Abstract: For service to a fire safety system, all or part of the fire safety system is simulated. This virtual representation may be used with an installed panel or firmware for an actual panel to be installed. The simulation allows for the design, testing, troubleshooting, training, or other activities for design, installation, or remediation of the first safety system. Delays, complexity, and/or difficulty may be reduced using the virtual representation of at least part of the fire safety system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for quantitative measurements of colloid properties with a depletion force sensor. An example system of the present disclosure may include a well, a mass, a sensor, and a processor. The well may be contain a test fluid. The mass has a surface which may be immersed in the test fluid during operation. The sensor may include a sensing element which may be immersed in the test fluid during operation. The sensing element may include a sensor face separated from the surface of the mass by a gap. The sensor may measure a force on the sensing element relative to the mass. The processor may be coupled to the sensor and may determine properties of the test fluid based on the force.

Abstract: A flow channel suitable for use with a peristaltic pump comprises: an upper wall having a bowed upward shape; a lower wall having one of a bowed downward shape and a flat shape; and one or more spacers between the upper wall and the lower wall disposed between lateral edges of the upper and lower walls, each spacer having a height. The upper wall, lower wall, and the one or more spacers define a lumen. When the upper wall is compressed toward the lower wall by compressing members, the one or more spacers limit vertical movement of the compressing members such that the lumen is maintained in an under-occluded condition. In some cases, the bowing of one of the upper and lower walls has a recurved shape.

Abstract: A method for cooling the temperature of a body of water having a top surface exposed to sunlight comprises distributing balls such that they lie on, and in direct contact with, at least part of the top surface, the at least part of the top surface characterized prior to the distribution by a pre-distribution surface area; The balls have diameters within a range of 100 microns to 3 mm, and albedos within a range of 0.15 to 1.0. The surfaces of the balls are hydrophilic, such that after the distribution a total wetted surface area greater than the pre-distribution surface area of the water is provided, facilitating the cooling. In one embodiment, the body of water is a natural or unnatural lake or bay.

Abstract: Building safety systems, methods, and mediums are provided. A method includes receiving a voice input by the building safety system. The method includes receiving voice data produced by a speech recognition process performed on the voice input. The method includes determining a response to the voice input based on the voice data. The method includes producing the response by the building safety system.

Abstract: A method for cooling the temperature of a body of water having a top surface exposed to sunlight comprises distributing balls such that they lie on, and in direct contact with, at least part of the top surface, the at least part of the top surface characterized prior to the distribution by a pre-distribution surface area; The balls have diameters within a range of 100 microns to 3 mm, and albedos within a range of 0.15 to 1.0. The surfaces of the balls are hydrophilic, such that after the distribution a total wetted surface area greater than the pre-distribution surface area of the water is provided, facilitating the cooling. In one embodiment, the body of water is a natural or unnatural lake or bay.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for quantitative measurements of colloid properties with a depletion force sensor. An example system of the present disclosure may include a well, a mass, a sensor, and a processor. The well may be contain a test fluid. The mass has a surface which may be immersed in the test fluid during operation. The sensor may include a sensing element which may be immersed in the test fluid during operation. The sensing element may include a sensor face separated from the surface of the mass by a gap. The sensor may measure a force on the sensing element relative to the mass. The processor may be coupled to the sensor and may determine properties of the test fluid based on the force.

Abstract: A system for cooling the temperature of a body of water having a top surface exposed to sunlight comprises hydrophilic balls distributed on, and in direct contact with, at least part of the top surface characterized prior to the distribution by a pre-distribution surface area. The balls have diameters within a range of 100 microns to 3 mm, and albedos within a range of 0.15-1.0. The balls comprise recycled glass and air-entrapping pores. The hydrophilic surfaces of the balls provide a total wetted surface area after the distribution greater than the pre-distribution surface area of the water, facilitating the cooling.

Abstract: A platform and methods of use, for providing active, pre-determined, fully controlled, precise delivery of nano- or micro-particles in biological tissue. The platform comprises the following modules: (A) one or more nano- or micro-particles comprising embedded logic and various MEM components; (B) a delivery and retraction module, configured to deliver and retract the particles; (C) an external signal generator; (D) an imaging module, configured to monitor said particles; and (E) an integration module configured to receive inputs from other modules and provide output control commands to other modules. The modules are configured to interact/communicate with each other and are internally controlled, externally controlled or both.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating composite ice includes a water inlet system that receives water; a water treatment that operates on water delivered from the water inlet system, to provide treated water; a cooling system that operates on the treated water to generate ice; and an ice delivery system that outputs the generated ice. The water treatment system introduces a material that includes hollow particles to the water delivered from the water inlet system, the material being selected such that the generated ice, including light scattering centers created by the presence of the material, has an albedo greater than 0.15.

Abstract: A flow channel suitable for use with a peristaltic pump comprises: an upper wall having a bowed upward shape; a lower wall having one of a bowed downward shape and a flat shape; and one or more spacers between the upper wall and the lower wall disposed between lateral edges of the upper and lower walls, each spacer having a height. The upper wall, lower wall, and the one or more spacers define a lumen. When the upper wall is compressed toward the lower wall by compressing members, the one or more spacers limit vertical movement of the compressing members such that the lumen is maintained in an under-occluded condition. In some cases, the bowing of one of the upper and lower walls has a recurved shape.

Abstract: A fluid sensing system (30) including a fluid channel (32) with an inlet (34) and an outlet (36). A thermal device (38) is operably coupled thereto at a first position whereby thermal energy is transferable with fluid in the channel. A section of the fluid channel downstream of the first position has a predefined cross section and flow path. A thermal imaging device (46) is positioned to capture a thermal image of at least a portion of the downstream section. A processor (48) coupled with the thermal imaging device is configured to determine at least one output value representative of a property of the fluid medication or fluid flow using the thermal image. The output value may be the flow volume. In some embodiments, the fluid channel also defines a section upstream of the first position with the thermal imaging device capturing an image that includes at least portions of both the upstream and downstream sections.

Abstract: A method for generating composite ice includes forming a first layer of ice, depositing a layer of a material that includes hollow particles on a surface of the first layer of ice, and forming a second layer of ice overlying the first layer of ice to create the composite ice. The composite ice, having light scattering centers created by the presence of the deposited material, has an albedo greater than 0.15.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to methods and apparatuses for generating ice. In one embodiment, at a generation location, a material is introduced to water, and the temperature of the combination of the water and the material is lowered until ice forms; then at a target location, the formed ice is deployed on a top surface of a body of water, or of a pre-existing body of ice, or of ground. The formed ice has an albedo greater than or equal to 0.15. The formed ice contains light scattering centers created by the introduced material. The material comprises hollow particles.

Abstract: A fluid sensing system (30) including a fluid channel (32) with an inlet (34) and an outlet (36). A thermal device (38) is operably coupled thereto at a first position whereby thermal energy is transferable with fluid in the channel. A section of the fluid channel downstream of the first position has a predefined cross section and flow path. A thermal imaging device (46) is positioned to capture a thermal image of at least a portion of the downstream section. A processor (48) coupled with the thermal imaging device is configured to determine at least one output value representative of a property of the fluid medication or fluid flow using the thermal image. The output value may be the flow volume. In some embodiments, the fluid channel also defines a section upstream of the first position with the thermal imaging device capturing an image that includes at least portions of both the upstream and downstream sections.

Abstract: Building safety systems, methods, and mediums are provided. A method includes receiving a voice input by the building safety system. The method includes receiving voice data produced by a speech recognition process performed on the voice input. The method includes determining a response to the voice input based on the voice data. The method includes producing the response by the building safety system.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to apparatuses for generating composite ice. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a water inlet system configured to receive water; a water treatment system configured to operate on water delivered from the water inlet system; a cooling system configured to operate on the treated water delivered from the water treatment system to generate ice; and an ice delivery system configured to output the generated ice. The water treatment system introduces a material to the water delivered from the water inlet system, the material being selected such that the subsequently generated ice has an albedo greater than 0.15.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to methods and apparatuses for generating ice. In one embodiment, at a generation location, a material is introduced to water, and the temperature of the combination of the water and the material is lowered until ice forms; then at a target location, the formed ice is deployed on a top surface of a body of water, or of a pre-existing body of ice, or of ground. The formed ice has an albedo greater than or equal to 0.15. The formed ice contains light scattering centers created by the introduced material. The material comprises hollow particles.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to methods for generating composite ice. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a first layer of ice, depositing a layer of a material on a surface of the first layer of ice; and forming a second layer of ice overlying the first layer of ice to create the composite ice. The composite ice has an albedo greater than 0.15.

Abstract: Building safety systems, methods, and mediums are provided. A method includes receiving a voice input by the building safety system. The method includes receiving voice data produced by a speech recognition process performed on the voice input. The method includes determining a response to the voice input based on the voice data. The method includes producing the response by the building safety system.