Abstract: Images of an environment, such as an underwater environment, may be depicted over time to allow the environment to be monitored. The images may be real-time images and may be incorporated into a virtual reality environment.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed, for intelligent management of multiple communications links. One communications link can be used to bring up another communications link with little or no user input. Selective enablement/disablement of one or more of the communications links is based on system needs and, other criteria. Utilizing one more-secure communications link to improve security on another less-secure communications link between the same devices is also contemplated.

Abstract: Material preparation devices and related methods include a material or substrate assembly and an application assembly for applying a fiber material.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for intelligent management of multiple communications links. One communications link can be used to bring up another communications link with little or no user input. Selective enablement/disablement of one or more of the communications links is based on system needs and other criteria. Utilizing one more-secure communications link to improve security on another less-secure communications link between the same devices is also contemplated.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cutting mechanism for severing elongate fibre reinforcement material in composite material lay-up equipment, the cutting mechanism comprising a cutting element and a counteracting element which cooperate to sever fibre reinforcement material extending through the nip between them, the cutting element being mounted on an elongate arm which is pivotable about a pivot axis A spaced from the nip, to displace the cutting element relatively to the counteracting element to perform a cutting stroke, the mechanism further comprising guide means arranged to guide the fibre reinforcement material through the nip in a feed direction transverse to the pivot axis A, and an actuation device for driving the elongate arm in a cutting stroke, the actuation device acting on the elongate arm at a position away from the cutting element. There is also provided composite material lay-up equipment comprising the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: A soil sample collection machine has a mobile support frame that is transportable across the soil surface of an agricultural field. A surface scraper assembly is mounted to the mobile support frame and includes a scraper and a driver that is adapted to lower the scraper onto the surface of the soil and move the scraper across the soil surface for removing surface debris before a sample collection probe is driven into the soil at the scraped location and removes a soil sample. A soil sampling probe assembly is also mounted to the mobile support frame and includes a sample collection probe and a driver that is adapted to move the sample collection probe along a downward path into the soil to collect a sample of soil at the place the surface was scraped, to retract the probe upward and then to eject the soil sample from the probe into a container on an endless conveyer of containers.

Abstract: A mobile app generates and manages companion apps in a memory of the mobile computing device. The companion apps cooperate with one or more integrated tracker apps in a memory of a wearable device to provide a combined functionality to the wearable device. A companion app communicates with an integrated tracker app to provide at least extended capabilities for the integrated tracker app including adding connectivity to the Internet to access On-line services and gather data on behalf of the integrated tracker app via the integrated tracking app submitting a request to an application programming interface for the companion app. The mobile app coordinates activities between i) multiples instances of the companion app loaded in the memory of the mobile computing device and ii) the integrated tracker apps running in the memory of the wearable device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for intelligent management of multiple communications links. One communications link can be used to bring up another communications link with little or no user input. Selective enablement/disablement of one or more of the communications links is based on system needs and other criteria. Utilizing one more-secure communications link to improve security on another less-secure communications link between the same devices is also contemplated.

Abstract: Material preparation devices and related methods include a material or substrate assembly and an application assembly for applying a fiber material.

Abstract: A soil sample collection machine has a mobile support frame that is transportable across the soil surface of an agricultural field. A surface scraper assembly is mounted to the mobile support frame and includes a scraper and a driver that is adapted to lower the scraper onto the surface of the soil and move the scraper across the soil surface for removing surface debris before a sample collection probe is driven into the soil at the scraped location and removes a soil sample. A soil sampling probe assembly is also mounted to the mobile support frame and includes a sample collection probe and a driver that is adapted to move the sample collection probe along a downward path into the soil to collect a sample of soil at the place the surface was scraped, to retract the probe upward and then to eject the soil sample from the probe into a container on an endless conveyer of containers.

Abstract: A material preparation device is provided. The material preparation device includes a bias-ply assembly, a feedstock assembly and an application head. The bias-ply assembly is configured to pass a bias-ply backing material along a first path. The feedstock assembly is configured to pass a feedstock along a second path that crosses the first path at a select angle. The feedstock includes resin pre-impregnated fiber-reinforced material (pre-preg) having the fibers at a first orientation relative to an edge of the feedstock. The application head is configured to transfer the pre-preg from the feedstock to the bias-ply backing material at a location where the first path crosses the second path to form a bias-ply with the fibers of the pre-preg having a second, different orientation relative to an edge of the formed bias-ply.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cutting mechanism for severing elongate fibre reinforcement material in composite material lay-up equipment, the cutting mechanism comprising a cutting element and a counteracting element which cooperate to sever fibre reinforcement material extending through the nip between them, the cutting element being mounted on an elongate arm which is pivotable about a pivot axis A spaced from the nip, to displace the cutting element relatively to the counteracting element to perform a cutting stroke, the mechanism further comprising guide means arranged to guide the fibre reinforcement material through the nip in a feed direction transverse to the pivot axis A, and an actuation device for driving the elongate arm in a cutting stroke, the actuation device acting on the elongate arm at a position away from the cutting element. There is also provided composite material lay-up equipment comprising the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cutting mechanism for severing elongate fiber reinforcement material in composite material lay-up equipment, the cutting mechanism comprising a cutting element and a counteracting element which cooperate to sever fiber reinforcement material extending through the nip between them, the cutting element being mounted on an elongate arm which is pivotable about a pivot axis A spaced from the nip, to displace the cutting element relatively to the counteracting element to perform a cutting stroke, the mechanism further comprising guide means arranged to guide the fiber reinforcement material through the nip in a feed direction transverse to the pivot axis A, and an actuation device for driving the elongate arm in a cutting stroke, the actuation device acting on the elongate arm at a position away from the cutting element. There is also provided composite material lay-up equipment comprising the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: A mobile app generates and manages companion apps in a memory of the mobile computing device. The companion apps cooperate with one or more integrated tracker apps in a memory of a wearable device to provide a combined functionality to the wearable device. A companion app communicates with an integrated tracker app to provide at least extended capabilities for the integrated tracker app including adding connectivity to the Internet to access On-line services and gather data on behalf of the integrated tracker app via the integrated tracking app submitting a request to an application programming interface for the companion app. The mobile app coordinates activities between i) multiples instances of the companion app loaded in the memory of the mobile computing device and ii) the integrated tracker apps running in the memory of the wearable device.

Abstract: There is disclosed composite material lay-up equipment for applying a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fiber reinforcement material to an article, the equipment comprising: a support head; a cutting mechanism carried by the support head for severing a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fiber reinforcement material. The cutting mechanism comprises a plurality of cutting elements coupled to and moveable with respect to the support head and a cassette removably attached to the support head and having a plurality of corresponding counteracting elements statically mounted thereto. Each cutting element is displaceable relative to the corresponding counteracting element to perform a cutting stroke in which the respective cutting and counteracting elements cooperate to sever a length of elongate fiber reinforcement material extending through the nip formed between them.

Abstract: A material preparation device is provided. The material preparation device includes a bias-ply assembly, a feedstock assembly and an application head. The bias-ply assembly is configured to pass a bias-ply backing material along a first path. The feedstock assembly is configured to pass a feedstock along a second path that crosses the first path at a select angle. The feedstock includes resin pre-impregnated fiber-reinforced material (pre-preg) having the fibers at a first orientation relative to an edge of the feedstock. The application head is configured to transfer the pre-preg from the feedstock to the bias-ply backing material at a location where the first path crosses the second path to form a bias-ply with the fibers of the pre-preg having a second, different orientation relative to an edge of the formed bias-ply.

Abstract: A material preparation device is provided. The material preparation device includes a bias-ply assembly, a feedstock assembly and an application head. The bias-ply assembly is configured to pass a bias-ply backing material along a first path. The feedstock assembly is configured to pass a feedstock along a second path that crosses the first path at a select angle. The feedstock includes resin pre-impregnated fiber reinforced material (pre-preg) having the fibers at a first orientation relative to an edge of the feedstock. The application head is configured to transfer the pre-preg from the feedstock to the bias-ply backing material at a location where the first path crosses the second path to form a bias-ply with the fibers of the pre-preg having a second different orientation relative to an edge of the formed bias-ply.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cutting mechanism for severing elongate fibre reinforcement material in composite material lay-up equipment, the cutting mechanism comprising a cutting element and a counteracting element which cooperate to sever fibre reinforcement material extending through the nip between them, the cutting element being mounted on an elongate arm which is pivotable about a pivot axis A spaced from the nip, to displace the cutting element relatively to the counteracting element to perform a cutting stroke, the mechanism further comprising guide means arranged to guide the fibre reinforcement material through the nip in a feed direction transverse to the pivot axis A, and an actuation device for driving the elongate arm in a cutting stroke, the actuation device acting on the elongate arm at a position away from the cutting element. There is also provided composite material lay-up equipment comprising the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: There is disclosed composite material lay-up equipment 10 for applying a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fiber reinforcement material 14 to an article 12, the equipment 10 comprising: a support head 20; a cutting mechanism 22 carried by the support head 20 for severing a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fiber reinforcement material 14. The cutting mechanism 22 comprises a plurality of cutting elements 60 coupled to and moveable with respect to the support head 20 and a cassette 65 removably attached to the support head 20 and having a plurality of corresponding counteracting elements 76 statically mounted thereto. Each cutting element 60 is displaceable relative to the corresponding counteracting element 76 to perform a cutting stroke in which the respective cutting and counteracting elements 60, 76 cooperate to sever a length of elongate fiber reinforcement 14 material extending through the nip formed between them.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cutting mechanism 22 for severing elongate fiber reinforcement material 14 in composite material lay-up equipment 10, the cutting mechanism 22 comprising a cutting element 60 and a counteracting element 76 which cooperate to sever fiber reinforcement material 14 extending through the nip between them, the cutting element 60 being mounted on an elongate arm 44 which is pivotable about a pivot axis A spaced from the nip, to displace the cutting element 60 relatively to the counteracting element 76 to perform a cutting stroke, the mechanism 22 further comprising guide means 52 arranged to guide the fiber reinforcement material 14 through the nip in a feed direction transverse to the pivot axis A, and an actuation device 84 for driving the elongate arm 44 in a cutting stroke, the actuation device 84 acting on the elongate arm 44 at a position away from the cutting element 60. There is also provided composite material lay-up equipment 10 comprising the cutting mechanism 22.