Abstract: A system attachable to a refrigeration circuit, the system including a vacuum pump assembly attachable to the refrigeration circuit to remove fluid therefrom, the vacuum pump assembly including a pump, an electric motor for driving the pump, and a vacuum pump controller for controlling the operation of the electric motor, the vacuum pump controller having a first communication interface, and an accessory attachable to the refrigeration circuit concurrently with the vacuum pump assembly, the accessory including a fluid valve coupled between the pump and the refrigeration circuit to selectively place the pump in fluid communication with the refrigeration circuit.

Abstract: A materials handling vehicle receives a wirelessly communicated performance tuning profile, and responsive thereto, adjusts at least one operating capability. The performance tuning profile can be updated dynamically as the materials handling vehicle is operated in a work environment based upon a number of different factors including operational, operator, environmental, other, or combinations thereof. Additional aspects provide a graphical user interface that allows an individual such as a supervisor to create a library of performance tuning profiles, and create and/or program a rules engine to automatically convey an appropriate performance tuning profile to a corresponding materials handling vehicle responsive to detecting a corresponding event associated with a programmed rule.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring gas sensor sensitivity. The method includes repeatedly determining the response of a gas sensor by exposing the gas sensor to a gas and measuring the gas sensor response; and transmitting the response, information identifying the gas detector, and the time of the calibration to a remote computer. The remote computer then calculates a trend of sensitivity for the gas detector over time based on the received responses and corresponding time values and determines a renewal time when the calculated trend intersects a predetermined value.

Abstract: A system includes a computer having a processor and a memory. The memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine a presence of a passenger, determine an eye gaze direction of an operator based on an image of the operator, and determine a location of a hand of the operator based on the image of the operator. The system actuates a vehicle component based on the determined presence of the passenger, the determined eye gaze direction of the operator, and the determined location of the hand of the operator.

Abstract: A facial recognition authentication system and method include obtaining a current image in response to a request for facial recognition authentication of a user. A set of current image features are generated from the input image. Live image features and spoof image features are retrieved for the user. Then a determination is output that the input image is one of live or spoofed based on a comparison of the current image features to the live image features and the spoof image features.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a compartment having a first space having a first environmental condition and a second space having a second environmental condition. At least one camera captures a first image of a first part of a region external to the vehicle and a second image of a second part of the region. The first part of the region aligns with the first space, and the second part of the region aligns with the second space. An environmental control system of the vehicle has at least one of lighting control and climate control. Control circuitry is configured to determine brightness conditions of the region based on the first image and the second image and control the environmental control system to adjust the environmental conditions based on the brightness conditions.

Abstract: A fish tape assembly includes a fish tape tool including a housing, a chamber defined in the housing and a motor supported by the housing. The fish tape assembly also includes a fish tape drum configured to be inserted into the chamber of the housing. The fish tape drum contains a type of fish tape and includes a rotatable drum portion configured to rotate in response to receiving torque from the motor. The fish tape tool includes a sensor configured to detect the type of fish tape in the fish tape drum inserted into the chamber of the housing.

Abstract: A biometric evaluation system for a vehicle includes a vision sensor configured to detect a biometric quality of a user. The biometric evaluation system also includes an operational system for the vehicle. At least one processor is in communication with the vision sensor. The processor is configured to execute a first classification algorithm that performs a first biometric validation based on the biometric quality to estimate a state of the user. The first classification algorithm requires a first service latency. In response to an outcome of the first biometric validation, the at least one processor is further configured to execute a second classification algorithm that performs a second biometric validation to confirm the state of the user. The second classification algorithm requires a second service latency greater than the first service latency. The processor is further configured to communicate a signal to modify operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system including a computer having a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to determine an operator reengagement score based on sensor data including multiple perception factors and multiple controllability factors. An operator reengagement delay is adjusted based on the operator reengagement score and a vehicle component is actuated upon expiration of the operator reengagement delay.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are protein cages that can be assembled and disassembled on command and methods and compositions thereof.

Abstract: A circular saw plunge pipe cutter includes a main housing, a drive mechanism at least partially disposed within the main housing, a saw blade operably coupled with the drive mechanism, and a shoe slidably coupled to the main housing. The shoe includes a pipe receptacle in which a pipe is receivable. The circular saw plunge pipe cutter is adjustable between a plunge state, in which the main housing moves toward the shoe and the saw blade extends into the pipe receptacle, and a retracted state in which the main housing moves away from the shoe and the saw blade does not extend into the pipe receptacle.

Abstract: A system attachable to a refrigeration circuit includes a recovery pump attachable to the refrigeration circuit to remove refrigerant. The recovery pump includes a pump, an electric motor, a battery pack, and a recovery pump controller for controlling the operation of the electric motor. The recovery pump controller has a first communication interface. The system further includes an accessory attachable to the refrigeration circuit concurrently with the recovery pump. The accessory includes a sensor for detecting a characteristic value of the refrigeration circuit, and an accessory controller electrically connected with the sensor to receive a signal corresponding with the characteristic value of the refrigeration circuit. The accessory controller has a second communication interface to communicate the signal to the recovery pump controller via the first and second wireless interfaces. The recovery pump controller controls the operation of the electric motor based upon the signal received from the accessory.

Abstract: Upon obtaining biometric data for a user of a structure while the user is outside the structure, user data for the user is updated based on a confidence score for the biometric data exceeding a first confidence threshold. Based on the confidence score for the biometric data not exceeding the first confidence threshold, instructions are provided to the user to provide updated biometric data. Then the user data is updated based on a confidence score for the updated biometric data exceeding a second confidence threshold. The second confidence threshold is greater than the first confidence threshold. Structure components are controlled based on the updated user data.

Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one camera that captures at least one image of a region external to the vehicle. The vehicle includes an environmental control system of the vehicle having at least one of lighting control and climate control for the vehicle. The vehicle includes control circuitry configured to process a first set of images of the plurality of images at a first sampling rate, determine a brightness condition of the region external to the vehicle based on processing the first set of images, process a second set of images of the plurality of images at a second sampling rate different than the first sampling rate, detect a shift in the brightness condition based on the second set of images, and control the environmental control system in response to the shift in the brightness condition.

Abstract: A drain cleaning device includes a housing; a drum assembly supported by the housing, the drum assembly including an inner drum, an outer drum, and a space defined therebetween, the drum assembly configured to rotate relative to the housing about a rotation axis; a motor supported by the drum assembly, the motor including an output shaft; a flexible cable stored within the space of the drum assembly, the flexible cable operable to receive torque from the motor; and a drum cover supported by the housing and positioned over the space to maintain the flexible cable within the space, the drum cover defining a cable outlet through which the flexible cable can extend.

Abstract: A fish tape drum includes a frame and a drum portion rotatable relative to the frame. The drum portion has an outer wall and an inner wall. The first tape drum also includes a length of fish tape arranged between the inner wall and the outer wall. The fish tape drum further includes a constricting assembly configured to bias the length of fish tape toward the inner wall.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a window separating a compartment of the vehicle from a region external to the vehicle. The window includes an outer surface. An imaging device is in the compartment and configured to capture an image of the region external to the vehicle through the window. Control circuitry is in communication with the imaging device and configured to receive the image from the imaging device, detect an obstruction in the image data corresponding to a substance on the window, and generate an output in response to the detection of the obstruction, wherein the imaging device is disposed within 50 millimeters (mm) from the window.

Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one imaging device that captures an image of a plurality of roadway lanes in a region external to the vehicle. The vehicle includes control circuitry in communication with the at least one imaging device. The control circuitry is configured to receive the image from the imaging device, detect a splash event in the region external based on the image, determine a target lane of the plurality of lanes for the vehicle to move based on the splash event, and generate an output indicating the target lane.

Abstract: A stick pump assembly includes a tube having a first end, a second end, and an axis extending through the first end and the second end. The stick pump assembly also includes a pump having a motor and an impeller. The pump has an inlet adjacent the first end and in fluid communication with the tube. The stick pump assembly also includes a chamber surrounding the pump. The chamber is fluidly separated from the motor. The stick pump assembly also includes a handle having an outlet adjacent the second end and in fluid communication with the tube, a receptacle configured to receive a battery pack, and a grip formed by an outer periphery of the handle. The grip is configured to be grasped by a user during operation of the stick pump assembly. The outlet and the grip are positioned along the axis between the tube and the receptacle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a receiver that generates a video signal. A first video is assigned to a first display layer of a plurality of display layers. A first trigger signal causes a first application to assign a first user interface to a second display layer, which is positioned over the first display layer. A second trigger signal causes a second application to assign a second user interface to a third display layer, which is positioned over the second display layer. The second trigger signal causes a reduction in a size of the first video, and a first portion of the third display layer and a second portion of the second display layer to be made transparent. The reduced size of the first video is positioned beneath the first portion. A combination of the first display layer, the second display layer, and the third display layer generates the video signal.