Abstract: An embodiment of a system for treating sleep apnea includes a collar, a pump, a motor, a sensor, and a controller. The collar is configured to maintain an airway of a subject open while the subject is sleeping by applying, to a throat of the subject, a negative pressure having a magnitude, and the pump is configured to generate the negative pressure. The motor is configured to drive the pump, and the sensor is configured to generate a sense signal that is related to a degree to which the airway is open. And the controller is configured to vary the magnitude of the negative pressure in response to the sense signal. For example, one or more of the pump, motor, sensor, and controller can be secured to the collar such that the system is self-contained, i.e., the entire sleep-apnea system can be worn by the subject.

Abstract: A method of controlling a Casimir-effect device includes applying a voltage to a field-effect gate of the Casimir-effect device. The Casimir-effect device includes a conducting material and a semiconductor. The conducting material and semiconductor are separated by a gap to form the field-effect gate over at least a portion of the semiconductor facing the gap. The method further includes altering, in response to the applied voltage, a density of free charge carriers in the portion of the semiconductor facing the gap to control a nanoscale Casimir force between the conducting material and the portion of the semiconductor facing the gap.

Abstract: An embodiment of a system for treating sleep apnea includes a collar, pump, motor, sensor, memory, and controller, which is configured to store, in the memory, information related to sleep-apnea events or sleep-apnea treatment, experienced by the subject. For example, the controller can obtain, and store in the memory, information related to sleep-apnea events, and the controller, or another computing system, can correlate this information with the subject's lifestyle choices, and can recommend lifestyle changes to improve the subject's sleep apnea. Furthermore, the controller can obtain and store, in the memory, information related to usage and settings of the sleep-apnea system, and the controller, or another computing system, can correlate this information with the subject's wellbeing, and can recommend changes in the usage or the settings of the sleep-apnea system that can improve the subject's wellbeing.

Abstract: A digital memory device includes a moveable element that is configured to move between a first stable position and a second stable position, where the moveable element comprises a first conducting area. The digital memory device further includes a second conducting area on the surface of a substrate. At the first stable position of the moveable element, a first gap exists between the first conducting area and the second conducting area. At the second stable position of the moveable element, a second gap that is smaller than the first gap exists between the first conducting area and the second conducting area. In at least the second stable position, an attractive Casimir force between the moveable element and the substrate holds the moveable element in the stable position.

Abstract: A system includes an apparatus and a controller, according to an embodiment. The apparatus is configured to maintain an airway of a subject open while the subject is sleeping by applying to the airway a pressure having a magnitude, and the controller is configured to cause the apparatus to change the magnitude of the pressure over a period that begins at a settable start time. For example, the system can be configured to treat a subject's sleep apnea with positive or negative pressure, and to function as an alarm clock by beginning to change the pressure magnitude at a settable start time, and to continue changing the pressure over a period with a settable duration (or settable stop time) to gently awaken the subject by the end of the period.

Abstract: A digital memory device includes a moveable element that is configured to move between a first stable position and a second stable position, where the moveable element comprises a first conducting area. The digital memory device further includes a second conducting area on the surface of a substrate. At the first stable position of the moveable element, a first gap exists between the first conducting area and the second conducting area. At the second stable position of the moveable element, a second gap that is smaller than the first gap exists between the first conducting area and the second conducting area. In at least the second stable position, an attractive Casimir force between the moveable element and the substrate holds the moveable element in the stable position.

Abstract: The present invention may include a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle, the towable trailer including an auxiliary battery housing unit, a wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer, an auxiliary battery disposed within the auxiliary battery housing unit of the towable trailer, the vehicle including a storage battery, the auxiliary battery of the towable trailer being electrically couplable with the storage battery of the vehicle via a bidirectional pathway, and a control system configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the auxiliary battery of the towable trailer and the storage battery of the vehicle along the bidirectional pathway.

Abstract: A system for facilitating cloud formation and cloud precipitation includes a controller and a beam emitter that is responsive to the controller. The beam emitter is configured to emit a beam to form charged particles within an atmospheric zone containing water vapor. The charged particles enhance the formation of cloud condensation nuclei such that water vapor condenses on the cloud condensation nuclei forming cloud droplets. The system further includes a sensor configured to detect a cloud status and output a signal corresponding to the cloud status to the controller.

Abstract: A system for facilitating cloud formation and cloud precipitation includes a controller and a beam emitter that is responsive to the controller. The beam emitter is configured to emit a beam to form charged particles within an atmospheric zone containing water vapor. The charged particles enhance the formation of cloud condensation nuclei such that water vapor condenses on the cloud condensation nuclei forming cloud droplets. The system further includes a sensor configured to detect a cloud status and output a signal corresponding to the cloud status to the controller.

Abstract: A dryer including a housing, a drying chamber disposed within the housing, and a heating element coupled to the housing. The dryer further includes an intake configured to supply intake air to the drying chamber and an exhaust vent configured to vent exhaust air out of the drying chamber. The intake, the drying chamber, and the exhaust vent define an air flow path from the intake through the drying chamber and out the exhaust vent. The dryer includes a heat exchanger and a heat pump having a condenser. The heat exchanger and the heat pump are each configured to absorb thermal energy from the exhaust air and transfer the thermal energy to the intake air. The air flow path is configured such that the intake air is heated directly or indirectly by the heat exchanger prior to the intake air being further heated directly or indirectly by the condenser.

Abstract: A method of pollinating a plant includes receiving, with a processing circuit, plant data regarding a plant having flowers, and controlling, by the processing circuit, operation of an robotic device to selectively pollinate a portion of the plurality of flowers based on the plant data. The robotic device includes sensors configured to acquire plant data, a pollination device configured to pollinate flowers of a plant, a collection device configured to collect pollen, and a pollination prevention device configured prevent a flower from being pollinated.

Abstract: An underwater carbon dioxide storage facility including a carbon dioxide deposit stored underwater as a clathrate includes a flexible barrier disposed at least partially over the carbon dioxide deposit. The carbon dioxide deposit may be stored in or at the bottom of a body of water.

Abstract: The present invention may include a towable trailer being mechanically couplable to a vehicle, the towable trailer including an auxiliary battery housing unit, a wheel being rotatably connected to the towable trailer, an auxiliary battery disposed within the auxiliary battery housing unit of the towable trailer, the vehicle including a storage battery, the auxiliary battery of the towable trailer being electrically couplable with the storage battery of the vehicle via a bidirectional pathway, and a control system configured to control a transfer of electrical energy between the auxiliary battery of the towable trailer and the storage battery of the vehicle along the bidirectional pathway.

Abstract: A dryer including a housing, a drying chamber disposed within the housing, and a heating element coupled to the housing. The dryer further includes an intake configured to supply intake air to the drying chamber and an exhaust vent configured to vent exhaust air out of the drying chamber. The intake, the drying chamber, and the exhaust vent define an air flow path from the intake through the drying chamber and out the exhaust vent. The dryer includes a heat exchanger and a heat pump having a condenser. The heat exchanger and the heat pump are each configured to absorb thermal energy from the exhaust air and transfer the thermal energy to the intake air. The air flow path is configured such that the intake air is heated directly or indirectly by the heat exchanger prior to the intake air being further heated directly or indirectly by the condenser.

Abstract: An underwater carbon dioxide storage facility including a carbon dioxide deposit stored underwater as a clathrate includes a flexible barrier disposed at least partially over the carbon dioxide deposit. The carbon dioxide deposit may be stored in or at the bottom of a body of water.

Abstract: A thermal insulator includes a plurality of layers. At least some of the layers include phononic crystals having a phononic bandgap, wherein heat transporting phonons within a selected range of frequencies are substantially blocked by each phononic crystal layer. The plurality of layers thermally isolate a first region from a second region, wherein the first region is at one end of the plurality of layers and the second region is at the other end of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a turbine blade includes providing a core element having a base portion, a tip portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the base portion and the tip portion. The intermediate portion has a non-uniform cross-section and is a high-strength fiber material. The method also includes surrounding the core element with a shell, the volume between the core element and the shell forming a void.

Abstract: Various methods for sensing and/or heating that utilize nanostructures or carbon structures, such as nanotubes, nanotube meshes, or graphene sheets, are disclosed. In some methods, at least a pair of contacts are electrically coupled with a given nanostructure or carbon structure to sense a change or to pass a current for heating.

Abstract: Various methods for sensing and/or heating that utilize nanostructures or carbon structures, such as nanotubes, nanotube meshes, or graphene sheets, are disclosed. In some methods, at least a pair of contacts are electrically coupled with a given nanostructure or carbon structure to sense a change or to pass a current for heating.

Abstract: Various heaters and arrays of heaters that utilize nanostructures or carbon structures, such as nanotubes, nanotube meshes, or graphene sheets, are disclosed. In various arrangements, at least a pair of contacts are electrically coupled with a given nanostructure or carbon structure to pass a current for heating.