Abstract: Spacecraft servicing devices or pods and related methods may include a body configured to be deployed from a host spacecraft at a location adjacent a target spacecraft and at least one spacecraft servicing component configured to perform at least one servicing operation on the target spacecraft.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a communication interface and at least one processor configured for: transmitting to or receiving from a second electronic device over proximity-based communication channel an introduction message including a first encryption key; receiving, from a server via the at least one communication interface, a challenge notification providing notification of a challenge to be completed to initiate a data process, the challenge notification including or providing access to at least one data field associated with a verification challenge; identifying, from the at least one data field, an encrypted challenge response value; decrypting the encrypted challenge response value with a key corresponding to the first encryption key; and transmitting the decrypted challenge response value to the server to complete the challenge to initiate the data process.

Abstract: Improved flow control valve assemblies for fluid systems (e.g., pools or spas) are provided. Advantageous flow control valve assemblies for pool/spa cleaners (e.g., suction pool/spa cleaners) are provided. The present disclosure provides for flow control assemblies for suction pool/spa cleaners, with the cleaners utilized in conjunction with a variable speed pump. A manual valve set-up can be removed from the system, and an advantageous flow control valve assembly can be provided to automatically regulate the flow/suction to the cleaner. The improved flow control valve assembly thereby provides regulated flow to the cleaner, so that if the cleaner remains in the water at low pump speeds, when the pump is later operated at a higher speed the cleaner will function as designed. When there is flow/suction below the desired operating parameters of the cleaner, the pump will operate as desired, and the cleaner is stationary.

Abstract: A method comprising obtaining image data captured by a camera device. The image data represents an observation of an environment. A two-dimensional representation of at least part of the environment is obtained using a model of the environment. The method includes evaluating a difference between the two-dimensional representation and at least part of the observation. The at least part of the observation is of the at least part of the environment represented by the two-dimensional representation. Based on the difference, a portion of the image data is selected for optimising the model. The portion of the image data represents a portion of the observation of the environment. The method comprises optimising the model using the portion of the image data.

Abstract: A method comprising obtaining image data captured by a camera device. The image data represents an observation of at least part of an environment. A camera pose estimate associated with the observation is obtained. Rendered image data is generated based on the camera pose estimate and a model of the environment for generating a three-dimensional representation of the at least part of the environment. The rendered image data is representative of at least one rendered image portion corresponding to the at least part of the environment. The method includes evaluating a loss function based on the image data and the rendered image data, thereby generating a loss. At least the camera pose estimate and the model are jointly optimised based on the loss, thereby generating an update to the camera pose estimate, and an update to the model.

Abstract: A method of playing an improved baccarat-type card game wherein unlike conventional baccarat, in the card game each player is dealt his or her own hand of cards, and each player wagers on either a banker's hand to win, or on the player's own hand to win, or on a tie between the player's own hand and the banker's hand. The card game includes the standard baccarat rules of assigning a predetermined value to each card within a standard deck of cards, with an ace through “9” of each suit having values of one through nine respectively and all “10”s and face cards of each suit having a value of zero, and truncating the tens digit to obtain a zero through nine value sum for the player's scores and the banker's score. Unlike conventional baccarat, in the card game a score of ten os awarded to the player's hand or the banker's hand if either contains a combination of any three face cards.

Abstract: In a roulette wheel assembly, canoes, which equiangularly spaced around a circle intermediate a wheel and an upper track where travel of a roulette ball begins, are modified. Air outlets are provided in each canoe. Air from a source is controlled to provide randomized outputs of air from each canoe in order to affect the travel of a ball in a vicinity of a canoe in order to increase randomization of travel of the ball.