Abstract: Systems involving distributed control functions are described herein. Each member or device within the system has responsibility for controlling part of the system's behavior, and includes logic to determine what action, if any, will follow as a response to determining information or receiving information from other members or devices within the system. A change of status of one member of a system may provide a basis for action by another member of the system. Status may be the result of sensing a condition of the environment, sensing the condition of a component, receiving the output of a conventional sensor, and/or sensing the condition of a link between components. In some embodiments, action taken by a member of the system may include collecting data during law enforcement activities.

Abstract: An evidence ecosystem that includes a capture system that detects physical properties in the environment around the capture system and captures data related to the physical properties. The capture system analyzes the captured data in accordance with patterns to detect characteristics and patterns in the captured data. Upon detecting a characteristic or a pattern, the capture system records the identified data and alignment data that identifies the location of the identified data in the captured data. The capture system sends the captured data, identified data, and alignment data to an evidence management system for use in generating reports and producing redacted copies of the captured data for distribution or presentation.

Abstract: A medical system includes an elongate device including a flexible body, a tracking system disposed along at least a portion of the flexible body, a display device, and one or more processors coupled to the tracking system. The one or more processors are configured to: receive data from the tracking system; based on the received data, determine a bending condition at a distal portion of flexible body; and display a bend indicator on the display device, wherein the bend indicator visually indicates a direction and a degree of the bending condition of the distal portion of the flexible body.

Abstract: A system comprises a display system, a user input device, and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to perform operations including receive an anatomical model, receive a user input via the user input device associated with a target relative to the anatomical model, determine an uncertainty zone associated with the target, and display the target relative to the anatomical model via the display system. The uncertainty zone is displayed as at least partially surrounding the target.

Abstract: A system includes a hydrogen gas production system and a power generation system. The hydrogen gas production system includes a heated gas supply line configured for flow of a heated gas, a hydrocarbon supply line, a catalytic pyrolysis reactor configured to be in thermal contact with the heated gas of the heated gas supply line and produce a hydrogen containing gas by pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon introduced therein via the hydrocarbon supply line, and a separator configured to extract a hydrogen gas from the hydrogen containing gas discharged from the catalytic pyrolysis reactor. The power generation system includes a heated gas collection line configured to collect the heated gas after the thermal contact with the catalytic pyrolysis reactor and supply the heated gas to the power generation system, and a gas turbine having a combustor configured to burn the hydrogen gas introduced therein from the separator via a hydrogen supply line.

Abstract: A method for displaying guidance information during an image-guided surgical procedure comprises receiving, by one or more hardware processors, data from a tracking system associated with an elongate device comprising a flexible body and calculating, by the one or more hardware processors, at least one condition along a length of the flexible body based on the data. The method further comprises determining, by the one or more hardware processors, supplemental guidance information based on the at least one condition and augmenting, by the one or more hardware processors, one or more images with the supplemental guidance information to produce one or more augmented images. The method further comprises displaying the one or more augmented images on a display device at a surgeon console.

Abstract: A system includes a hydrogen gas production system and a power generation system. The hydrogen gas production system includes a heated gas supply line configured for flow of a heated gas, a hydrocarbon supply line, a catalytic pyrolysis reactor configured to be in thermal contact with the heated gas of the heated gas supply line and produce a hydrogen containing gas by pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon introduced therein via the hydrocarbon supply line, and a separator configured to extract a hydrogen gas from the hydrogen containing gas discharged from the catalytic pyrolysis reactor. The power generation system includes a heated gas collection line configured to collect the heated gas after the thermal contact with the catalytic pyrolysis reactor and supply the heated gas to the power generation system, and a gas turbine having a combustor configured to burn the hydrogen gas introduced therein from the separator via a hydrogen supply line.

Abstract: A method performed by a computing system comprises receiving a fluoroscopic image of a patient anatomy while a portion of a medical instrument is positioned within the patient anatomy. The fluoroscopic image has a fluoroscopic frame of reference. The portion has a sensed position in an anatomic model frame of reference. The method further comprises identifying the portion in the fluoroscopic image and identifying an extracted position of the portion in the fluoroscopic frame of reference using the identified portion in the fluoroscopic image. The method further comprises registering the fluoroscopic frame of reference to the anatomic model frame of reference based on the sensed position of the portion and the extracted position of the portion.

Abstract: A method performed by a computing system comprises receiving a fluoroscopic image of a patient anatomy while a portion of a medical instrument is positioned within the patient anatomy. The fluoroscopic image has a fluoroscopic frame of reference. The portion has a sensed position in an anatomic model frame of reference. The method further comprises identifying the portion in the fluoroscopic image and identifying an extracted position of the portion in the fluoroscopic frame of reference using the identified portion in the fluoroscopic image. The method further comprises registering the fluoroscopic frame of reference to the anatomic model frame of reference based on the sensed position of the portion and the extracted position of the portion.

Abstract: Sample cell devices and support assemblies are disclosed herein. The sample cell includes a novel concentric cylinder and coating design with a right-angle gear drive that enables enhanced rheological measurements in the 1-2 shear plane. The sample call can be used with a support assembly that enables efficient switching between the 2-3, 1-3 shear plane and the 1-2 shear plane without having to remove the sample and allowing for simultaneous imaging with, e.g., SANS or SAXS. Methods for using the sample cell and support assemblies in a 4D-SANS or 4D-SAXS sample environment are also disclosed.

Abstract: An on-board navigation system for an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operating in an unknown environment. A point-cloud sensor system generates point cloud data representing the unknown environment. An on-board processing system processes the point cloud data to generate both a 2-D occupancy grid and a 3-D voxel map, with the 2-D occupancy grid having cells with known (seen) and unknown data. Additional processing determines an amount of known-to-unknown (transitional) data in each cell, thereby determining unexplored regions. A cost is assigned to each unexplored region, based at least in part on the amount of transitional data in cells of the region. The unexplored regions are then sorted based on their costs, thereby determining an optimal region to explore. The 3-D voxel map is used to find a safe area within the optimal region where the UAS may fly. A flight path to the optimal region is then calculated.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure includes a device for manufacturing a frozen edible product, including a cylindrical tank and a dasher disposed within the cylindrical tank and configured to rotate in a direction of rotation on an axis of rotation. A non-circular cylindrical core extends within the core along the axis of rotation. The dasher includes a generally cylindrical frame concentric with the tank and having a plurality of gaps, deflectors extending radially inward relative to the axis of rotation and circumferentially in the direction of rotation from the gaps, and blades extending radially outward from the dasher.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an improved process for the synthesis of hydrogen terminated silicon from Zintl phases. The hydrogen terminated silicon is useful, for example, as explosives, chemical and biochemical sensors, optoelectronic materials and Li-ion battery anode ion storage materials. The present disclosure also relates to an improved process for the synthesis of nanomaterials and composites from Zintl phases. The nanomaterials and composites are useful, for example, as ion storage materials.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a component of a gas turbine engine, comprising: providing a precursor component having at least one internal cooling passage configured to receive a flow of cooling air therethrough; estimating a predicted temperature profile for the component based on one or more operating parameters of the gas turbine engine, the predicted temperature profile indicating a predicted operating temperature of at least one gas-washed surface of the component; determining a thermal barrier coating (TBC) configuration for the component based on the predicted temperature profile, comprising setting a TBC thickness to be below a threshold thickness in a region of the at least one gas-washed surface of the component based on the predicted operating temperature of the at least one gas-washed surface of the component exceeding a threshold temperature; and applying a TBC to the precursor component according to the TBC configuration.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring a procedure includes a medical device. The medical device includes an elongate device including a flexible body, a tracking system disposed along at least a portion of the flexible body, and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the tracking system. The one or more processors are configured to receive a route to a target location in an anatomy, determine one or more features of the route based on a first anatomical representation, generate a reduced anatomical representation based on the one or more features of the route, receive real-time position information from the tracking system, associate the real-time position information to the reduced anatomical representation, and dynamically display the reduced anatomical representation with the associated real-time position information.

Abstract: A bag forming apparatus for forming a flat bottom of a bag includes a base, opposing sidewalls that extend upright relative to the base, and a top that is operably coupled to an upper portion of each of the sidewalls. The top has an intermediate pivot axis between the sidewalls that enables the top to pivot about the pivot axis between a collapsed state and an expanded state. In the collapsed state, the upper portions of the respective sidewalls are closer together and the top extends upright relative to the base to form a tip for insertion into an opening of the bag. In the expanded state, the upper portions of the respective sidewalls are spaced further apart and the top extends horizontally relative to the base to form a platform for forming the flat bottom of the bag.

Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine includes a forming assembly configured to form a sheet stock material into a strip of dunnage, and a feeding assembly downstream of the forming assembly that is configured to pull the sheet stock material through the forming assembly. The machine also includes a tear assist assembly downstream of the feeding assembly that includes a pinch arm on one side of the path and a stop opposing the pinch arm on an opposite side of the path. The pinch arm is movable between a resting position in which the pinch arm is located on the one side of the path, and a pinching position in which the pinch arm is located in the path to capture the strip of dunnage between the pinch arm and the stop. Reversing the feed assembly while the pinch arm is in the pinching position causes the strip of dunnage to tear.

Abstract: Pant-like absorbent articles having improved chassis structures are disclosed. One pant-like garment comprises a front panel comprising a front garment-side layer, a front body side layer, and front elastic members therebetween, and a rear panel comprising a rear garment-side layer, a rear bodyside layer, and rear elastic members between the rear garment-side layer and the rear bodyside layer, a portion of the rear elastic members proximate a rear waist end edge are being uncovered by one of the rear garment-side layer and the rear bodyside layer. The garment may further comprise a rear secondary elastic member disposed overlapping the uncovered portion of the rear elastic members, and wherein one of the rear garment-side layer and the rear bodyside layer is folded over the rear panel secondary elastic member and overlaps the other one of the rear garment-side layer and the rear bodyside layer.

Abstract: A system and method for anatomical markers includes an anatomical marker. The anatomical marker includes a first material observable to a first imaging modality and a second material observable to a second imaging modality. The first material is different from the second material. The first imaging modality is different from the second imaging modality. The first and second imaging modalities obtain their images without using light in a visible spectrum. In some embodiments, the anatomical marker further includes one or more superabsorbent polymers for absorbing and containing the one or more superabsorbent polymers. In some embodiments, the anatomical marker further includes a liquid or gel including the first and second materials, wherein the liquid or gel is configured to be applied to the anatomy of the patient. In some embodiments, the anatomical markers may be used to register a medical tool to anatomy of a patient.

Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine includes (i) a pair of gripping rollers configured to rotate at a first rotational speed to advance a slit-sheet material in a downstream direction; (ii) a pair of expansion rollers configured to rotate at a second rotational speed, faster than the first rotational speed, creating a stretching force on the slit-sheet material and further advancing the slit-sheet material, causing expansion of the slit-sheet material to a fully expanded state; and (iii) a pair of relaxation rollers configured to rotate at a third rotational speed, slower than the second rotational speed, reducing the stretching force and further advancing the slit-sheet material, allowing the slit-sheet material to relax to a partially expanded state. The pair of relaxation rollers (iii) also are configured to capture the slit-sheet material in the partially expanded state between a top cover sheet and a bottom cover sheet to form a dunnage pad.