Abstract: A composite material is provided. In some aspects, the composite material may include a combination of a thermoplastic resin mixed with a polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA). Carbon particles may be mixed in the combination. In this way, the composite material may include between 80 wt. % and 90 wt. % of the thermoplastic resin, between 0.5 wt. % and 15 wt. % of PPgMA, and between 0.1 wt. % to 7 wt. % of carbon particles. Carbon particles may have exposed carbon surfaces with carbon atoms bonded to molecular sites on adjacent PPgMA molecules. At least some carbon atoms may be oxidized with one or more of oxygen-containing groups. Oxidation of carbon atoms may be associated with an increase in at least some PPgMA molecules chemically bonding with adjacent carbon atoms per unit volume. In this way, interaction between carbon atoms and PPgMA molecules may maintain composite material density within +/?3% of thermoplastic resin density.

Abstract: Methods include producing tunable carbon structures and combining carbon structures with a polymer to form a composite material. Carbon structures include crinkled graphene. Methods also include functionalizing the carbon structures, either in-situ, within the plasma reactor, or in a liquid collection facility. The plasma reactor has a first control for tuning the specific surface area (SSA) of the resulting tuned carbon structures as well as a second, independent control for tuning the SSA of the tuned carbon structures. The composite materials that result from mixing the tuned carbon structures with a polymer results in composite materials that exhibit exceptional favorable mechanical and/or other properties. Mechanisms that operate between the carbon structures and the polymer yield composite materials that exhibit these exceptional mechanical properties are also examined.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing a composite material is disclosed. In some implementations, the method includes supplying a thermoplastic resin having an initial density, mixing polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA) formed of a plurality of interconnected PPgMA molecules throughout the thermoplastic resin, distributing a plurality of carbon particles throughout the thermoplastic resin and the plurality of interconnected PPgMA molecules, and forming, by rotational molding, the composite material based on a combination of the thermoplastic resin, the PPgMA, and at least some of the plurality of carbon particles.

Abstract: A composite material is provided. In some aspects, the composite material may include a combination of a thermoplastic resin mixed with a polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA). Carbon particles may be mixed in the combination. In this way, the composite material may include between 80 wt. % and 90 wt. % of the thermoplastic resin, between 0.5 wt. % and 15 wt. % of PPgMA, and between 0.1 wt. % to 7 wt. % of carbon particles. Carbon particles may have exposed carbon surfaces with carbon atoms bonded to molecular sites on adjacent PPgMA molecules. At least some carbon atoms may be oxidized with one or more of oxygen-containing groups. Oxidation of carbon atoms may be associated with an increase in at least some PPgMA molecules chemically bonding with adjacent carbon atoms per unit volume. In this way, interaction between carbon atoms and PPgMA molecules may maintain composite material density within +/?3% of thermoplastic resin density.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing a composite material is disclosed. In some implementations, the method includes supplying a thermoplastic resin having an initial density, mixing polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA) formed of a plurality of interconnected PPgMA molecules throughout the thermoplastic resin, distributing a plurality of carbon particles throughout the thermoplastic resin and the plurality of interconnected PPgMA molecules, and forming, by rotational molding, the composite material based on a combination of the thermoplastic resin, the PPgMA, and at least some of the plurality of carbon particles.

Abstract: Methods include producing tunable carbon structures and combining carbon structures with a polymer to form a composite material. Carbon structures include crinkled graphene. Methods also include functionalizing the carbon structures, either in-situ, within the plasma reactor, or in a liquid collection facility. The plasma reactor has a first control for tuning the specific surface area (SSA) of the resulting tuned carbon structures as well as a second, independent control for tuning the SSA of the tuned carbon structures. The composite materials that result from mixing the tuned carbon structures with a polymer results in composite materials that exhibit exceptional favorable mechanical and/or other properties. Mechanisms that operate between the carbon structures and the polymer yield composite materials that exhibit these exceptional mechanical properties are also examined.

Abstract: A container may be formed from a composite material including a combination of thermoplastic resin and polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA) mixed with one another, a plurality of carbon particles mixed in the combination, and a plurality of pores formed in at least some of the mixed carbon particles. In some instances, the carbon particles may include a first region having a relatively low concentration of carbon particles, and a second region having a relatively high concentration of carbon particles. In various implementations, the plurality of pores may be formed in at least some of the mixed carbon particles, the thermoplastic resin, and the PPgMA. In some aspects, at least some of the pores may be configured to be infiltrated by the PPgMA.

Abstract: A composite material includes a combination including a thermoplastic resin mixed with a polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PPgMA), and a plurality of carbon particles mixed in the combination. The plurality of carbon particles may include a first region having a relatively low concentration of carbon particles, and a second region having a relatively high concentration of carbon particles, at least some of the plurality of carbon particles having exposed carbon surfaces with carbon atoms bonded to molecular sites on adjacent PPgMA molecules and oxidized with one or more oxygen-containing groups. In some aspects, composite material further includes between 80 wt. % and 90 wt. % of the thermoplastic resin, between 0.5 wt. % and 15 wt. % of the PPgMA, and between 0.1 wt. % to 7 wt. % of carbon particles. The composite material may also include a plurality of pores, formed in the combination, and configured to be infiltrated by the PPgMA.

Abstract: Methods include producing tunable carbon structures and combining carbon structures with a polymer to form a composite material. Carbon structures include crinkled graphene. Methods also include functionalizing the carbon structures, either in-situ, within the plasma reactor, or in a liquid collection facility. The plasma reactor has a first control for tuning the specific surface area (SSA) of the resulting tuned carbon structures as well as a second, independent control for tuning the SSA of the tuned carbon structures. The composite materials that result from mixing the tuned carbon structures with a polymer results in composite materials that exhibit exceptional favorable mechanical and/or other properties. Mechanisms that operate between the carbon structures and the polymer yield composite materials that exhibit these exceptional mechanical properties are also examined.

Abstract: Methods include producing tunable carbon structures and combining carbon structures with a polymer to form a composite material. Carbon structures include crinkled graphene. Methods also include functionalizing the carbon structures, either in-situ, within the plasma reactor, or in a liquid collection facility. The plasma reactor has a first control for tuning the specific surface area (SSA) of the resulting tuned carbon structures as well as a second, independent control for tuning the SSA of the tuned carbon structures. The composite materials that result from mixing the tuned carbon structures with a polymer results in composite materials that exhibit exceptional favorable mechanical and/or other properties. Mechanisms that operate between the carbon structures and the polymer yield composite materials that exhibit these exceptional mechanical properties are also examined.

Abstract: In a harvesting machine having an agricultural header which is adjustable in height, a computer controller includes programming instructions to allow an operator to associate a plurality of different harvester functions with a single programmable input button providing single-touch actuation. The input button is programmable to return the header height to a preset height value in addition to controlling position of one or more additional accessories such as a double windrow attachment, a deck shifting set of drapers of the header, and/or a crop compressor attachment, etc. Programming of the input button uses navigational inputs to select which functions of the machine are associated with the button, followed by a press-and-hold actuation to set the preset value of all associated functions based on the current operating condition.

Abstract: A self-powered trolling motor device including a shaft member including a motor element and a propeller element attached to the shaft member at a distal end and including at least one rechargeable battery and a control cover attached to the shaft member at a proximate end, the rechargeable battery having affixed thereto a plurality of solar panels on all sides of the battery, wherein the rechargeable battery and the affixed solar panels collectively form a self-powered unit for powering the device.

Abstract: A controller on a harvester vehicle is arranged to automatically identify a header in electrical communication with the vehicle upon key activation of the harvester vehicle. Programming instructions on the controller can generate notifications to the user based upon a state of activation of the float mechanism and the state of header identity detection. The controller also prompts the user to confirm the identity of the header if the detected identity of the header has changed. The controller also uses header identity to log usage hours of the header on the computer controller in association with the identity of the header such that maintenance schedules for a plurality of different headers interchangeably used on a common harvester vehicle can be tracked.

Abstract: Methods include producing tunable carbon structures and combining carbon structures with a polymer to form a composite material. Carbon structures include crinkled graphene. Methods also include functionalizing the carbon structures, either in-situ, within the plasma reactor, or in a liquid collection facility. The plasma reactor has a first control for tuning the specific surface area (SSA) of the resulting tuned carbon structures as well as a second, independent control for tuning the SSA of the tuned carbon structures. The composite materials that result from mixing the tuned carbon structures with a polymer results in composite materials that exhibit exceptional favorable mechanical and/or other properties. Mechanisms that operate between the carbon structures and the polymer yield composite materials that exhibit these exceptional mechanical properties are also examined.

Abstract: A garden watering controller for operating a valve for controlling a supply of water into a garden watering arrangement includes a light sensor for sensing ambient light levels and a central unit for receiving sensed light level signals from the light sensor and for outputting control signals for operating the valve in dependence on the sensed light level signals. The central unit may be arranged to determine the occurrence of dawn and dusk.

Abstract: A controller on a harvester vehicle is arranged to automatically identify a header in electrical communication with the vehicle upon key activation of the harvester vehicle. Programming instructions on the controller can generate notifications to the user based upon a state of activation of the float mechanism and the state of header identity detection. The controller also prompts the user to confirm the identity of the header if the detected identity of the header has changed. The controller also uses header identity to log usage hours of the header on the computer controller in association with the identity of the header such that maintenance schedules for a plurality of different headers interchangeably used on a common harvester vehicle can be tracked.

Abstract: In a harvesting machine having an agricultural header which is adjustable in height, a computer controller includes programming instructions to allow an operator to associate a plurality of different harvester functions with a single programmable input button providing single-touch actuation. The input button is programmable to return the header height to a preset height value in addition to controlling position of one or more additional accessories such as a double windrow attachment, a deck shifting set of drapers of the header, and/or a crop compressor attachment, etc. Programming of the input button uses navigational inputs to select which functions of the machine are associated with the button, followed by a press-and-hold actuation to set the preset value of all associated functions based on the current operating condition.

Abstract: A single unit with a backhaul interface and radio card able to support both metro cell outdoor (MCO) and metro radio outdoor (MRO) operations. The single unit includes a switch used to switch between these operational modes. The single unit is versatile from the standpoint that MCO or MRO operations may be selected at the time of installation, and this selection may be changed at any time while operating. The single unit configuration provides a low power MRO mode requiring up to 80% less power than the MCO mode, as the switching function of the single unit can power down all unused internal components and allow radio signals received at a backhaul interface to be exchanged directly with a radio card.

Abstract: A garden watering controller for operating a valve for controlling a supply of water into a garden watering arrangement includes a light sensor for sensing ambient light levels and a central unit for receiving sensed light level signals from the light sensor and for outputting control signals for operating the valve in dependence on the sensed light level signals. The central unit may be arranged to determine the occurrence of dawn and dusk.

Abstract: A method of lifting a structure includes extending a pipe so as to have one end opening to a lens in the earth, connecting a pump to the pipe, and pumping a grout material through the pipe and into the lens so as to cause a strata of the earth above the lens to heave upwardly and to cause the structure to move upwardly. The grout is solidified in the lens. The pipe is removed after the step of pumping. The grout is a low mobility cement grout. A location of the lens nearest to the structure is determined prior to the step of extending the pipe.