Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatic material classification use proprioceptive sensing data acquired from equipment interacting with the material. Embodiments enable automatic material identification with low operational complexity and computational overhead. Automatic material classification may be used to improve autonomous operation of robotic excavators, as well as provide useful knowledge about excavation materials (e.g., rock size distribution) in fields such as civil and mining operations, military operations, aggregate material handling and processing, and space exploration and development to improve downstream processing and operations.

Abstract: Content creation techniques are described that leverage content analytics to provide insight and guidance as part of content creation. To do so, content features are extracted by a content analytics system from a plurality of content and used by the content analytics system as a basis to generate a content dataset. Event data is also collected by the content analytics system from an event data source. Event data describes user interaction with respective items of content, including subsequent activities in both online and physical environments. The event data is then used to generate an event dataset. An analytics user interface is then generated by the content analytics system using the content dataset and the event dataset and is usable to guide subsequent content creation and editing.

Abstract: Content creation techniques are described that leverage content analytics to provide insight and guidance as part of content creation. To do so, content features are extracted by a content analytics system from a plurality of content and used by the content analytics system as a basis to generate a content dataset. Event data is also collected by the content analytics system from an event data source. Event data describes user interaction with respective items of content, including subsequent activities in both online and physical environments. The event data is then used to generate an event dataset. An analytics user interface is then generated by the content analytics system using the content dataset and the event dataset and is usable to guide subsequent content creation and editing.

Abstract: Content creation techniques are described that leverage content analytics to provide insight and guidance as part of content creation. To do so, content features are extracted by a content analytics system from a plurality of content and used by the content analytics system as a basis to generate a content dataset. Event data is also collected by the content analytics system from an event data source. Event data describes user interaction with respective items of content, including subsequent activities in both online and physical environments. The event data is then used to generate an event dataset. An analytics user interface is then generated by the content analytics system using the content dataset and the event dataset and is usable to guide subsequent content creation and editing.

Abstract: An embodiment includes software that causes a third node to perform operations comprising: in response to receiving a first identifier for a first node that includes at least one processor, authenticate a first user of the first node via a first authentication service; in response to receiving a second identifier for a second node that includes at least one processor, authenticate a second user of the second node via a second authentication service that is unequal to the first authentication service; in response to authenticating the first user of the first node, communicate a first list of media assets to the first computing node; in response to authenticating the second user of the second node, communicate a second list of media assets to the second computing node. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An embodiment includes software that causes a third node to perform operations comprising: in response to receiving a first identifier for a first node that includes at least one processor, authenticate a first user of the first node via a first authentication service; in response to receiving a second identifier for a second node that includes at least one processor, authenticate a second user of the second node via a second authentication service that is unequal to the first authentication service; in response to authenticating the first user of the first node, communicate a first list of media assets to the first computing node; in response to authenticating the second user of the second node, communicate a second list of media assets to the second computing node. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: Provided are apparatus and methods for generating a representation of a physical environment, comprising: a mobile sensor platform (MSP) including sensors that output sensor signals relating to parameters such as range, gravity, direction of the Earth's magnetic field, and angular velocity. The MSP is adapted to be moved through the environment. The sensor signals are processed and observations of axes in the environment are generated for a sequence of time steps, the orientation of the MSP is estimated for each of the time steps, observed axes are identified at each orientation, and similar axes are associated. The orientations, the axes in the environment, and the directions of gravity and the Earth's magnetic field are linked such that each observation is predicted based on the estimates of the orientations. An estimate of the orientations is optimized and an output of the representation of the physical environment is generated based on the optimized orientation estimates.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for augmenting the 3 dimensional position information obtained from the NAVSTAR satellite-based global positioning system (“GPS”) system. Such systems can be impacted by physical obstacles that prevent the receipt of the satellite signals or as a result of sun spot activity that introduces noise into the signals thus causing them to become intermittently unavailable and/or making them less accurate in the course of normal operation. Therefore, an improved positioning solution that can operate under such poor GPS operational conditions is needed. The apparatus and method of the invention augments GPS with dead reckoning techniques when GPS signals are unavailable or inaccurate. The apparatus and method of the invention demonstrates highest value when applied to blasthole drill positioning applications in open-pit mines.

Abstract: An embodiment includes software that causes a third node to perform operations comprising: in response to receiving a first identifier for a first node that includes at least one processor, authenticate a first user of the first node via a first authentication service; in response to receiving a second identifier for a second node that includes at least one processor, authenticate a second user of the second node via a second authentication service that is unequal to the first authentication service; in response to authenticating the first user of the first node, communicate a first list of media assets to the first computing node; in response to authenticating the second user of the second node, communicate a second list of media assets to the second computing node. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: An autorotating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has a data acquisition system and a rotor assembly including a hub that couples the rotor assembly to the UAV. Although not limited thereto, the UAV is suitable for collecting data about the inside of a cavity. The data acquisition system includes a processor and one or more sensors that obtain data about motion of the UAV and at least one parameter of the cavity as the UAV descends though the cavity. Features of the cavity may be mapped by generating a 3D point cloud from the data. The cavity may be natural or man-made, such as a mine.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for augmenting the 3 dimensional position information obtained from the NAVSTAR satellite-based global positioning system (“GPS”) system. Such systems can be impacted by physical obstacles that prevent the receipt of the satellite signals or as a result of sun spot activity that introduces noise into the signals thus causing them to become intermittently unavailable and/or making them less accurate in the course of normal operation. Therefore, an improved positioning solution that can operate under such poor GPS operational conditions is needed. The apparatus and method of the invention augments GPS with dead reckoning techniques when GPS signals are unavailable or inaccurate. The apparatus and method of the invention demonstrates highest value when applied to blasthole drill positioning applications in open-pit mines.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for augmenting the 3 dimensional position information obtained from the NAVSTAR satellite-based global positioning system (“GPS”) system. Such systems can be impacted by physical obstacles that prevent the receipt of the satellite signals or as a result of sun spot activity that introduces noise into the signals thus causing them to become intermittently unavailable and/or making them less accurate in the course of normal operation. Therefore, an improved positioning solution that can operate under such poor GPS operational conditions is needed. The apparatus and method of the invention augments GPS with dead reckoning techniques when GPS signals are unavailable or inaccurate.

Abstract: A shunt catheter system and method of use thereof. The system generally includes an open-ended ventricular catheter with drainage apertures and safety flap valves, a reservoir with inline filter, and a peritoneal catheter. After insertion, for example into the ventricles of the brain, cerebrospinal fluid would pass into the ventricular catheter, through the inline filter in the reservoir, and into the peritoneal catheter, subsequently exiting the shunt catheter system. During insertion of the ventricular catheter, a catheter stylet or wire/string and plug stylet can be positioned therein to occlude the open end. The ventricular catheter may be positioned perpendicular to the peritoneal catheter and can be coupled to one another through the reservoir and inline filter or valve.

Abstract: An autorotating unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has a data acquisition system and a rotor assembly including a hub that couples the rotor assembly to the UAV. Although not limited thereto, the UAV is suitable for collecting data about the inside of a cavity. The data acquisition system includes a processor and one or more sensors that obtain data about motion of the UAV and at least one parameter of the cavity as the UAV descends though the cavity. Features of the cavity may be mapped by generating a 3D point cloud from the data. The cavity may be natural or man-made, such as a mine.

Abstract: Provided are apparatus and methods for generating a representation of a physical environment, comprising: a mobile sensor platform (MSP) including sensors that output sensor signals relating to parameters such as range, gravity, direction of the Earth's magnetic field, and angular velocity. The MSP is adapted to be moved through the environment. The sensor signals are processed and observations of axes in the environment are generated for a sequence of time steps, the orientation of the MSP is estimated for each of the time steps, observed axes are identified at each orientation, and similar axes are associated. The orientations, the axes in the environment, and the directions of gravity and the Earth's magnetic field are linked such that each observation is predicted based on the estimates of the orientations. An estimate of the orientations is optimized and an output of the representation of the physical environment is generated based on the optimized orientation estimates.

Abstract: Provided are methods and products for rapid, reliable, and accurate monitoring and detecting of convergence in mining and civil engineering applications. A sensor, such as a scanning laser device, is moved through a tunnel, either automatically, autonomously, or with manual guidance. The sensor is configured to acquire 3D point clouds of all or a portion of a tunnel, at selected times. The 3D point cloud data is used to compute a set of indicators, which are local descriptors of the environment along the tunnel. The indicators are then amalgamated to estimate the probability that convergence has occurred in a given region. In one embodiment, the indicators are fused together using a Bayes network.

Abstract: Provided are methods and products for rapid, reliable, and accurate monitoring and detecting of convergence in mining and civil engineering applications. A sensor, such as a scanning laser device, is moved through a tunnel, either automatically, autonomously, or with manual guidance. The sensor is configured to acquire 3D point clouds of all or a portion of a tunnel, at selected times. The 3D point cloud data is used to compute a set of indicators, which are local descriptors of the environment along the tunnel. The indicators are then amalgamated to estimate the probability that convergence has occurred in a given region. In one embodiment, the indicators are fused together using a Bayes network.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for augmenting the 3 dimensional position information obtained from the NAVSTAR satellite-based global positioning system (“GPS”) system. Such systems can be impacted by physical obstacles that prevent the receipt of the satellite signals or as a result of sun spot activity that introduces noise into the signals thus causing them to become intermittently unavailable and/or making them less accurate in the course of normal operation. Therefore, an improved positioning solution that can operate under such poor GPS operational conditions is needed. The apparatus and method of the invention augments GPS with dead reckoning techniques when GPS signals are unavailable or inaccurate. The apparatus and method of the invention demonstrates highest value when applied to blasthole drill positioning applications in open-pit mines.

Abstract: A shunt catheter system and method of use thereof. The system generally includes an open-ended ventricular catheter with drainage apertures and safety flap valves, a reservoir with inline filter, and a peritoneal catheter. After insertion, for example into the ventricles of the brain, cerebrospinal fluid would pass into the ventricular catheter, through the inline filter in the reservoir, and into the peritoneal catheter, subsequently exiting the shunt catheter system. During insertion of the ventricular catheter, a catheter stylet or wire/string and plug stylet can be positioned therein to occlude the open end. The ventricular catheter may be positioned perpendicular to the peritoneal catheter and can be coupled to one another through the reservoir and inline filter or valve.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for iterative data secret-sharing transformation and reconversion. In one aspect, data secret-sharing transformation and reconversion is provided in which each bit of an input stream of bits of data is split, on a bit by bit basis, into a pair of secret-sharing bits, and the secret-sharing bits of each pair of secret-sharing bits are separated into separate streams of secret-sharing bits. In this manner, one secret-sharing bit of each pair of secret-sharing bits may be placed in one stream of secret-sharing bits and the other secret-sharing bit of each pair may be placed in another stream of secret-sharing bits different from the one stream of secret-sharing bits. Confidentiality of the original input stream may be protected in the event one but not both streams of secret-sharing bits is obtained by unauthorized personnel.