Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described which allow different companies, individuals and/or government entities to use biometric security and/or access systems or services without having to store biometric information for individuals on a ongoing basis and/or to perform a comparison between recently captured biometric information corresponding to an individual seeking access to a location or a service. In various embodiments a biometric server is used to control access to stored biometric information where the server and/or database storing the biometric server are located remotely, e.g., at a central location, physically remote from the sites where access to locations and/or services are provided. The storage and use of the biometric information can be and often is implemented and controlled by a separate company from the company using the server to determine whether access or a service should be provided to an individual.

Abstract: A grounding clamp uses a spring driving a piston mounted movable jaw as a safety lockout. The movable jaw and a fixed jaw, which may include teeth, form a conductor clamp. The ground clamp mounts on the end of a hot stick to provide for electrically insulated remote operation of the ground clamp by a lineman holding the hot stick and pulling on, or releasing, a lever arm on the hot stick. The system provides increased safety for the lineman as the spring providing the spring loading of the clamp has a high spring force to overcome, thus providing the lockout. The lever arm on the hot stick tool provides mechanical advantage to overcome the spring force and thus release the lockout. The lineman cannot usefully operate the ground clamp manually without the hot stick due to spring force lockout.

Abstract: A temporary insulated conductor guard structure is mountable on an electrical insulator. The electrical insulator is mounted on the distal end of a crane or truck boom. The conductor guard structure includes a U-shaped frame having a horizontal elongate beam and a pair of stub arms upwardly extending from opposite ends of the beam. Elongate rigid, electrically conductive rollers are rotatably mounted to each of the stub arms and the beam so as to form an electrically conductive rolling surface extending around the interior of the U-shaped frame for rotationally supporting sagging electrical conductors thereon.

Abstract: Techniques control a utility vehicle. Such techniques involve storing electric power in a lithium battery of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve operating a motor controller of the utility vehicle in a normal mode in which the motor controller provides electric power from a lithium battery of the utility vehicle to an electric motor of the utility vehicle to turn one or more ground engaging members of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve, after operating the motor controller in the normal operating mode, operating the motor controller in a walkaway mode in which the motor controller configures the electric motor to provide braking torque.

Abstract: Some methods enable a first device to assist a second device in becoming authenticated with a content management system. The content management system can receive user credentials or an elevated access token from the first device. The content management system can respond to the first device with an access token for use by the second device. Alternatively, the content management system can send the access token directly to the second device. The second device can then use the access token for authenticated communications with the content management system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing and distributing images are described.

Abstract: Techniques involve controlling battery access on a utility vehicle. Such techniques involve monitoring status of input signals from a group comprising: a lithium battery system, a keyed switch, and a charging receptacle, comparing the status of the input signals to timeout settings stored in memory of the motion control system, initiating a timer based on comparison of the input signals to the timeout settings, and disconnecting at least one direct current (DC) path between a lithium battery interface and a power distribution interface of the utility vehicle in response to expiration of the timer. Such techniques further involve, after disconnecting, reconnecting the at least one DC current path between the lithium battery interface and the power distribution interface in response to a change in status of at least one of the input signals. Such techniques may be performed by a motion control system of the utility vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing group images for distribution are described. Images corresponding to a group may be and sometimes are modified differently prior to being supplied to members of the group than when being supplied to entities which are not members of the group to which the image corresponds. Images of group members maybe and sometimes are replaced. Group members can provide an image to be used in the replacement process so that multiple group images which include a similar user determined image of the individual. This can make it appear that the same individual is present in multiple different group images while still not providing visual details of the actual individual in the group images.

Abstract: A downhole tool, for selectively reaming a wellbore or stabilizing drill string components within a wellbore, includes an elongate tool body adapted to receive reamer cartridges or stabilizer cartridges. The reamer cartridges are radially insertable into corresponding pockets in the tool body, with each reamer cartridge having a reamer insert with an array of cutting elements. The reamer insert is disposed within a bushing and is rotatable relative thereto, about a rotational axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tool. However, the rotational axis is offset from the tool body axis, resulting in eccentric contact of the cutting elements with the wall of the wellbore, which in turn imparts rotation to the reamer insert when the tool is moved axially through a wellbore without rotation. When the tool is used for stabilization, the reamer cartridges are removed and replaced with stabilizer cartridges having stabilizer inserts with hard-faced stabilizer cones.

Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a utility vehicle body, a set of electrical loads supported by the utility vehicle body, and a power control assembly supported by the utility vehicle body and coupled with the set of electrical loads. The power control assembly includes an electro-mechanical contactor constructed and arranged to carry high current, a low power switching device constructed and arranged to carry low current, and control circuitry coupled to the electro-mechanical contactor and the low power switching device. The control circuitry is constructed and arranged to separately open and close each of the electro-magnetic contactor and the low power switching device to control power delivery from a lithium battery to the set of electrical loads.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to air traffic control and navigational aids for aircraft. An antenna system uses a multi-sector sensor that uses two vertical column antenna arrays per sector. Each pair of vertical column antenna arrays produces two beams that are off a boresight for each pair of antenna arrays. Wide angle monopulse processing is used to determine an azimuth or angle of arrival for an aircraft using at least one pair of the vertical column antenna arrays. Predetermined correction factors are applied to the azimuth for specific elevation values and, for elevation values without predetermined correction factors, interpolation between known predetermined correction values to arrive at the corrector factor to be applied.

Abstract: An insulated honeybee hive assembly with an integrated monitoring system, the system including software and wiring contained in a wall assembly of the modular hive. The system includes sensors and other device(s) for monitoring temperature, humidity, weight, geographical location, and power generation of the hive. The system also includes a video and/or audio component, with connectivity to remote server(s), that allows for remote data collection, video and/or audio analysis and can provide hive command(s) such as heat treatments, ventilation, and similar. Sensors, wiring, buses, and other hardware are confined within the wall assemblies of the hive box and connect to one another once stacked upon each other.

Abstract: A reusable vessel comprises a first compartment to store therein a substance and a second compartment separated from the first compartment by a boundary element comprising a wall or membrane having one or more apertures therein. A valve is movable between a closed position, in which the valve seals the one or more apertures, and an open position allowing the substance to be released from the first compartment into the second compartment, or a substance in the second compartment to mix with the substance in the first compartment. A triggering mechanism is coupled to the valve to move the valve between the open and closed positions. The triggering mechanism comprises one or more external elements coupled to one or more internal cam elements to control the valve, which, when triggered causes the one or more external elements to exhibit a visible change to indicate the open and closed positions of the valve.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for automated video processing of an input video signal using tracking of a single moveable bilaterally-targeted game-object involved in a team-based sporting event.

Abstract: An implosion shield of ballistic fabric adapted to mount so as to surround an implosion sleeve or dead-end on a power line. The implosion shield may be wrapped or formed as an envelope or tent including one piece and folded around the implosion sleeve or dead-end and secured with fasteners. A method of installing the implosion cover may include installing an implosion sleeve or dead-end on a power line, and then installing the implosion shield around the implosion sleeve or dead-end, by wrapping the implosion shield around the implosion sleeve or dead-end, or by securing an envelope implosion shield over the implosion sleeve or dead-end, or by draping the shield over the implosion sleeve or dead-end, or by mounting the shield on a frame over the implosion sleeve or dead-end, then detonating the implosion sleeve or dead-end. The implosion shield attenuates shock, pressure and sound waves from the detonation.

Abstract: A system for lifting a sub-conductor bundle having a plurality of spaced-apart sub-conductors comprises a single point lifter base and an accessory mounted onto a free end of a support. The support is electrically insulated and comprises one or two tiers of elongate insulators extending away from the base. The base is for mounting the support onto a distal end of a boom. The accessory has at least one wire cage mounted on a cart, the cart mounted on an arcuate track and adapted for free translation along the inner side of the track between first and second ends of the track. The wire cage is in a first orientation when the cart is positioned at the first end of the track, and in a second orientation when the cart is positioned at the second end of the track, the first and second orientations perpendicular to one another.

Abstract: A control system for handling a fault condition on a utility vehicle includes a lithium battery, a contactor configured to control electrical access to the lithium battery, and control circuitry coupled with the lithium battery and the contactor. The control circuitry is configured to detect, while the contactor is closed to provide a set of loads of the utility vehicle with electrical access to the lithium battery, onset of a fault condition. The control circuitry is further configured to perform, in response to detection of the onset of the fault condition, a set of remedial operations to address the fault condition. The control circuitry is further configured to perform, after a predefined amount of time has elapsed since the onset of the fault condition, a subsequent operation which opens the contactor if the fault condition remains and maintains closure of the contactor if the fault condition does not remain.

Abstract: A bundle lifter for lifting a sub-conductor bundle having a plurality of spaced-apart sub-conductors, includes a base platform adapted for rotational mounting onto a single point conductor lifter, four sub-conductor wire cages mounted on the platform to support a sub-conductor thereon, each wire cage adapted to releasably hold a single sub-conductor and to swivel relative to the platform, wherein when the wire cages are positioned under the sub-conductor bundle, the wire cages are swivelled to align their corresponding rollers with a corresponding sub-conductor for rolling support of the sub-conductor on the roller as the bundle lifter is elevated on the support upwards from under the sub-conductor bundle to simultaneously pick each sub-conductor in the bundle into its wire cage for translation of the bundle from an original position to a new position spaced apart from the original position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to invert a robotic arm, includes an angling adaptor and swing arm. The angling adaptor includes a truck or crane boom head adaptor and a hinge coupler. The swing arm extends downwardly from the angling adaptor and may include a boom adaptor arm and a jib. The lower end of the swing arm is mounted to the main beam of the robotic arm. The hinge coupler mounts to the upper end of the crane or truck boom. The robotic arm is mounted on the swing arm so as to downwardly orient the insulators on the robotic arm. A lowermost end of each insulator is adapted for releasably holding an electrical bypass which may include a bus bar and electrical cable jumpers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating line sag in a span of a conductor is provided. The method includes using a portable smart device having one or more accelerometers and running a line sag application on the processing device. The line sag application enables acceleration data of return waves generated on the conductor to be collected using the smart device and to be plotted as a function of time for display on the smart device. The method further includes placement of time markers on the plotted data displayed on the smart device to determine elapsed time and calculating line sag using the elapsed time.