Abstract: An orbicular valvular conduit which has no moving parts and is configured to facilitate unidirectional flow of a primary fluid stream by utilizing a counterflowing diverted fluid stream to counteract any opposing fluid stream which flows in the direction opposite the primary fluid stream may include at least one conduit subunit. Each conduit subunit may include a fluid diverging section. A fluid converging section may extend from the fluid diverging section. A valve core may be disposed in the fluid diverging section and the fluid converging section. A primary flow passage may extend through the valve core to accommodate a primary fluid stream. A secondary core passage may be formed by and between the valve core and the fluid diverging section and the fluid converging section.

Abstract: A method of surveying a venue includes scanning at least a portion of the venue using an unmanned aerial vehicle having at least one scanner, converting scan data gathered by the at least one scanner into three-dimensional location data, displaying the three-dimensional location data as a three-dimensional model, analyzing the three-dimensional model, and designating portions of the three-dimensional model with semantic mapping.

Abstract: A method of surveying a venue includes scanning at least a portion of the venue using an unmanned aerial vehicle having at least one scanner, converting scan data gathered by the at least one scanner into three-dimensional location data, displaying the three-dimensional location data as a three-dimensional model, analyzing the three-dimensional model, and designating portions of the three-dimensional model with semantic mapping.

Abstract: Thermochemical energy storage (TCES) for concentrating solar power (CSP) systems provides higher energy density than sensible energy storage systems. An ammonia-based TCES system dissociates endothermically into hydrogen and nitrogen. The stored energy is released when supercritical hydrogen and nitrogen react exothermically to synthesize ammonia. Prior ammonia synthesis systems are unable to produce temperatures consistent with modern power blocks requiring a working fluid, for example steam or carbon dioxide, to be heated to greater than 600° C., for example about 650° C. An ammonia synthesis system heats steam from, for example 350° C. to 650° C. under pressure of about 26 MPa. The hydrogen and nitrogen are preheated with a flow of supercritical fluid prior to the synthesis step to provide reaction rates sufficient to heat power block working fluid to the desired temperature.

Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of light fixtures. The method includes determining first light outputs for each of the plurality of light fixtures. The method also includes determining a first spectrum of light reflected off of a surface. The method further includes determining a first difference between the first light outputs and desired light outputs for each of the plurality of light fixtures. The method also includes determining a second difference between the first spectrum of light reflected off of the surface and a desired spectrum of light reflected off of the surface. The method further includes calculating an updated output spectrum for the plurality of light fixtures based at least in part on the first difference and the second difference. The method also includes determining a second set of light source output values based at least in part on the updated output spectrum.

Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of light fixtures. The method includes determining first light outputs for each of the plurality of light fixtures. The method also includes determining a first spectrum of light reflected off of a surface. The method further includes determining a first difference between the first light outputs and desired light outputs for each of the plurality of light fixtures. The method also includes determining a second difference between the first spectrum of light reflected off of the surface and a desired spectrum of light reflected off of the surface. The method further includes calculating an updated output spectrum for the plurality of light fixtures based at least in part on the first difference and the second difference. The method also includes determining a second set of light source output values based at least in part on the updated output spectrum.

Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of light fixtures. The method includes detecting the light outputs of a plurality of light fixtures and detecting a reflection of light from a surface. The light outputs and the reflection of light are analyzed. Differences among the light outputs of the plurality of light fixtures are determined, and a difference between the reflection of light and a desired reflection of light is determined. New or updated values for output color, output brightness, and/or output spectra are determined for the plurality of light fixtures such that the light outputs of the light fixtures are consistent and correspond to a desired light output, and such that the reflection of light corresponds to the desired reflection of light. Each of the plurality of light fixtures is then driven using respective light source output values to produce the desired light outputs.

Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of light fixtures. The method includes detecting the light outputs of a plurality of light fixtures and detecting a reflection of light from a surface. The light outputs and the reflection of light are analyzed. Differences among the light outputs of the plurality of light fixtures are determined, and a difference between the reflection of light and a desired reflection of light is determined. New or updated values for output color, output brightness, and/or output spectra are determined for the plurality of light fixtures such that the light outputs of the light fixtures are consistent and correspond to a desired light output, and such that the reflection of light corresponds to the desired reflection of light. Each of the plurality of light fixtures is then driven using respective light source output values to produce the desired light outputs.

Abstract: The vehicle pulled snow scraper system is an adjustable width snow blade having a pivotally attached blade in which the forward-backward tilt of the blade is adjusted via the winch. The forward-backward tilt function also may raise and lower the bottom edge of the blade in relation to the ground surface. The invention has a two piece hitch receiver bar having two different diameters of tubing, with an impact spring between the tubes to absorb impacts when the blade catches an immovable object. The outside edges of the blade assembly extend outward to greatly increase the width of the snow plow blade as desired by the user.

Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of light fixtures. The method includes detecting the light outputs of a plurality of light fixtures and detecting a reflection of light from a surface. The light outputs and the reflection of light are analyzed. Differences among the light outputs of the plurality of light fixtures are determined, and a difference between the reflection of light and a desired reflection of light is determined. New or updated values for output color, output brightness, and output spectra are determined for the plurality of light fixtures such that the light outputs of the light fixtures are consistent and correspond to a desired light output, and such that the reflection of light corresponds to the desired reflection of light. Each of the plurality of light fixtures is then driven using respective light source output values to produce the desired light outputs.

Abstract: Website optimization methods and tools for optimizing visibility of a website to internet search engines. A website is automatically evaluated against one or more optimization tests based on one or more search terms. A report is generated along with tools that guide and prompt the user for user input that is used by the tools to directly edit content of the website to improve the visibility of the website to internet search engines.

Abstract: Website optimization methods and tools for optimizing visibility of a website to internet search engines are presented. A website is automatically evaluated against one or more optimization tests based on one or more search terms. A report is generated along with tools that guide and prompt the user for user input that is used by the tools to directly edit content of the website to improve the visibility of the website to internet search engines.

Abstract: Website optimization methods and tools for optimizing visibility of a website to Internet search engines include evaluation of a against one or more optimization tests based on one or more search terms. A report is generated along with tools that guide and prompt the user for user input that is used by the tools to directly edit content of the website to improve the visibility of the website to Internet search engines.

Abstract: A vehicle door bumper guard device is provided that includes either a temporary or permanent fixture for attachment between two adjacent door edges of a vehicle. The device comprises an elongated, hollow structure surrounded by an energy attenuating material, which is supported by an elastic strap fed through the interior of the structure. The ends of the strap terminate at a door edge clip, which can be temporarily fixed around a door edge or mechanically fastened thereto. The device includes formed ends to promote aerodynamics when applied in a permanent configuration, and is constructed of relatively inexpensive material to promote producibility but retaining durability.

Abstract: Website optimization methods and tools for optimizing visibility of a website to internet search engines are presented. A website is automatically evaluated against one or more optimization tests based on one or more search terms. A report is generated along with tools that guide and prompt the user for user input that is used by the tools to directly edit content of the website to improve the, visibility of the website to Internet search engines.