Abstract: A method for non-destructively determining a mechanical property of a solid rocket motor propellant grain may comprise applying a force to a surface of the solid rocket motor propellant grain, wherein a deformation is formed on the surface of the solid rocket motor propellant grain in response to the applying, and calculating a value of the mechanical property of the solid rocket motor propellant grain based on the deformation. The force may be applied by moving a liquid into the perforation. This process may be performed over time to determine a lifespan of the propellant grain.

Abstract: A method for non-destructively determining a mechanical property of a solid rocket motor propellant grain may comprise applying, via a gas, a force to a surface of the solid rocket motor propellant grain, wherein a deformation is formed on the surface of the solid rocket motor propellant grain in response to the applying, and measuring a pressure of the gas. This process may be performed over time to determine a lifespan of the propellant grain.

Abstract: A method for non-destructively determining a mechanical property of a solid rocket motor propellant grain may comprise applying a force to a surface of the solid rocket motor propellant grain, wherein a deformation is formed on the surface of the solid rocket motor propellant grain in response to the applying, and calculating a value of the mechanical property of the solid rocket motor propellant grain based on the deformation. This process may be performed over time to determine a lifespan of the propellant grain.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to authenticating a second mobile device for participation in a multi-factor authentication process. In disclosed embodiments, a server generates an authentication decision, based on communicating with a first mobile device as a factor in the multi-factor authentication process. After receiving a request from the first mobile device to authorize participation of a second mobile device in the multi-factor authentication process, the server may generate a secret and transmit the secret to the first mobile device. The server may receive information from the second mobile device, based on the second mobile device capturing an image of a display by the first mobile device, where the display is based on the transmitted secret. In some embodiments, the server then verifies the content of the information using the secret and verifies that the information is received within a determined time interval from transmitting the secret.

Abstract: Power management apparatuses and systems utilizing synchronous common coupling. A power management apparatus may include a plurality of ports and a plurality of electrically isolated stacks connected through a synchronous common coupling. Each electrically isolated stack may include a plurality of cascaded stages and may be connected to a source or load through one of the plurality of ports. The synchronous common coupling connects only power between each of the plurality of electrically isolated stacks and is configured to maintain electrical isolation for each of the plurality of stages in the plurality of electrically isolated stacks.

Abstract: A clip-on reducer tool assembly for seating a spinal fixation rod in a rod receiving implant, the tool assembly has an outer sleeve. The outer sleeve has a proximal end with a cylindrical portion having a threaded opening, a first leg extension extending therefrom to a distal end, and a second leg extension joined to the first leg extension at an intermediate location between the distal end and proximal end. The second leg extension extends from the distal end toward the proximal end to a lever end spaced from the cylindrical portion. The leg extensions at the distal end have grasping members to engage an outer surface of a rod receiving implant and a fulcrum proximally located near the intermediate location configured to enlarge the space between the leg extension at the distal end as the lever end is depressed inwardly relative to a longitudinal axis of the outer sleeve.

Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to compensating for time delays. In one example, a system includes one or more processors and memory including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations. The operations include obtaining first pose data indicative of a pose of a vehicle; obtaining first control data indicative of a first vehicle control command that has yet to affect control of the vehicle; determining, based at least partially on the first pose data and the first control data, predicted pose data indicative of an estimate of a pose of the vehicle that will result after the vehicle control command affects control of the vehicle; and generating, based at least partially on the predicted pose data, second control data indicative of a second vehicle control command to be applied subsequent to the first vehicle control command.

Abstract: A method and a system of calibration of a first lidar device and a second lidar device are described. Lidar returns recorded by the first and the second lidar devices as the vehicle moves along a path according to a predetermined path pattern in an environment are received. A subset of pairs of positions of the vehicle is determined. Each pair includes a first position and a second position. A first field of view of the first lidar device when the vehicle is located at the first position overlaps with a second field of view of the second lidar device when the vehicle is located at the second position. For each pair, an estimate of transformation is determined between a first subset of the lidar returns and a second subset of the lidar returns. An extrinsic calibration transformation is determined based on the estimates of the transformations.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the installation status of shank attachment members of an agricultural implement includes a shank and a shank attachment member coupled to a distal end of the shank. The system also includes a sensor at least partially embedded within the shank at or adjacent to its distal end, with the sensor providing data indicative of an installation status of the shank attachment member relative to the shank. In addition, the system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, with the controller being configured to determine the installation status of the shank attachment member based on the data received from the sensor.

Abstract: A system for monitoring wear of shank attachment members of an agricultural implement includes a shank extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end configured to be pivotally coupled to a portion of the agricultural implement, a shank attachment member coupled to the distal end of the shank, a non-contact sensor positioned remote to the shank attachment member, the non-contact sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of wear of the shank attachment member, and a controller communicatively coupled to the non-contact sensor. The controller is configured to determine a status of the wear of the shank attachment member based on sensor data received from the non-contact sensor while the shank attachment member is above ground.

Abstract: Embodiments of secondary batteries having electrode assemblies are provided. A secondary battery can comprise an electrode assembly having a stacked series of layers, the stacked series of layers having an offset between electrode and counter-electrode layers in a unit cell member of the stacked series. A set of constraints can be provided with a primary constraint system with first and second primary growth constraints separated from each other in a longitudinal direction, and connected by at least one primary connecting member, and a secondary constraint system comprises first and second secondary growth constraints separated in a second direction and connected by members of the stacked series of layers. The primary constraint system may at least partially restrain growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction, and the secondary constraint system may at least partially restrain growth in the second direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for low memory killer protection are disclosed. According to one embodiment, in an information processing apparatus comprising at least one computer processor and executing an operating system including a LMK subsystem, a method for providing low memory killer (LMK) protection may include: (1) a non-system application embedded with a SDK initiating a foreground service at the beginning of a use case session; (2) the non-system application causing the foreground service to create an ongoing notification with the operating system, wherein the ongoing notification causes the non-system application to have no lower than a perceptible LMK status during the use case session; (3) the non-system application completing the use case session; and (4) the non-system application causing the foreground service to remove the ongoing notification.

Abstract: Endocrine disruptor-free biologically-derived plastic formulations, a method of making the same, and a unique design embodiment in a food storage container application. The composition may comprise one or more polymers; one or more additives; and one or more biologically derived components including at least one of the one or more polymers or one or more additives, at least one of the one or more polymers or the one or more additives being substantially free of endocrine-disrupting compounds.

Abstract: A safety device is configured to be attached to components in an electrical substation to provide a physical and visual barrier between de-energized components and energized components in the electrical substation. The safety may include a safety barrier board formed from an electrically insulating material and configured to be attached to fastening devices that attach the safety barrier board to components in the substation. Each fastening device may be an inverted-J-hook configured to be attached to a surface of the safety barrier board or a coupling link attached to a variable length fastening component and an attachment hook.

Abstract: A waistband for an article of clothing, the waistband including an exterior waistband portion formed from a fabric layer that is continuous with a base fabric panel of the article of clothing, an elastic layer positioned on an interior side of the exterior waistband portion and attached to the exterior waistband portion, an interlining layer disposed at least partially between the exterior waistband portion and the elastic layer, and a pleat defining a bottom edge of the waistband, the pleat being formed from one or more folds in the fabric layer between the exterior waistband portion and the base fabric panel.

Abstract: A system for detecting a damage condition associated with an agricultural machine. The system can include a component of the agricultural machine and a movement sensor configured to measure a movement parameter associated with the component. The system can include a controller communicatively coupled with the movement sensor. The controller can include a processor and associated memory. The memory may store instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the controller to perform operations. The operations may include monitoring the movement parameter associated with the component and detecting a change in the monitored movement parameter over time that is associated with a damage pattern. The damage pattern may be indicative of damage to the agricultural machine. The operations may include automatically initiating a corrective action associated with preventing further damage to the agricultural machine when it is detected that the monitored movement parameter has experienced the damage pattern.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for distributing crop material for ensilage may include determining, with a computing device, a storage volume for the crop material. The method may also include dividing, with the computing device, the determined storage volume into a plurality of planes. Each plane of the plurality of planes may be spaced apart from each other plane of the plurality of planes along a vertical direction. Furthermore, the method may include controlling, with the computing device, an operation of at least one of a work vehicle or an associated implement in a manner that distributes a portion of the crop material on a given plane of the plurality of planes.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for compressing crop material for ensilage may include monitoring, with a computing device, a location of a work vehicle within a silage heap as the work vehicle traverses a layer of crop material within the silage heap. The method may also include determining, with the computing device, a current density of the layer of crop material as the work vehicle traverses the layer of crop material. Furthermore, the method may include controlling, with the computing device, an operation of the work vehicle based on the monitored location and the determined current density such that the work vehicle compresses the layer of crop material.

Abstract: A computer trains a neural network model. (B) A neural network is executed to compute a post-iteration gradient vector and a current iteration weight vector. (C) A search direction vector is computed using a Hessian approximation matrix and the post-iteration gradient vector. (D) A step size value is initialized. (E) An objective function value is computed that indicates an error measure of the executed neural network. (F) When the computed objective function value is greater than an upper bound value, the step size value is updated using a predefined backtracking factor value. The upper bound value is computed as a sliding average of a predefined upper bound updating interval value number of previous upper bound values. (G) (E) and (F) are repeated until the computed objective function value is not greater than the upper bound value. (H) An updated weight vector is computed to describe a trained neural network model.

Abstract: A siphon for use in a brew basket includes a first portion formed from a first material and a second portion formed from a second material. The first portion has a first passageway and an outlet. The first passageway is fluidly coupled to said outlet. The second portion has a second passageway and is removably coupled to the first portion. The first passageway and said second passageway form a flow path extending from an interior of the brew basket to the outlet.