Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus (10) and associated method for sorting a plurality of items includes a plurality of sort destinations and a plurality of delivery vehicles (200/400) for delivering items to the sort destinations. Each vehicle (400) includes a surface (406) for supporting items to be delivered and an edge-detection assembly (402,404) for detecting an edge of an item when the item is conveyed onto or discharged from the vehicle. The edge-detection assembly (402,404) includes an emitter for emitting a beam of light toward the surface. The emitter (104) is positioned below the surface so that the beam of light is projected transverse the surface. The emitter edge-detection assembly also includes a plurality of detectors for detecting the beam of light, wherein an object on the surface of the vehicle affects the beam of light received by the detectors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for quality of service (QoS) using adaptive command fetching are disclosed. NVM Express (NVMe) implements a paired submission queue and completion queue mechanism, with host software on the host device placing commands into the submission queue. The memory device processes the commands through various phases including fetching, processing, posting a completion message, and sending an interrupt to the host. NVMe also includes an NVMe virtualization environment, which uses a subsystem with multiple controllers to provide virtual or physical hosts direct I/O access. QoS may be used so that the NVMe processes in the virtualization environment receive sufficient resources. In particular, bandwidth assigned to a submission queue may be considered when processing of commands (such as fetching of commands). In the event that the bandwidth assigned to the submission queue is exceeded, the processing of the commands (such as the fetching of the commands) may be delayed.

Abstract: A variable magnetic torque transfer device includes at least one magnetic rotor and an induction cylinder that is in close proximity to the magnetic rotor. The magnetic rotor has a number of individual magnets positioned on it in alternating in magnetic orientation. In operation, the induction cylinder is placed adjacent the magnetic rotor for relative rotation through magnetic flux lines emanating from the magnetic rotor. Some versions include two magnetic rotors and the induction cylinder is advantageously disposed between the two rotors. A method of torque transfer includes placing the induction cylinder adjacent to the magnetic rotor, or between two magnetic rotors, to cause the induction cylinder to pass through magnetic flux lines emanating from the magnetic rotor or rotors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing a porous ceramic segmented honeycomb body (340,340?) comprising axial channels (216) extending from a first end face (220) to a second end face (224). A plurality of porous ceramic honeycomb segments (204) is moved axially past respective apertures (110) of an adhesive applying device (100). Adhesive (118) is applied through openings (126) in the adhesive applying device (100) onto peripheral axial surfaces of each porous ceramic honeycomb segment (204). The plurality of porous ceramic honeycomb segments (204) enters a wide opening (318) of a tapered chamber (314) and exits a narrow opening (322) of the tapered chamber (314); a tapered wall (326) from the wide opening (318) to the narrow opening (322) presses the plurality of porous ceramic honeycomb segments (204) together forming the porous ceramic segmented honeycomb body (340,340?).

Abstract: A magnetic bearing retains a rotatable shaft in a selected position by magnetic coupling between a circular magnet and one or more magnet arrays. Each magnetic coupling completes a magnetic circuit. The magnet arrays focus magnetic flux towards the circular magnet to facilitate magnetic coupling. Magnet arrays configured in Halbach series may be employed. Magnet arrays configured as electromagnets may also be employed. The shaft may be attached either to the circular magnet or the magnet arrays. Shaft rotation does not affect the magnetic circuit, but axial displacement of the shaft disrupts the magnetic circuit and increases magnetic reluctance. Increasing magnetic reluctance inhibits axial displacement. The shaft thereby supports a load while rotating freely, constrained to a selected position by forces of magnetic reluctance. A centering bearing may be employed to maintain gap distance between circular magnet and one or more magnet arrays.

Abstract: A flywheel energy storage device includes the Halbach Motor/Generator with rolling biphasic coil control, continuously variable torque transfer via magnetic induction and a reluctance magnetic levitation system known as the Axial-Loading Magnetic Reluctance Device. Electric energy input turns the magnetically coupled rotors of the Halbach motor, and torque is transferred to a flywheel through a copper cylinder variably inserted between the Halbach magnet rotors. In idle mode, the energy is stored kinetically in the spinning flywheel, which is levitated by a permanent magnet bearing. Electric energy output is achieved by transferring torque from the flywheel through the copper cylinder to the rotors of the Halbach Generator by magnetic induction. Rolling biphasic motor control includes dividing Halbach motor coils into increments, then energizing groups of contiguous increments into virtual coils, which revolve in tandem with the magnet rotors so to achieve continuous and optimal torque.

Abstract: An elastic strain sensor can be incorporated into an artificial skin that can sense flexing by the underlying support structure of the skin to detect and track motion of the support structure. The unidirectional elastic strain sensor can be formed by filling two or more channels in an elastic substrate material with a conductive liquid. At the ends of the channels, a loop port connects the channels to form a serpentine channel. The channels extend along the direction of strain and the loop portions have sufficiently large cross-sectional area in the direction transverse to the direction of strain that the sensor is unidirectional. The resistance is measured at the ends of the serpentine channel and can be used to determine the strain on the sensor. Additional channels can be added to increase the sensitivity of the sensor. The sensors can be stacked on top of each other to increase the sensitivity of the sensor.

Abstract: A manufacturing system includes a tape advancing through the manufacturing system and a station of the manufacturing system. The tape includes a first portion having grains of an inorganic material bound by an organic binder. The station of the manufacturing system receives the first portion of the tape and prepares the tape for sintering by chemically changing the organic binder and/or removing the organic binder from the first portion of the tape, leaving the grains of the inorganic material, to form a second portion of the tape and, at least in part, prepare the tape for sintering.

Abstract: What is disclosed is an actuator that can include a linear or cylindrical actuator. The actuator utilizes two or more groups of magnets, at least one magnet group traveling inside the coil assembly magnetically coupled to at least one magnet group traveling parallel and outside the coil assembly. Contiguous leading and trailing coils are sequentially activated in tandem with the advancing magnet groups in order to continuously optimize electromotive force.

Abstract: A control strategy for producing high quality extrudates, including the steps of monitoring the temperature of a ceramic precursor batch by measuring the temperature of the batch material either directly or indirectly by measuring the temperature of a component of the extruder proximate to the die and transmitting the temperature data to an extrusion control system which comprises a master controller (106), at least one slave controller (110) and an optional supervisory controller. The supervisory controller determines batch temperature setpoint (102) in order to achieve the desired temperatures for extruding a certain type of batch material based on real time temperature inputs and stored parameters such as batch composition, process throughput, extruder cooling capacity, and the like.

Abstract: A motor includes two magnetically coupled, coaxially-nested Halbach cylinder rotors, one of which passes through a toroidal series of at least two stator coils while the other is attached to an axle or other means of transferring mechanical power. An embodiment is described comprising an additional third Halbach cylinder rotor in which a circumferential arrangement of permanent magnets is mounted rotatably and proximally outside the stator coils, coaxial with the stator coils. Adjacent stator coils are configured so as to produce opposing magnetic fields upon energizing of the motor. Alternating the current to the stator coils induces movement in the rotor. Commutation can occur brushlessly, or the motor can be configured to function without commutation by varying the frequency of the alternating current, and can be configured to operate by either DC or AC current. Alternatively, the rotor may be driven to generate an electric current in the stator.

Abstract: In-line inspection and control system to in-situ monitor an extrudate during extrusion. A light beam illuminates a line on the outside circumference of the extrudate skin recording the curvature. A master profile of the illuminated defect-free skin is recorded and compared to successive monitoring of the illuminated skin. Differences from the comparison indicate skin and/or shape defects. A real-time feedback to automatically adjust process control hardware reduces or eliminates the skin and shape defects based on the monitoring and comparison.

Abstract: An elastic strain sensor can be incorporated into an artificial skin that can sense flexing by the underlying support structure of the skin to detect and track motion of the support structure. The uni-directional elastic strain sensor can be formed by filling two or more channels in an elastic substrate material with a conductive liquid. At the ends of the channels, a loop port connects the channels to form a serpentine channel. The channels extend along the direction of strain and the loop portions have sufficiently large cross-sectional area in the direction transverse to the direction of strain that the sensor is unidirectional. The resistance is measured at the ends of the serpentine channel and can be used to determine the strain on the sensor. Additional channels can be added to increase the sensitivity of the sensor. The sensors can be stacked on top of each other to increase the sensitivity of the sensor.

Abstract: A magnetic bearing retains a rotatable shaft in a selected position by magnetic coupling between two circularmagnetic assemblies, one of which is connected to the shaft. Each magnetic coupling completes a magnetic circuit. Shaft rotation does not affect the magnetic circuit, but radial displacement of the shaft disrupts the magnetic circuit and increases magnetic reluctance. Increasing magnetic reluctance inhibits radial displacement. The shaft thereby supports a load while rotating freely, constrained to a selected position by forces of magnetic reluctance. A bearing may be employed to maintain gap distance between the magnetic assemblies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to a plurality of sort destinations. The items are fed into the apparatus at an input station having a scanning station. The scanning station evaluates one or more characteristics of each item. The items are then loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles are individually driven to sort destinations. Once at the appropriate sort destination, the delivery vehicle ejects the item to the sort destination and returns to receive another item to be delivered. A re-induction conveyor may be provided for receiving select items from the vehicles and conveying the items back to the input station for re-processing. Additionally, a controller is provided to control the movement of the vehicles based on a characteristic each item being delivered by each vehicle. The system may also include vehicles having edge-detection assemblies for detecting items being loaded onto or discharged from the vehicles.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed involving coils. For example, energy may be transferred between transmitting and receiving coils. The transmitting coil may be in a first device, while the receiving coil may be in a second device. In embodiments, the transmitting coil may be shaped in a way as to direct a magnetic field toward a receiving device. Similarly, the receiving device may be shaped in a way that is directed towards the device having the transmitting coil.

Abstract: In at least some aspects, the present concepts include a method for configuring an assistive flexible suit including the acts of outfitting a person with an assistive flexible suit, monitoring an output of at least one sensor of the assistive flexible suit as the person moves in a first controlled movement environment, identifying at least one predefined gait event using the output of the at least one sensor, adjusting an actuation profile of the at least one actuator and continuing to perform the acts of monitoring, identifying and adjusting until an actuation profile of the at least one actuator generates a beneficial moment about the at least one joint to promote an improvement in gait. The at least one controller is then set to implement the actuation profile.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bi-stable coupling for controlling the depth of a tool insertion, such as drilling, and similar processes. The bi-stable coupling can be used to penetrate (e.g., drill or push) through a material layer of unknown thickness without plunging the tool into the adjacent layer. In accordance with the invention, in a first state, force is applied to the tool to initiate penetration and a reactive force maintains the device in the first state during penetration and when tool penetrates the material, the reactive force is diminished enabling the device to transition to a second state in which the tool becomes retracted. In medical applications, the invention allows for drilling through bone of unknown thickness without plunging into the adjacent soft tissue.

Abstract: Orthopedic devices are provided that include rigid members for coupling to portions of a limb that includes a joint, and a cable that couples to the rigid members and extends up to a powered element. The orthopedic devices are configured to produce beneficial forces using the rigid member and the cable, which beneficial forces are translated to the wearer. The orthopedic devices include control systems that generate control signals for controlling the powered element.

Abstract: A vessel with powered display portion, powered by heat differential from a liquid in the vessel, and a thermoelectric generator. Heat from the liquid is used to generate electricity using a thermoelectric generator in thermal contact with the liquid, and a heat sink or radiator. Cold liquid in the vessel can also be used to generate electricity, by the difference in temperature outside the vessel. The powered display may be made of flexible material and can include LEDs, OLEDS, LCD, luminous tubing, fiber optics, or other light emitting structures.