Abstract: A canopy system includes a canopy, cables respectively connected to the canopy, and a plurality of columns spaced from one another. The columns include a canopy column and at least two cable columns. Each column has a drive assembly arranged to wind-in, wind-out, or hold in place respective ones of the cables. The drive assemblies are controllable in a coordinated manner to wind-in, wind-out, or hold in place their respective ones of the cables to deploy or retract the canopy to one of a plurality of positions, including a deployed position in which the canopy provides covered protection and a retracted position in which the canopy is, at least in part, retracted within an inner chamber defined by the canopy column.

Abstract: A method includes determining an orientation of a mechanically animated surface relative to one or more projectors configured to project content onto the mechanically animated surface, dynamically rendering the content based on one or more parameters derived from the orientation of the mechanically animated surface relative to the one or more projectors, and presenting the content on the mechanically animated surface using the one or more projectors.

Abstract: A method of training a robotic device includes: parameterizing, via a processing element, an input to the robotic device. The parameterizing comprises defining a range of values of the input. The method further includes generating, via the processing element, a plurality of samples of the parameterized input from within the range of values; training a control policy, via the processing element. The training includes: providing the plurality of samples to the control policy, wherein the control policy is adapted to operate an actuator of the robotic device, and generating, via the processing element, a policy action using the control policy; transmitting the policy action to a robotic model, wherein the robotic model includes a physical model of the robotic device. The method further includes deploying the one or more trained control policies to an on-board controller for the robotic device.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating a motion-driven sound effect includes: determining, via a processor, a mechanical characteristic of a mechanical system; modifying, via the processor, an audio clip based on the mechanical characteristic; and outputting, via the processor, the audio clip based on the mechanical characteristic.