates along the longitudinal slot between at least i) a lower relative position corresponding to an engaged state in which the insertion end is received by the receiving end, and ii) an upper relative position corresponding to a released state in which the insertion end is free of the receiving end; the shaft having a cam projection positioned to contact against the fulcrum protrusion and displace the shaft toward the upper relative position when the shaft is rotated.

Abstract: Shear-assisted extrusion processes for forming extrusions of a desired composition from a feedstock material are provided. The processes can include applying a rotational shearing force and an axial extrusion to the same location on the feedstock material. Devices for this can include a die tool defined by a die face extending from a rim of the die face inwardly at an angle greater than zero in relation to a sidewall of the die tool in at least one cross section; and/or a die tool defining an opening configured to receive feedstock material for extrusion and further defining a die face defining a recess within the die face and contiguous with the opening. Shear-assisted extrusion processes are also provided that can mix different portions of the feedstock material within a recess about the opening prior to feedstock material entering the opening; and extruding the mixed portions.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and products for use in a pole support system. Apparatus include a hinge joint comprising: a base having an insertion end with a longitudinal slot and with a fulcrum protrusion on an inner surface; a cup having a receiving end selectively receiving the insertion end of the base; a securing assembly configured to selectively release the cup from the base, the securing assembly comprising a rotatable shaft that translates along the longitudinal slot between at least i) a lower relative position corresponding to an engaged state in which the insertion end is received by the receiving end, and ii) an upper relative position corresponding to a released state in which the insertion end is free of the receiving end; the shaft having a cam projection positioned to contact against the fulcrum protrusion and displace the shaft toward the upper relative position when the shaft is rotated.

Abstract: A tunable or swept laser architecture that is appropriate for swept source optical coherence tomography and other applications including spectroscopy employing a cat's-eye configuration with a preferably transmissive tilt tuned interference thin film filter. A cavity element is used in the laser. It has a front surface and a back surface, the front surface being configured to receive the collimated light and the back surface comprising a mirror or output coupler surface.

Abstract: Systems, computer program products, and methods are described herein for combined processing of disparate resource types. The present disclosure is configured to receive user resource account data for one or more disparate accounts; generate a consolidated resource accrual account for the one or more disparate accounts; calculate a conversion rate of resource denominations for each of the one or more disparate accounts to a common resource point value; generate a total resource point value for the one or more disparate accounts; transmit instructions to user device to display an account landing page including the total resource point value; update the account landing page based on additional user resource account data; organize user resource account data and additional user resource account data based on disparate account source; and display an itemized resource point value breakdown via the account landing page.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to high-security digital payment systems with instant activation. The systems may include multiple stages of authorization. The multiple stages of authorization may include increasing thresholds of criteria. The system may also include multiple payment instruments with seamless digital wallet integration.

Abstract: A method for shear-assisted extrusion of a billet or feedstock can involve extruding a first portion of the feedstock through a die opening while rotating the die face relative to the feedstock at a first rotational rate and applying a first axial extrusion force. A second portion of the feedstock can be extruded through the opening while rotating the die face at a second rotational rate and applying a second axial extrusion force. This can establish different temperature ranges at the interface for each portion, resulting in a first extruded portion with different physical properties than the second extruded portion.

Abstract: An automated order fulfillment system and mobile robot are disclosed, where the mobile robot includes a compliant drive for moving between levels of a multilevel storage structure.

Abstract: In one example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores executable program instructions that detect, at a remote device node, vulnerability data associated with an exploitable vulnerability of a target enterprise network; retrieve, by a first local device node, the vulnerability data, which may include a CVSS score, determine, by a second local device node, a vulnerability score VT by determining a first subscore VT1, where the first subscore VT1 is based on a Maximized Confidentiality Impact (MCI) metric that is a modified privacy metric to capture the privacy impact of the exploitable vulnerability, where the first subscore VT1 is also based on a Maximized Highest Impact (MHI) metric to capture reputation damage based on an outsized single impact attribute, and on a Modified Confidentiality (MC) metric, Modified Integrity (MI) metric and Modified Availability (MA) as provided by CVSS; and remediate the exploitable vulnerability based on the vulnerability score VT.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for preparing an extruded product from a solid billet. The methods can include providing an as-cast billet for extrusion; applying a simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force to the as-cast billet to plasticize the as-cast billet; and extruding the plasticized as-cast billet with an extrusion die to form an extruded product. Methods for preparing extruded products from billets can also include: providing a billet for extrusion; while maintaining a majority of the billet below 100° C., applying a simultaneous rotational shear and axial extrusion force to one end of the billet to plasticize the one end of the billet; and extruding the plasticized one end of the billet with an extrusion die to form an extruded product.

Abstract: A wall module for a modular wall having a wall segment with a top, bottom, front, back, first end, and back end. A first component of a connector is preferably and extended tongue and is attached to the second end of a wall segment. The second component of a connector is preferably an extended groove in the first end of the wall segment. Preferably, a channel exists along the length of each wall segment at top. Also, preferably either a ring segment or an elongate member is in such channel and is connected to a leg. And preferably the ring segment or elongate member connects to the corresponding element on an adjacent wall segment when such adjacent wall segment has been connected to the first wall segment.

Abstract: A tool assembly for friction extrusion can comprise a friction extrusion die. The friction extrusion die can include a distal face and a proximal end. The distal face can define at least one topographical ridge or groove feature to induce plasticization of a material in response to an axial force and a rotational force applied by the distal face to the material. The friction extrusion die can define a central passage to carry an extrudate of the material in a proximal direction in response to the applied axial and rotational forces. The proximal end can define a faceted cross-sectional profile to mate a with a corresponding receiving end of a tool holder. The faceted cross-sectional profile can be sized and shaped to receive the rotational force through engagement by the tool holder of respective faces defined by the faceted cross-sectional profile.

Abstract: An automated order fulfillment system and mobile robot are disclosed, where the mobile robot includes a compliant drive for moving between levels of a multilevel storage structure. In one example, the compliant drive comprises a drive shaft having splines configured to provide rotational play that prevents jamming of a vertical drive gear on the end of the shaft with a rack in a vertical track.

Abstract: A method for solid phase processing (SPP) of a feedstock is provided. The method can include providing relative rotation and translation between an extrusion die and a feedstock, where the die has an extrusion aperture through which a tapered mandrel extends. A first and second extrudate portions can each be generated via the aperture. An axial position of the tapered mandrel can be adjusted relative to the die face during the rotation and translation such that a second extrudate portion is generated having a different inner dimension compared to the first portion, thereby varying a wall thickness between portions.