Abstract: A software-based conferencing platform is provided. The platform comprises a plurality of audio sources providing input audio signals, the audio sources including a virtual audio device driver configured to receive far-end input audio signals from a conferencing software module, and a network audio library configured to receive near-end input audio signals from one or more near-end audio devices. The platform further comprises a digital signal processing component configured to receive the input audio signals from the audio sources and generate audio output signals based the received signals, the digital signal processing component comprising an acoustic echo cancellation module configured to apply acoustic echo cancellation techniques to one or more of the near-end input audio signals.

Abstract: A system of soil carbon measurement is provided. The system includes a multimodal sensor payload that includes multiple sensors that are each a different sensor type and that are configured to estimate quantities of carbon stored in a soil area. The sensors include multiple stand-off sensor technologies.

Abstract: Systems, computer-implemented methods, and non-transitory computer readable media are provided for sharing medical data. The disclosed systems may be configured to create a first workgroup having a first knowledgebase. This first knowledgebase may be federated with a common knowledgebase, and with a second knowledgebase of a second workgroup. At least one of the first knowledgebase, common knowledgebase, and second knowledgebase may be configured to store data items comprising associations, signs, and evidence. The signs may comprise measurements and contexts, and the associations may describe the relationships between the measurements and contexts. The evidence may support these associations. The disclosed systems may be configured to receive a request from a user in the first workgroup, retrieve matching data items, and optionally then output to the user at least some of the retrieved matching data items. The request may comprise at least one of a first association and a first measurement.

Abstract: Embodiments include a microphone assembly comprising an array microphone and a housing configured to support the array microphone and sized and shaped to be mountable in a drop ceiling in place of at least one of a plurality of ceiling tiles included in the drop ceiling. A front face of the housing includes a sound-permeable screen having a size and shape that is substantially similar to the at least one of the plurality of ceiling tiles. Embodiments also include an array microphone system comprising a plurality of microphones arranged, on a substrate, in a number of concentric, nested rings of varying sizes around a central point of the substrate. Each ring comprises a subset of the plurality of microphones positioned at predetermined intervals along a circumference of the ring.

Abstract: Embodiments include a planar microphone array comprising a first linear array arranged along a first axis; and a second linear array arranged along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, a center of the second linear array aligned with a center of the first linear array, wherein each of the first linear array and the second linear array comprises a corresponding first set of microphone elements nested within a corresponding second set of microphone elements, and each set of microphone elements is arranged symmetrically about the center of the corresponding linear array, such that the first linear array and the second linear array are configured to generate a steerable directional polar pattern, the microphone elements of each linear array configured to capture audio signals. Embodiments also include a microphone system comprising the same and a method performed by processor(s) to generate an output signal for the same.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to attachment of tape or strips of material along a seam of a garment or other material. In one example, among others, a robotic system includes a joining device that can attach a tape or strip of material across a seam, a loading system that can position material with the seam for attachment of the tape or strip of material, a seam feed system that can adjust positioning of the material for attachment, and a tape handling system that can supply the tape or strip of material to the joining head of the joining device for attachment across the seam. A tape handling system can include a tape joining assembly that can receive tape or strip of material from a current tape cartridge and bond it to the tape or strip of material clamped by the tape joining assembly.

Abstract: Hybrid audio beamforming systems and methods with narrower beams and improved directivity are provided. The hybrid audio beamforming system includes a time domain beamformer for processing upper frequency band signals of an audio signal using a time domain beamforming technique, and a frequency domain beamformer for processing groups of lower frequency band signals of the audio signal using frequency domain beamforming techniques.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to attachment of tape or strips of material along a seam of a garment or other material. In one example, among others, a robotic system includes a joining device that can attach a tape or strip of material across a seam, a loading system that can position material with the seam for attachment of the tape or strip of material, a seam feed system that can adjust positioning of the material for attachment, and a tape handling system that can supply the tape or strip of material to the joining head of the joining device for attachment across the seam. A tape handling system can include a tape joining assembly that can receive tape or strip of material from a current tape cartridge and bond it to the tape or strip of material clamped by the tape joining assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments include a planar microphone array comprising a first linear array arranged along a first axis; and a second linear array arranged along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, a center of the second linear array aligned with a center of the first linear array, wherein each of the first linear array and the second linear array comprises a corresponding first set of microphone elements nested within a corresponding second set of microphone elements, and each set of microphone elements is arranged symmetrically about the center of the corresponding linear array, such that the first linear array and the second linear array are configured to generate a steerable directional polar pattern, the microphone elements of each linear array configured to capture audio signals. Embodiments also include a microphone system comprising the same and a method performed by processor(s) to generate an output signal for the same.

Abstract: Embodiments include a microphone array with a plurality of microphone elements comprising a first set of elements arranged along a first axis, comprising at least two microphone elements spaced apart by a first distance; a second set of elements arranged along the first axis, comprising at least two microphone elements spaced apart by a second, greater distance, such that the first set is nested within the second set; a third set of elements arranged along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, comprising at least two microphone elements spaced apart by the second distance; and a fourth set of elements nested within the third set along the second axis, comprising at least two microphone elements spaced apart by the first distance, wherein each set includes a first cluster of microphone elements and a second cluster of microphone elements spaced apart by the specified distance.

Abstract: Embodiments include a microphone assembly comprising an array microphone and a housing configured to support the array microphone and sized and shaped to be mountable in a drop ceiling in place of at least one of a plurality of ceiling tiles included in the drop ceiling. A front face of the housing includes a sound-permeable screen having a size and shape that is substantially similar to the at least one of the plurality of ceiling tiles. Embodiments also include an array microphone system comprising a plurality of microphones arranged, on a substrate, in a number of concentric, nested rings of varying sizes around a central point of the substrate. Each ring comprises a subset of the plurality of microphones positioned at predetermined intervals along a circumference of the ring.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to adjust door operations in response to surface pressure loads are disclosed. An apparatus includes sensor feedback analyzer circuitry to detect a surface pressure load acting on a door based on feedback from a sensor. The door includes a panel to move along a track. The apparatus also includes operations controller circuitry to control operations of the door. The operations controller circuitry is to automatically adjust an operation of the door in response to detection of the surface pressure load.

Abstract: Acoustic echo cancellation systems and methods are provided that can cancel and suppress acoustic echo from the output of a mixer that has mixed audio signals from a plurality of acoustic sources, such as microphones. The microphones may have captured speech and sound from a remote location or far end, such as in a conferencing environment. The acoustic echo cancellation may generate an echo-cancelled mixed audio signal based on a mixed audio signal from a mixer, information gathered from the audio signal from each of the plurality of acoustic sources, and a remote audio signal. The systems and methods may be computationally efficient and resource-friendly.

Abstract: A software-based conferencing platform is provided. The platform comprises a plurality of audio sources providing input audio signals, the audio sources including a virtual audio device driver configured to receive far-end input audio signals from a conferencing software module, and a network audio library configured to receive near-end input audio signals from one or more near-end audio devices. The platform further comprises a digital signal processing component configured to receive the input audio signals from the audio sources and generate audio output signals based the received signals, the digital signal processing component comprising an acoustic echo cancellation module configured to apply acoustic echo cancellation techniques to one or more of the near-end input audio signals.

Abstract: Hybrid audio beamforming systems and methods with narrower beams and improved directivity are provided. The hybrid audio beamforming system includes a time domain beamformer for processing upper frequency band signals of an audio signal using a time domain beamforming technique, and a frequency domain beamformer for processing groups of lower frequency band signals of the audio signal using frequency domain beamforming techniques.

Abstract: An actuator operable to move a valve stem between an opened position and a closed position includes a cylinder including an open side and a close side, the cylinder coupled to the valve stem, a first pump connected to the cylinder and operable to deliver a first high-pressure fluid to the open side of the cylinder to move the valve stem toward the opened position, and a second pump separate from the first pump, the second pump connected to the cylinder and operable to deliver a second high-pressure fluid to the close side of the cylinder to move the valve stem toward the closed position.

Abstract: Systems, computer-implemented methods, and non-transitory computer readable media are provided for sharing medical data. The disclosed systems may be configured to create a first workgroup having a first knowledgebase. This first knowledgebase may be federated with a common knowledgebase, and with a second knowledgebase of a second workgroup. At least one of the first knowledgebase, common knowledgebase, and second knowledgebase may be configured to store data items comprising associations, signs, and evidence. The signs may comprise measurements and contexts, and the associations may describe the relationships between the measurements and contexts. The evidence may support these associations. The disclosed systems may be configured to receive a request from a user in the first workgroup, retrieve matching data items, and optionally then output to the user at least some of the retrieved matching data items. The request may comprise at least one of a first association and a first measurement.

Abstract: Embodiments include a microphone assembly comprising an array microphone and a housing configured to support the array microphone and sized and shaped to be mountable in a drop ceiling in place of at least one of a plurality of ceiling tiles included in the drop ceiling. A front face of the housing includes a sound-permeable screen having a size and shape that is substantially similar to the at least one of the plurality of ceiling tiles. Embodiments also include an array microphone system comprising a plurality of microphones arranged, on a substrate, in a number of concentric, nested rings of varying sizes around a central point of the substrate. Each ring comprises a subset of the plurality of microphones positioned at predetermined intervals along a circumference of the ring.

Abstract: A software-based conferencing platform is provided. The platform comprises a plurality of audio sources providing input audio signals, the audio sources including a virtual audio device driver configured to receive far-end input audio signals from a conferencing software module, and a network audio library configured to receive near-end input audio signals from one or more near-end audio devices. The platform further comprises a digital signal processing component configured to receive the input audio signals from the audio sources and generate audio output signals based the received signals, the digital signal processing component comprising an acoustic echo cancellation module configured to apply acoustic echo cancellation techniques to one or more of the near-end input audio signals.

Abstract: An actuator operable to move a valve stem between an opened position and a closed position includes a cylinder including an open side and a close side, the cylinder coupled to the valve stem, a first pump connected to the cylinder and operable to deliver a first high-pressure fluid to the open side of the cylinder to move the valve stem toward the opened position, and a second pump separate from the first pump, the second pump connected to the cylinder and operable to deliver a second high-pressure fluid to the close side of the cylinder to move the valve stem toward the closed position.