Abstract: A folding self-cleaning toothbrush is configured with of a head having bristles, a handle with an open recess wherein the head can be stored, a joint which allows the head to fold into the handle, a battery, and a sanitization device with LED lights that emit light in a spectrum suitable for cleaning the head/bristles. The head may be detachable and disposable. The toothbrush also has a computing system for controlling activation of the UV light emitter/sanitization device, as well as to generate notifications related to use and/or cleaning of the toothbrush.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an agricultural testing system. In various implementations the testing system includes a row control module, a sensor in communication with the row control module, and a seed delivery system in communication with the row control module. In these implementations, the system is configured such that the seed delivery system is activated by activation of the sensor. In some implementations, the sensor is a magnetic sensor.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to a steerable toolbar. The toolbar is able to rotate relative to the tractor or other driving vehicle to reduce misalignment and/or cross-track error. Actuators can be utilized with draft links to pivot the toolbar around a central pivot point and improve the following path of the toolbar implement.

Abstract: A method of theft prevention and detection includes detecting movement of warehoused product by a person using one or more cameras; obtaining a first thermal image of a body of the person, with the one or more cameras, while the person is handling or moving the warehoused product; storing a physical size or shape of the warehoused product; obtaining a second thermal image of the body of the person, with the one or more cameras, subsequent to the obtaining of the first thermal image; determining thermal intensity differences by comparing the first thermal image of the body of the person to the second thermal image of the body of the person; detecting potential theft when the thermal intensity differences correlate to the physical size or shape of the warehoused product; and informing the person that the potential theft has been detected.

Abstract: A method of optimizing employee work assignments comprises obtaining first and second key performance indicators (KPIs), performing a difference analysis on the first and second KPIs, correlating workplace productivity to the differences of the first and second KPIs, and optimizing employee work assignments based on productivity needs of the business. First KPIs may be for each employee of a plurality of employees. The second KPIs may be of one or more employee work groups associated with the plurality of employees. The analysis may be of difference correlations between the first KPIs and the second KPIs to determine synergistic relationships between specific employee groupings of the plurality of employees. The optimization of the employee work assignments may be an assignment given to each employee of the plurality of employees to optimized employee groupings based on the difference correlations of the first KPIs and the second KPIs.

Abstract: A novel method for managing employees using one or more processors including non-transitory memory programmed to assign job duties to the one or more employees being managed based on correlations between individual employee historical records, out-of-range deviations of non-invasive biometric indicators, indicators of production, and performance trends of the employee(s) being managed. Biometric data is collected and correlated to determine deviations from an established baseline in order to readily identify and assign optimized job duties to an employee or an employee workforce. Poor job related performance by a single employee or plurality of employees may be detected and corrected.

Abstract: A method of theft prevention and detection includes detecting movement of warehoused product by a person using one or more cameras; obtaining a first thermal image of a body of the person, with the one or more cameras, while the person is handling or moving the warehoused product; storing a physical size or shape of the warehoused product; obtaining a second thermal image of the body of the person, with the one or more cameras, subsequent to the obtaining of the first thermal image; determining thermal intensity differences by comparing the first thermal image of the body of the person to the second thermal image of the body of the person; detecting potential theft when the thermal intensity differences correlate to the physical size or shape of the warehoused product; and informing the person that the potential theft has been detected.

Abstract: A method for delivering a product transportation device to a customer includes detecting, with machine vision, that a customer in a brick-and-mortar store is carrying one or more items without a product transportation device to transport the one or more items. An image is obtained of the customer carrying the one or more items without a product transportation device along with a location of the customer. The image and location are sent to a mobile device of an employee of the brick-and-mortar store. The employee delivers a product transportation device to the customer location and the customer is notified of the delivery of the product transportation device for transportation of the one or more items.

Abstract: A method of direct customized advertising includes detecting an identity of a customer proximate to a brick-and-mortar store, obtaining historical shopping records associated with the customer, generating and printing customized coupons or advertisements based on the historical shopping records of the customer, and delivering the customized coupons or advertisements to the customer as they enter the brick-and-mortar store.

Abstract: A vehicle comprising a front vehicle portion, a rear vehicle portion, and a pivot assembly connecting the front vehicle portion to the rear vehicle portion. The pivot assembly includes a horizontal axis pivot member and a vertical axis pivot member to allow the front vehicle portion to pivot about the rear vehicle portion about a horizontal axis and a vertical axis, respectively.

Abstract: An intelligent system manager system and method for managing and controlling a platform may comprise a management component providing intelligent decision support and managing platform functions responsive to data representative of the platform and equipment thereof; an execution and monitor component for causing execution of commands controlling the platform and equipment thereof, and monitoring the execution of the commands and the status of platform sensors and platform equipment; a display component providing information representative of the current state of the platform and receiving input; and a common services component providing processing services to the management component, to the execution and monitor component and to the display component.

Abstract: A space-borne interferometric radiometer for imaging a radiation emission from a target scene (ED), comprising: a plurality of receiving elements arranged in a two- or three-dimensional array (REA); first signal processing means (SP1) for computing a two-dimensional set of samples of a visibility function by pair-wise cross-correlating signals received by said receiving elements; and second signal processing means (SP2) for reconstructing an image from said samples of said visibility function; characterized in that it further comprises means (ROT) for rotating said two- or three-dimensional array (REA) about a rotation axis (z) which is substantially directed toward said target scene (ED); and in that said second signal processing means (SP2) are adapted for reconstructing said image from a plurality of two-dimensional sets of samples of said visibility function corresponding to different rotational positions of said rotating two- or three-dimensional array (REA) of receiving elements.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and apparatus to improve network performance by managing packet fragmentation are described.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for optimizing the bandwidth of DSL connections. A DSL connection is established via a customer premise equipment, a copper line connecting to the customer premise equipment, and a DSL access multiplexer connecting to the copper line. The DSL connection is operated at a transmission rate that is adaptively optimized through a DSL connection optimizer based on dynamic transmission environment.

Abstract: A two-dimensional array of a plurality of transducers comprising a first plurality of like sub-arrays (11, 11a, 11b) of transducers (10) in a circularly symmetric arrangement around a common centre (C), where the transducers in each sub-array of the first plurality have individual distances from the common centre that form a progressive series of distances with a first lower limit and a first upper limit. Each sub-array in the first plurality of sub-arrays comprises at least three transducers arranged on a first straight line (12), and the first straight line is offset laterally a first distance (d) from the common centre. The number of sub-arrays is odd, and the sub-arrays may be separate units that can be selectively assembled to form the two-dimensional array and selectively disassembled.

Abstract: A radio occultation instrumentation system includes a first satellite arranged with a transmitter for transmitting a signal with a carrier frequency and a second satellite arranged with a receiver for receiving the signal. The receiver receives information I(x,v) regarding the position and velocity of the first and second satellite and provides a prediction of the Doppler shift displacement of the carrier frequency of the signal for use in tracking the signal. The predicted Doppler shift displacement is also used to determine atmospheric conditions.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing open loop tracking of a signal in a radio occultation instrumentation system including a first satellite arranged with a transmitting means arranged for transmitting a signal with well defined carrier frequency and a second satellite arranged with signal receiving means receiving said signal, wherein said transmitted signal has a ray path from said first satellite to said second satellite which descends into and ascends from the atmosphere, said apparatus including means for providing a control signal to a frequency control unit for signal acquisition included in said receiving means, means for receiving information I(x,v) regarding the position and velocity of the first and second satellite; arrangement for providing a prediction of Doppler shift displacement of a transmitted signal in such a radio occultation system; and method for determining atmospheric conditions from information of Doppler shift displacement in a radio occultation instrumentation system.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and apparatus to improve network performance by managing packet fragmentation are described.