Abstract: An end effector (400) for a robotic arm, the end effector (400) comprising: two pipe engaging jaws (404), each jaw comprising an inner contour configured for engaging a pipe section, wherein at least one jaw (404) is a fixed jaw; wherein the end effector (400) is configured to restrict radial movement of the pipe section while permitting axial movement.

Abstract: A method for analytics in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is described. Operation of an air-handling unit in an HVAC system is measured, including fan speed, pressure, power input, and flow. The measurements are transmitted to a processor, which analyzes the operation of the air-handling unit. The analysis includes optimizing a heuristic model of air handling in the HVAC system based on a combination of two or more of the fan speed, pressure, power input, or flow, and determining, based on the optimized heuristic model, a diversity from a fan flow set point and a fan designed maximum flow. A display presents an indication of a mismatch of a fan with a space based on the diversity.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating printed tags for use in connection with a heated food item placed into a hot holding unit. System components may include a user interface, a printer, and a controller. The controller is programmed to instruct the user interface to display a prompt for an operator to input information identifying one or more characteristics of a food item positioned within or to be placed into a hot holding unit. The controller receives the information from the user interface and instructs the printer to generate a tag identifying the food item and the time at which the food item is to be removed from the hot holding unit and discarded. The tag may include a display area to display the printed information and a support area with a slit that allows the tag to be supported by a rack of the hot holding unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating printed tags for use in connection with a heated food item placed into a hot holding unit. System components may include a user interface, a printer, and a controller. The controller is programmed to instruct the user interface to display a prompt for an operator to input information identifying one or more characteristics of a food item positioned within or to be placed into a hot holding unit. The controller receives the information from the user interface and instructs the printer to generate a tag identifying the food item and the time at which the food item is to be removed from the hot holding unit and discarded. The tag may include a display area to display the printed information and a support area with a slit that allows the tag to be supported by a rack of the hot holding unit.

Abstract: Methods for modeling heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) are described. A heuristic model of air handling in a HVAC system is optimized by a server based on measurements from outdoor sensors, from building space sensors, plant sensors, and sensors for the air handling. Settings of the air handling in the HVAC system are determined by the server from the model as optimized and transmitted to the HVAC system. The heuristic model may be optimized by indicating a mismatch of a fan with a space based on a diversity from a fan flow set point and a fan designed maximum flow; identifying a rogue zone or a critical zone of air handling units based on a number of actuator re-positioning, box pressures, and box flow; and/or determining a coupling of a coupled zone operation with temperature, flow, or temperature and flow.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a security auditing component obtains a solution set that is based upon a security audit of an enterprise network, the solution set characterizing a set of solutions associated with a set of security issues associated with one or more assets of the enterprise network, detects that the solution set can be condensed into a condensed solution set that mitigates the set of security issues to the same degree as the solution set, the detection being based at least in part upon (i) one or more rules applied to one or more solution texts and/or (ii) asset-specific metadata and/or (iii) static metadata, and condenses, based on the detecting, the solution set into the condensed solution set by combining two or more subsets of related solutions and/or filtering the solution set to remove one or more subsets of redundant or superseded solutions.

Abstract: An apparatus, and the method of using it, comprising one, or more, electronic sensors attached to a part(s) of a human or animal's body. The patient then performs an activity, or has an activity performed on them, and the results of the measured parameters are recorded by the sensor and processed, or downloaded and processed. The sensor may include a range of instrumentation, e.g. accelerometers, magnetometers, gyroscopes, force sensors, etc. to record positions (in the X, Y and Z planes), movements, angular movements, forces, stresses in bones/joints, etc. The use of the apparatus and method are appropriate to medical treatments, and perfecting sporting or dancing techniques and the results are processed to give the clinician or coach appropriate information to improve the problem being addressed. Methods for measuring lateral angular movement of hinged joints and spinal extension are taught.

Abstract: A framework for generating and presenting verbal command suggestions to facilitate discoverability of commands capable of being understood and support users exploring available commands. A target associated with a direct-manipulation input is received from a user via a multimodal user interface. A set of operations relevant to the target is selected and verbal command suggestions relevant to the selected set of operations and the determined target are generated. At least a portion of the generated verbal command suggestions is provided for presentation in association with the multimodal user interface in one of three interface variants: one that presents command suggestions as a list, one that presents command suggestions using contextual overlay windows, and one that presents command suggestions embedded within the interface. Each of the proposed interface variants facilitates user awareness of verbal commands that are capable of being executed and teaches users how available verbal commands can be invoked.

Abstract: There is provided a breech lock coupling for coupling riser sections together. The breech lock coupling may be used non-pre-loaded or pre-loaded according to the user's preferences. In addition, the breech lock coupling may be disassembled for inspection and maintenance and reassembled. A locking ring secures two coupling components together. The coupling components may be attached to opposite ends of the riser sections, such as via welding. The locking ring may be pre-attached to the first coupling component for easy storage and fast assembly. Assembly of the riser may be accomplished by inserting the second coupling component into the locking ring and the first coupling component, then rotating the locking ring with respect to the second component. Furthermore, the coupling may be pre-loaded by tightening fasteners on the locking ring to provide a more stable coupling. Unlike with traditional riser couplings, the pre-load fasteners may be tightened via hand-held tools.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein facilitate virtual reality (VR) video playback using handheld controller gestures. More specifically, jog and shuttle gestures are associated with controller rotations that can be tracked once a triggering event is detected (e.g., pressing and holding a controller play button). A corresponding jog or shuttle command can be initialized when the VR controller rotates more than a defined angular threshold in an associated rotational direction (e.g., yaw, pitch, roll). For example, the jog gesture can be associated with changes in controller yaw, and the shuttle gesture can be associated with changes in controller pitch. Subsequent controller rotations can be mapped to playback adjustments for a VR video, such as a frame adjustment for a jog gesture and a playback speed adjustment for the shuttle gesture. Corresponding visualizations of available gestures and progress bars can be generated or otherwise triggered to facilitate efficient VR video playback control.

Abstract: A flat drop cable has notches or other structures for enhancing the stripability of the jacket from a core of the flat drop cable. The notches can have an angled configuration with surfaces that converge as the notches extend into the jacket. Inner edges, or rounded valleys, at the bottoms of the notches can be positioned along a tear path that intersects the core of the flat drop cable at an angle relative to a major axis of the flat drop cable. For example, the notches can be offset from a minor axis of the flat drop cable a sufficient distance such that the notches are positioned outside a central boundary region that extends tangent to sides of the core and parallel to a minor axis of the flat drop cable. The shoulders of the notches, where the notches transition to an outer jacket wall, may also include a radius of curvature.

Abstract: Diagnostic operations upon a target apparatus 2 having a target transaction master 8 which initiates memory transactions with one or more target transaction slaves 12, 14, 16 are provided by halting operation of the target transaction master 8 while permitting continued operation within the target apparatus 2 of at least some of the target transaction slaves 12, 14, 16. Opening state data representing an operating state of the target transaction master 8 is transferred to a model transaction master 32. Further operation of the target transaction master 8 is emulated using the model transaction master 32 using the opening state data. Diagnostic operations are performed upon the model transaction master 32. When the model transaction master 32 emulates initiation of a memory transaction with a memory address mapped to one of the target transaction slaves 12, 14, 16, this initiates the memory transaction to be performed with the target apparatus 2.

Abstract: Methods for modeling heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) are described. A heuristic model of air handling in a HVAC system is optimized by a server based on measurements from outdoor sensors, from building space sensors, plant sensors, and sensors for the air handling. Settings of the air handling in the HVAC system are determined by the server from the model as optimized and transmitted to the HVAC system. The heuristic model may be optimized by indicating a mismatch of a fan with a space based on a diversity from a fan flow set point and a fan designed maximum flow; identifying a rogue zone or a critical zone of air handling units based on a number of actuator re-positioning, box pressures, and box flow; and/or determining a coupling of a coupled zone operation with temperature, flow, or temperature and flow.

Abstract: A cable includes an inner core. In one embodiment, the inner core includes at least one optical fiber, plural flaccid strength members, such as aramid yarns, and at least one rigid strength member, such as one or more GRP rods. A jacket surrounds the inner core. The jacket has an undulating thickness which results in plural projections formed on an outer surface of the jacket, extending along the length of the cable. In a first embodiment, the at least one optical fiber is centrally located within the inner core and surrounded by a buffer tube, which is surrounded by plural GRP rods. In other embodiments, the at least one optical fiber is centrally located within the inner core and located within a channel formed in a single GRP rod or located within a buffer tube, which is placed in the channel formed in the single GRP rod.

Abstract: Using information available from the controller or controllers of air-handling units, a remote server uses a heuristic model to determine settings for the air-handling units. Rather than just using rules for each air-handling unit, a model-based solution determines the settings. The model is used to optimize operation of the air distribution. In additional or alternative embodiments, measurements are gathered and used to derive analytics. The measurements may include data not otherwise used for rule-based control of the air handling unit. The analytics are used to predict needs, as inputs to the modeling, identify problems, and/or identify opportunities.

Abstract: An exploration method includes: a step of exploring a natural resource on a satellite, a minor planet, or a planet; a step of acquiring the natural resource detected by the exploration; and a step of storing the acquired natural resource.

Abstract: A first step of propelling a transport ship from a low earth orbit or a geostationary transfer orbit to a targeted orbit or a destination with electric propulsion is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus 2 for performing serial data communication with a target device 4, such as an integrated circuit, utilizes serial transfer circuitry 16 to perform a serial transfer of data to a communication register 26 in the target device 4 and serial retrieval circuitry 18 to retrieve an acknowledge signal 32 indicating whether or not the target device is ready to perform further processing following such a transfer. Delay control circuitry 20 serves to apply a predetermined delay period following the transfer of the serial data via the serial transfer circuitry before initiating the retrieval of the acknowledge signal. This predetermined delay period is controlled in dependence upon the ready status indicated by the acknowledge signals retrieved such that the proportion of acknowledge signals retrieved which indicate an unready status meets a predetermined condition, such as being less than a non-zero predetermined value.

Abstract: One method includes streaming a data segment to a write buffer corresponding to a virtual page including at least two physical pages. Each physical page is defined within a respective solid-state storage element. The method also includes programming contents of the write buffer to the virtual page, such that a first portion of the data segment is programmed to a first one of the physical pages, and a second portion of the data segment is programmed to a second one of the physical pages.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein facilitate virtual reality (VR) video playback using handheld controller gestures. More specifically, jog and shuttle gestures are associated with controller rotations that can be tracked once a triggering event is detected (e.g., pressing and holding a controller play button). A corresponding jog or shuttle command can be initialized when the VR controller rotates more than a defined angular threshold in an associated rotational direction (e.g., yaw, pitch, roll). For example, the jog gesture can be associated with changes in controller yaw, and the shuttle gesture can be associated with changes in controller pitch. Subsequent controller rotations can be mapped to playback adjustments for a VR video, such as a frame adjustment for a jog gesture and a playback speed adjustment for the shuttle gesture. Corresponding visualizations of available gestures and progress bars can be generated or otherwise triggered to facilitate efficient VR video playback control.