Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing a balloon envelope for use in a stratospheric balloon system. For instance, a stream of polyethylene mixture is extruded through an extruder in order to orient molecules of polymer chains of polyethylene and to provide an oriented film. The oriented film is passed through an electron beam and thereby crosslinking the polymer chains to provide a cross-linked film. The cross-linked film is heat sealed to form the balloon envelope.

Abstract: A security apparatus for securing a portable electronic device to an immovable object includes a locking head having a base and a compressible element supported by the base. The locking head is adjustable between an unlocked configuration, in which the compressible element is uncompressed and insertable into and removable from an opening of the portable electronic device, and a locked configuration, in which the compressible element is compressed and secured within the opening of the portable electronic device.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology relate to propulsion systems for high altitude, long duration balloons, such as balloons that operate in the stratosphere for weeks, months or longer. A propeller assembly is used to provide lateral directional adjustments, which allows the balloon to spend more time over a desired region, reduce the return time to the desired region, reduce fleet overprovisioning, and increases the safety case by additional controls and avoidance abilities. A control assembly manages operation of the propeller assembly, including setting the pointing direction, speed of rotation and determining when to turn on the propeller and for how long. The propulsion system including the control and propeller assemblies is rotatable around a connection member of the balloon. Such rotation is independently adjustable from any rotation of the balloon's payload. The propeller blades may be made of plastic, which reduces weight and cost while providing sufficient speed at stratospheric altitudes.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing a balloon envelope for use in a stratospheric balloon system. For instance, a stream of polyethylene mixture us extruded through an extruder in order to orient molecules of polymer chains of polyethylene and to provide an oriented film. The oriented film is passed through an electron beam and thereby crosslinking the polymer chains to provide a cross-linked film. The cross-linked film is heat sealed to form the balloon envelope.

Abstract: Techniques for providing carbon dioxide include generating thermal energy, an exhaust fluid, and electrical power from a power plant; providing the exhaust fluid and the generated electrical power to an exhaust fluid scrubbing system to separate components of the exhaust fluid; capturing heat from a source of heat of an industrial process in a heating fluid; transferring the heat of the industrial process captured in the heating fluid to a carbon dioxide source material of a direct air capture (DAC) system; providing the generated electrical power from the power plant to the DAC system; providing the thermal energy from the power plant to the DAC system; and separating, with the transferred portion of the heat of the industrial process and the provided thermal energy, carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source material of the DAC system.

Abstract: Techniques for providing carbon dioxide include generating thermal energy, an exhaust fluid, and electrical power from a power plant; providing the exhaust fluid and the generated electrical power to an exhaust fluid scrubbing system to separate components of the exhaust fluid; capturing heat from a source of heat of an industrial process in a heating fluid; transferring the heat of the industrial process captured in the heating fluid to a carbon dioxide source material of a direct air capture (DAC) system; providing the generated electrical power from the power plant to the DAC system; providing the thermal energy from the power plant to the DAC system; and separating, with the transferred portion of the heat of the industrial process and the provided thermal energy, carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source material of the DAC system.

Abstract: A security apparatus for securing a portable electronic device to an immovable object includes a locking head having a base and a compressible element supported by the base. The locking head is adjustable between an unlocked configuration, in which the compressible element is uncompressed and insertable into and removable from an opening of the portable electronic device, and a locked configuration, in which the compressible element is compressed and secured within the opening of the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A security apparatus for securing a portable electronic device to an immovable object includes a locking head including a first part having a first base portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the portable electronic device, a second part that is separate from the first part, the second part having a second base portion configured to be inserted into the opening, and an aperture formed through the first part and the second part. The security apparatus also includes a cable threaded through the aperture to inhibit separation of the first part from the second part and removal of the locking head from the opening. The cable is configured to engage the immovable object.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology relate to propulsion systems for high altitude, long duration balloons, such as balloons that operate in the stratosphere for weeks, months or longer. A propeller assembly is used to provide lateral directional adjustments, which allows the balloon to spend more time over a desired region, reduce the return time to the desired region, reduce fleet overprovisioning, and increases the safety case by additional controls and avoidance abilities. A control assembly manages operation of the propeller assembly, including setting the pointing direction, speed of rotation and determining when to turn on the propeller and for how long. The propulsion system including the control and propeller assemblies is rotatable around a connection member of the balloon. Such rotation is independently adjustable from any rotation of the balloon's payload. The propeller blades may be made of plastic, which reduces weight and cost while providing sufficient speed at stratospheric altitudes.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing a balloon envelope for use in a stratospheric balloon system. For instance, a stream of polyethylene mixture us extruded. through an extruder in order to orient molecules of polymer chains of polyethylene and to provide an oriented film. The oriented film is passed through an electron beam and thereby crosslinking the polymer chains to provide a cross-linked film.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame component of a head-mounted device (HMD), an eyepiece, a battery, a processor, a heat pipe, and a hinge. The frame component includes a first compartment, a second compartment, and a channel connecting the first compartment and the second compartment. The heat pipe may extend from the first compartment to the second compartment through a channel and may be configured to transfer heat from the processor to the battery. A rate of heat transfer through the hinge may be greater than a threshold value when the hinge is in an open conformation that configures the frame component to be positioned along the side of the head. The heat transfer through the hinge may be smaller than the threshold value when the hinge is in a folded conformation that configures the frame component to be positioned for storage.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology relate to propulsion systems for high altitude, long duration balloons, such as balloons that operate in the stratosphere for weeks, months or longer. A propeller assembly is used to provide lateral directional adjustments, which allows the balloon to spend more time over a desired region, reduce the return time to the desired region, reduce fleet overprovisioning, and increases the safety case by additional controls and avoidance abilities. A control assembly manages operation of the propeller assembly, including setting the pointing direction, speed of rotation and determining when to turn on the propeller and for how long. The propulsion system including the control and propeller assemblies is rotatable around a connection member of the balloon. Such rotation is independently adjustable from any rotation of the balloon's payload. The propeller blades may be made of plastic, which reduces weight and cost while providing sufficient speed at stratospheric altitudes.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing a balloon envelope for use in a stratospheric balloon system. For instance, a stream of polyethylene mixture us extruded through an extruder in order to orient molecules of polymer chains of polyethylene and to provide an oriented film. The oriented film is passed through an electron beam and thereby crosslinking the polymer chains to provide a cross-linked film. The cross-linked film is heat sealed to form the balloon envelope.

Abstract: Techniques for providing carbon dioxide include generating thermal energy, an exhaust fluid, and electrical power from a power plant; providing the exhaust fluid and the generated electrical power to an exhaust fluid scrubbing system to separate components of the exhaust fluid; capturing heat from a source of heat of an industrial process in a heating fluid; transferring the heat of the industrial process captured in the heating fluid to a carbon dioxide source material of a direct air capture (DAC) system; providing the generated electrical power from the power plant to the DAC system; providing the thermal energy from the power plant to the DAC system; and separating, with the transferred portion of the heat of the industrial process and the provided thermal energy, carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide source material of the DAC system.

Abstract: A security apparatus for securing a portable electronic device to an immovable object includes a locking head including a first part having a first base portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the portable electronic device, a second part that is separate from the first part, the second part having a second base portion configured to be inserted into the opening, and an aperture formed through the first part and the second part. The security apparatus also includes a cable threaded through the aperture to inhibit separation of the first part from the second part and removal of the locking head from the opening. The cable is configured to engage the immovable object.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame component of a head-mounted device (HMD), an eyepiece, a battery, a processor, a heat pipe, and a hinge. The frame component includes a first compartment, a second compartment, and a channel connecting the first compartment and the second compartment. The heat pipe may extend from the first compartment to the second compartment through a channel and may be configured to transfer heat from the processor to the battery. A rate of heat transfer through the hinge may be greater than a threshold value when the hinge is in an open conformation that configures the frame component to be positioned along the side of the head. The heat transfer through the hinge may be smaller than the threshold value when the hinge is in a folded conformation that configures the frame component to be positioned for storage.

Abstract: A security apparatus for securing a portable electronic device to an immovable object includes a locking head having a base and a plurality of pillar structures extending from the base. The plurality of pillar structures is configured to be inserted into an aperture of the portable electronic device. The locking head also has a ball positioned within each of the plurality of pillar structures. The ball is extendable outwardly from a corresponding pillar structure to inhibit the locking head from being removed from the aperture. The locking head further has a linear movable structure positioned within each of the plurality of pillar structures and operable to selectively extend outwardly each ball from the plurality of pillar structures. The security apparatus also includes a security device attached to the locking head and configured to engage the immovable object.