Abstract: Disclosed is an elevator inspection system, the system having: a robotic platform configured to inspect a hoistway; a platform propulsor operationally connected to the robotic platform; and a controller operationally connected to the platform propulsor, wherein the controller is configured to control the platform propulsor to propel the robotic platform vertically within the hoistway.

Abstract: A synthetic reed for use with a woodwind instrument includes a synthetic resin matrix with randomly distributed suspended cane particles. Synthetic fibers, which may comprise one or more different material filaments, may also be impregnated within resin matrix. The cane particles can be present in a concentration of approximately 0.5-10% by volume and at least a majority of the cane particles in the resin matrix can be less than 100 micrometers. The matrix may be formed from two components including an epoxy resin component and a hardener component. The reed exhibits improved strength properties usually provided by synthetics with the warmer sonic properties associated with natural cane reeds and preferred by musicians.

Abstract: A user-controlled portable traffic control system comprises one or more traffic signal units and a wireless handheld remote-control unit. Each traffic signal unit provides instruction to approaching motorists via a segmented backlit display consisting of first and second message panels. The wireless handheld remote-control unit allows a user to communicate commands to the traffic signal units via a transceiver circuit. Additionally, the handheld remote-control unit includes an interface indicating system status information via a plurality of indicator lights corresponding to the traffic signal units. Each traffic signal unit is housed in a two-part collapsible rigid outer case with a mounting handle allowing for ease of transport and a versatile means of both mounting and transporting the system.

Abstract: A hybrid membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) and activated sludge (AS) system and process are described herein. At least a portion of the AS system includes aerobic mixed liquor, for example in an aerobic tank or zone downstream of a tank or zone containing membrane aerated biofilm modules. The flow of air to the membrane aerated biofilm is modulated considering the ammonia loading rate to the system or to the aerobic mixed liquor, for example according to a diurnal cycle. For example, air flow to the membrane supported biofilm can be below an average or initial air flow rate during a period of low ammonia loading. Air flow to the aerobic mixed liquor may remain essentially constants during the same period. Optionally, mixed liquor around the membrane aerated biofilm modules may be aerated during a period of high ammonia loading.

Abstract: A process for the post-deposition treatment of colloidal quantum dot films to improve photodetector performance. A colloidal quantum dot film is first deposited on a suitable substrate or device structure, given a ligand exchange, and then allowed to dry into a completed film. Next, a solution is prepared consisting of dilute H2O2 mixed with a polar solvent such as isopropyl alcohol solution. The prepared film and substrate are then immersed into the prepared solution over a set interval of time. After which, the film is removed and rinsed with solvent, then dried with clean N2 gas. After this treatment, the colloidal quantum dot film is ready for use as a photodetector.

Abstract: A captured scene captured of a live action scene while a display wall is positioned to be part of the live action scene may be processed. To perform the processing, image data of the live action scene having a live actor and the display wall displaying a first rendering of a precursor image is received. Further, precursor metadata for the precursor image displayed on the display wall and display wall metadata for the display wall is determined. An image matte is accessed, where the image matte indicates a first portion associated with the live actor and a second portion associated with the precursor image on the display wall Image quality levels for display wall portions of the display wall in the image data is determined, and pixels associated with the display wall in the image data are adjusted to the image quality levels.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described that provide for allocation of control channel candidates for multiple component carriers (CCs) in carrier aggregation (CA) communications. A CA limit may correspond to a total number of configurable control channel candidates across multiple CCs. The control channel candidates may include blind decoding (BD) candidates or control channel element (CCE) candidates for channel estimation. A per-CC limit of control channel candidates may correspond to a number of configurable control channel candidates for each CC. An applied set of control channel candidates may be determined by allocating control channel candidates across the multiple CCs based on the CA limit and the per-CC limit. Such techniques may be used in cases where the CCs have a same numerology or mixed numerology, and may also be used for cross-carrier scheduling.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an auxiliary battery configured to power an electrical accessory, a traction battery configured to provide power to propel the vehicle, a winch including a motor and cable, and a controller configured to, responsive to a requested torque of the motor being less than a threshold, initiate transfer of power to the motor from the auxiliary battery, and initiate transfer of power to the motor from the traction battery otherwise.

Abstract: A diagnostics system, for mass flow controller calibration, comprising a controller communicable coupled to a sensor(s) and a valve. The controller controls the valve based on a predetermined set point value and communication from the at least one sensor. The controller determines a number of set point value adjustments and compares results of a calibration operation and a set point value plus a tolerance value. The controller generates a notification message indicating at least one of the predetermined number of set point value adjustments and results of the comparing. The controller calibrates the mass flow controller based on, at least in part, one of a predetermined number of set point value adjustments, results of the comparison, and user input. The notification message can comprise temperature values, valve drive values, sensor flow rate values, gas flow hours, and a remaining number of set point adjustments based on a total fluid hours.

Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein are directed to robotically controlling a medical device to utilize manual skills and techniques developed by surgeons. The system can include an emulator representing a medical device. The system can include at least one detector configured to track the emulator. The system can also include an imaging device configured to track the medical device. The system may be configured to move the medical device to reduce an alignment offset between the location of the emulator and the location of the medical device, to move the imaging device based on the translational movement of the emulator, and/or to move the medical device based on data indicative of an orientation of the emulator.

Abstract: Activities within a network environment are monitored (e.g., using agents). At least a portion of the monitored activities are used to generate a logical graph model. The generated logical graph model is used to determine an anomaly. The detected anomaly is recorded and can be used to generate an alert.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes using one or more cameras of a mobile computing device to capture one or more images of a first user wearing a VR display device in a real-world environment. The mobile computing device transmits a pose of the mobile computing device with respect to the VR display device to a VR system. The mobile computing device receives from the VR system a VR rendering of a VR environment. The VR rendering is from the perspective of the mobile computing device with respect to the VR display device. The method includes segmenting the first user from the one or more images and generating, in real-time responsive to capturing the one or more images, a MR rendering of the first user in the VR environment. The MR rendering of the first user is based on a compositing of the segmented one or more images of the first user and the VR rendering.

Abstract: Composite assemblies are described that include composite spars that are co-cured with one or more sacrificial members on their flanges, forming an integrated sacrificial surface for the composite spars. In one embodiment, the composite assembly includes a composite spar having a web and flanges that project from sides of the web. The composite assembly further includes a sacrificial member of composite materials co-cured with the composite spar on an outer surface of at least one of the flanges. In addition, the sacrificial member has an outer surface that has been machined into conformance with an inner surface of at least one skin panel for an aircraft structure to form a contact surface with the at least one skin panel.

Abstract: A coating made of platinum-gold alloy is provided, together with a method of its preparation by electrodeposition. The alloy is composed of more than 50 atomic percent platinum. The microstructure of the alloy consists of generally ellipsoidal grains. More than half of the grains have a major axis of 10 nm or less.

Abstract: An intelligent method of scheduling garbage collection (GC) in a storage system. A GC scheduler obtains capacity utilization and ingest rate of the storage system and calculate therefrom a predicted capacity utilization. When the predicted capacity utilization reaches a threshold, the GC scheduler invokes GC, but otherwise skips GC until such time as predicted capacity utilization reaches the threshold. The ingest rage may be calculated by performing linear fit on past data ingest. The GC scheduler may calculate predicted capacity utilization periodically according to preset period. The GC scheduler may calculate the predicted capacity utilization to a future date beyond the next period. The future date may be at least as far as the next period plus total ingest time.

Abstract: Techniques for minimizing data flow from a first computing infrastructure hosting an email service platform to a second computing infrastructure at least partly hosting an email security platform that provides security analysis on emails of the email service. The email security platform may extract metadata from emails received at the first computing infrastructure, and send that metadata to the second computing infrastructure that is hosting a back end of the email service platform. The metadata extracted from the emails may include less confidential contained in an email, but enough information for the email security platform to determine whether an email is potentially malicious. Thus, the security analysis performed on emails to detect malicious attacks may be offloaded to the second computing infrastructure, but the metadata that leaves the first computing infrastructure and flows to the second computing infrastructure may be minimized by extracting meaningful metadata.

Abstract: Various types of structures, along with associated systems, are disclosed herein and configured for responding to an energy wave for changing a state of a mechanism to which said structures are operatively coupled. In at least one embodiment, the structure provides a material selectively changeable upon exposure to the energy wave to cause at least a portion of the material to mechanically degrade from a first state to a second state. When the material is in the first state, the material forms a mechanical or electrical link with the mechanism such that a force or an electrical current can be transmitted through the structure. When the material is in the second state, degradation of at least the portion of the material disrupts the mechanical or electrical link and inhibits transmission of the force or electrical current through the structure.

Abstract: A flexible circuit that is substantially planar may be assembled into an electrophysiologic catheter. The flexible circuit may include various location sensing portions and force sensing portions. The flexible circuit may be deformed in a manner that improves the catheter's functionality concerning force feedback and location feedback, and then further deformed to be assembled into a small volume of the catheter.

Abstract: Cash trapping at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is detected in real time. One or more images from one or more cameras are analyzed. The camera(s) is/are focused overhead of the ATM or on a cash slot of a dispense module for the ATM. The images are analyzed for determining one or more of whether the dispenser module is authentic, whether the cash slot opened or did not open when it should have opened for a cash withdraw, whether visual features of the dispense module have changed over a configurable period of time, and whether hands, gestures, and actions of a person present at the ATM indicate that cash trapping is taking place at the ATM. When cash trapping is detected at the ATM a variety of automated actions are processed, such as shutting down the dispense module, shutting down the ATM, notifying a financial institution, and/or notifying legal authorities.