Abstract: Methods of manufacturing thermocouples having a first thermoelement wire comprises a molybdenum-lanthanum based material and a second thermoelement wire comprises a phosphorus-doped niobium, may involve exposing a first thermoelement wire and a second thermoelement wire to a temperature in a range extending from about 50° C. to about 60° C. above an intended operational temperature of the first and second thermoelement wires and until a rate of change of a normalized voltage output of the first thermoelement wire and the second thermoelement wire is about 0.001 normalized Volts per hour or less.

Abstract: An electric power take-off system includes a motor configured to convert electrical power received from a battery into hydraulic power, an inverter configured to provide electrical power to the motor from the battery, a heat dissipation device in thermal communication with the inverter, wherein the heat dissipation device includes a thermal fluid pump configured to pump cooling fluid through a plurality of conduits, a flow meter configured determine a flow rate through the plurality of conduits, and a controller configured to receive data from the flow meter and provide operating parameters to the heat dissipation device, wherein the controller is further configured to determine if the data from the flow meter is less than a critical operating condition and decrease the hydraulic power provided by the electric power take-off system in response to determining that the data from the flow meter is less than the critical operating condition.

Abstract: A system for detecting and engaging a refuse can includes at least one sensor positioned on a refuse collection vehicle and configured to detect objects on one or more sides of the refuse vehicle, an actuator assembly configured to actuate to engage the refuse can, and a controller configured to detect, using a single-stage object detector, the presence of the refuse can based on first data received from the at least one sensor, determine, based on the first data, a position of the refuse can with respect to the refuse collection vehicle, generate a first trajectory from the refuse collection vehicle to the position of the refuse can, generate a second trajectory for the actuator assembly, and initiate a control action to move at least one of the refuse collection vehicle along the first trajectory or the actuator assembly along the second trajectory to engage the refuse can.

Abstract: A method includes deploying an optical fiber attached to a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) interrogator in a wellbore, pre-setting gauge length of the DAS interrogator based on an expected measurement signal, interrogating the optical fiber using the DAS interrogator, receiving reflected DAS signals along a length of the optical fiber using the pre-set gauge length, performing an analysis to estimate a location and a magnitude of a strain source associated with the reflected DAS signals, and dynamically adjusting the gauge length for at least a portion of the optical fiber within a pre-defined limit of the DAS interrogator as a function of the estimated location and magnitude of the strain source to enhance sensitivity and to optimize signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, an energy storage device supported by the chassis and configured to provide electrical power to a prime mover, wherein activation of the prime mover selectively drives the refuse vehicle, a body for storing refuse therein supported by the chassis, a first hydraulic pump configured to convert electrical power into hydraulic power, a second first hydraulic pump configured to convert electrical power into hydraulic power, and a motor coupled to at least one of the body or the chassis and configured to drive the first hydraulic pump and drive the second hydraulic pump.

Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes multiple systems, each system including a sensor. The refuse vehicle also includes an automated check system. The automated check system includes processing circuitry configured to obtain sensor data from the sensor of each of the multiple systems, determine which of the multiple systems require manual inspection based on the sensor data, and operate a display screen to prompt a technician to manually inspect one or more of the multiple systems.

Abstract: A wheel shield includes a central disk having a central wheel hub opening surrounded by annularly spaced stud holes that correspond to a pattern presented by a vehicle. The central disk includes an outwardly open fastening surface such as a channel positioned around an outer diameter of the central disk. The wheel shield includes a radially-compressible ring such as radially extending filaments. The radially-compressible ring has an inner diameter attached in the outwardly open fastening surface of the central disk and sized to engagingly contact an inner diameter of a vehicle wheel rim to restrict movement of brake dust to an exposed outer surface of the vehicle wheel rim while still allowing for the movement of air for cooling.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a combined mosquito staging and dissection system are disclosed. The system can include a mosquito staging subsystem; a robotic pick-and-place station; and a dissection, extrusion, collection, and disposal subsystem. The subsystems can include one or more stations to provide orientation, decapitation, extrusion of salivary glands, and disposal of carcasses of the mosquitoes. The resident live sporozoites from the salivary glands can be used to produce Plasmodium SPZ-based vaccines.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to securing wireless communications for passive keyless entry (PKE) to an asset. In one embodiment, a method includes, responsive to acquiring sensor data about at least a surrounding environment of a vehicle that provides access according to wireless communications with a remote device, analyzing the sensor data to define operating conditions identifying security characteristics of the vehicle and interactions of the remote device with the vehicle. The method includes activating a countermeasure from an available group of countermeasures according to at least the operating conditions. The method includes wirelessly communicating, by the vehicle with the remote device, according to the countermeasure.

Abstract: A method of verifying encounters used to populate a customer service survey software, the method including issuing an interaction card having an encounter-specific Quick Response (“QR”) code to a user, scanning the QR code by the user using an electronic device, the user accessing and completing a customer service survey on the electronic device, collecting information of the customer service survey of the user by the customer service survey software, and storing the information as data in a non-transitory computer-based memory in a back-end server.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to securing wireless communications for passive keyless entry (PKE) to an asset. In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring operating conditions associated with the asset. The operating conditions identify security characteristics of the asset and interactions of wireless devices with the asset. The method includes selectively activating at least one countermeasure from an available group of countermeasures according to at least the operating conditions. The method includes wirelessly communicating, by the asset with an accessing device, according to the at least one countermeasure.

Abstract: Embodiments include assay devices within a single use, disposable cassette for biochemical assays with at least one fluid well and at least one capillary valve. The capillary valve in combination with motion of porous sheets within the assay leads to addition of liquid reagents at different times to the assay although a user adds the liquid reagents to the cassette simultaneously.

Abstract: Embodiments include assay devices within a single use, disposable cassette for biochemical assays with at least one fluid well and at least one capillary valve. The capillary valve in combination with motion of porous sheets within the assay leads to addition of liquid reagents at different times to the assay although a user adds the liquid reagents to the cassette simultaneously.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a method for recommending services based upon a home inspection in a data processing system, the method for use in a processor of the data processing system, the method including the steps of: receiving, by the data processing system, an identification of a provider of a home inspection service from an acquirer of home inspection services; forming a first contract between the acquirer of home inspection services and the provider of the home inspection service, wherein the acquirer of home inspection services and the provider of home inspection service are individuals, with a user profile, or organizations, which include a user or a plurality of users with user profiles and wherein the user profiles for the user is associated with multiple organizations; receiving a home inspection report; analyzing the home inspection report by a report analyzer tool to produce a list of recommended services based upon the inspection report; identifying a provider of a recommend service selected

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a combined mosquito staging and dissection system are disclosed. The system can include a mosquito staging subsystem; a robotic pick-and-place station; and a dissection, extrusion, collection, and disposal subsystem. The subsystems can include one or more stations to provide orientation, decapitation, extrusion of salivary glands, and disposal of carcasses of the mosquitoes. The resident live sporozoites from the salivary glands can be used to produce Plasmodium SPZ-based vaccines.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a fault tolerant network connected orchestrator which can handle network outages or hardware resets in a work cell. In one embodiment, the orchestrator determines the next task to assign to the work cell depending on whether the previous task was successfully completed. However, a network outage or a hardware failure may prevent the orchestrator from receiving the results of the previous action from the work cell. In one embodiment, the orchestrator recovers from a communication error by requesting the current state of sensors. Using this information, the orchestrator can deduce or determine the current state of the work cell and determine the next task for the work cell. In this manner, the orchestrator is fault tolerant such that it can recover from communication errors.

Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to securing wireless communications for passive keyless entry (PKE) to an asset. In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring operating conditions associated with the asset. The operating conditions identify security characteristics of the asset and interactions of wireless devices with the asset. The method includes selectively activating at least one countermeasure from an available group of countermeasures according to at least the operating conditions. The method includes wirelessly communicating, by the asset with an accessing device, according to the at least one countermeasure.

Abstract: Embodiments herein describe forming clusters of network connected orchestration components (referred to herein as “orchestrators”) and distributing the management of a plurality of work cells among the orchestrators. That is, each cluster can include a plurality of work cell orchestration nodes which are the compute resources used to host an orchestrator for managing the work cells. Each cluster can be assigned to manage a particular type or version of a work cell. Because managing a work cell may use only a small fraction of the compute resources of the orchestration nodes, each orchestration node can manage multiple work cells. The embodiments herein describe distributing the work cells amongst the orchestration nodes using a work cell table which permits the orchestration nodes to assert ownership over new work cells and enable automated failover in case one of the orchestration nodes fails.

Abstract: A building block of six female sides wherein each side of the block is adapted to accept a male side of a second different block. The first block is made up of a cross form comprised of tubular projections, a skeleton block form, and connection components connecting the cross form to the skeleton block form. The second different blocks are made up of at least four generally cylindrical projections extending normally outward from the base plate of the block that may be inserted into any of the six sides of the first block and interconnect by frictional engagement. These blocks can be interconnected and assembled into a block structure that has both a finished outward appearance in which each outermost side of every block is customizable and provides internal passageways for adding structural elements, wiring, lighting or anything else needed to run through the blocks and block structure.

Abstract: A wheel shield includes a central disk having a central wheel hub opening surrounded by annularly spaced stud holes that correspond to a pattern presented by a vehicle. The central disk includes an outwardly open fastening surface such as a channel positioned around an outer diameter of the central disk. The wheel shield includes a radially-compressible ring such as radially extending filaments. The radially-compressible ring has an inner diameter attached in the outwardly open fastening surface of the central disk and sized to engagingly contact an inner diameter of a vehicle wheel rim to restrict movement of brake dust to an exposed outer surface of the vehicle wheel rim while still allowing for the movement of air for cooling.