Abstract: Tie-arrangement system includes a conveyor assembly configured to receive ties for placement in a track for rail vehicles. The conveyor assembly is configured to receive the ties in a common plane relative to each other. The tie-arrangement system includes an accumulator assembly configured to receive the ties in the common plane from the conveyor assembly. The accumulator assembly is configured to arrange the ties in a same orientation in groups and to move the groups of the ties out of the accumulator assembly. The tie-arrangement system includes a delivery assembly configured to receive the groups of the ties arranged by the accumulator assembly into the same orientation. The delivery assembly is configured to place the groups of the ties onto a surface off the tie-arrangement system for placement of the ties in the track for the rail vehicles.

Abstract: A clamp assembly may include a housing that can be positionable alongside an elongated body, one or more clamps that can be pivotally couplable with the housing, and an actuator that may pivot the one or more clamps relative to the housing. The clamps may selectively engage the elongated body to thereby restrict movement of the elongated body relative to the housing.

Abstract: A thread box assembly includes a framing body coupled with a moveable arm of a thread box system that positions rails of a track. The framing body includes external framing walls with an upward facing open side. The framing body includes framing supporting walls between the external walls. Supporting walls may couple the framing walls with each other. The assembly includes a closing body that can be removably coupled with the framing body. The closing body includes opposing elongated bars and opposing internal coupling walls. The elongated bars are oriented perpendicular to the coupling walls. The closing body is fastened to the framing body to define and surround a central opening of the thread box assembly through which the rails extend during installation or replacement of the track without the closing body moving relative to the framing body.

Abstract: An assembly is provided that may include a platform that may be coupled with a vehicle. The platform may rotate from a first platform position to a second platform position relative to a chassis of the vehicle. The assembly may include an extendable ramp coupled to the platform and configured to extend relative to the platform from a first ramp position to a second ramp position. This ramp may be positioned in the second platform position to allow a second vehicle to be driven up the ramp and onto the first vehicle, with the ramp then moved to the first platform position to allow the first vehicle to carry the second vehicle to another location. The ramp can be moved to the first platform position to the second platform position to allow the second vehicle to disembark from the first vehicle and travel separately from the first vehicle.

Abstract: A fastener system and method includes a controller having one or more processors that obtain image information associated with a tie plate. The tie plate includes one or more holes, and each hole is configured to receive a fastener. A fastener driving unit drives the fastener into at least one of the one or more holes. The controller controls movement of the fastener driving unit to move the fastener driving unit to a location corresponding to the at least one hole, and the controller controls movement of the fastener driving unit to drive the fastener into the at least one hole.

Abstract: A rail tie handling system is provided that includes at least one chassis that either has self-propulsion or can be coupled to a vehicle having a propulsion system, or both. The handling system includes a conveyor segment, a bundler segment, and an unloader segment. The conveyor can receive rail ties and to provide them upon demand or request. The bundler can receive rail ties from the conveyor, to bundle the rail ties into a bundle, and to provide the bundle upon demand or request. The unloader can receive the bundle from the bundler and can unload that bundle from the handling system upon demand or request. The system includes a controller that can determine when and/or where to unload the bundle from the unloader.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a self-propelled platform that can traverse a first rail of a first vehicle and a first rail of a second vehicle, the first rail of the first vehicle and the first rail of the second vehicle separated in spaced relation. The self-propelled platform has a wheel assembly that can engage the first rail of the first vehicle and the first rail of the second vehicle. The wheel assembly may include at least one guide extending away from the self-propelled platform and having a size and shape to engage a first rail of the first vehicle or the first rail of the second vehicle while a portion of the self-propelled platform remains on the first rail of the first vehicle and the first rail of the second vehicle, to guide the wheel assembly onto the first rail of the first vehicle or the first rail of the second vehicle.

Abstract: A mobile medical device for monitoring a respiratory condition in a subject, the medical device including: a sensor configured to be adhered to the skin of a patient, the sensor configured to yield a resistance signal that is modulated by movements of a chest of a patient during respiration; a sensor attachment module configured to receive the signal from the sensor and to output data to a mobile electronic device an indication of an adverse respiratory event. Also disclosed is a server for integrating data collected from a plurality of the mobile medical devices and a crowd-sourced respiration advisory system including a plurality of the mobile medical devices and a server for integrating data collected by the mobile medical devices.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device capable of implementing a machine learning algorithm to identify states of operation, performance, and health of a piece of machinery based on vibration and sound patterns. The present invention features a small electronic device consisting of one or more sensors with a computing device, that collects patterns of vibration and/or acoustic measurement from machinery to generate one or more representative signals. The device uses a simple algorithm to characterize the representative signals, and uses a simple algorithm to compare future signals to the characterized signals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a computing device capable of accepting, identifying, and processing signals from a plurality of different sensor types without sensor-specific code. The present invention features a small electronic device consisting of one or more sensors with a computing device that can be reconfigured for different purposes at any time, without the need for changing programming code.

Abstract: A system may include an imaging device to obtain image data from a field of view outside of a vehicle. A controller may analyze the image data and identify one or more vegetation features of a target vegetation within the field of view. The vegetation features may be a type, a quantity, a distance, and/or a size of vegetation. A directed energy system may direct one or more directed energy beams toward the target vegetation responsive to the controller identifying the one or more vegetation features. A method may include analyzing image data from a field of view adjacent to a vehicle and determining one or more vegetation features of target vegetation within the field of view to be removed. The method may include directing a directed energy beam(s) onto the target vegetation. The directed energy beam(s) may be controlled based in part on the one or more vegetation features.

Abstract: This invention describes a device to collect a subset of small particles, such as cells, utilizing one or more electric fields formed by conductors attached to an insulating structure. The invention utilizes one or more conducting materials which are connected to a voltage source to generate the electric fields. The conductors are placed in a liquid sample containing one or more populations of particles. Some of the particles may be attracted to or repelled from the conductors due to the electric fields. If attracted, the particles attach to the conductors, after which, the conductors are removed from the sample and placed into a second sample to collect the particles. Particles that are attracted to the conductors may be drawn into a cavity or tube via suction. Alternatively, particles that are repelled by the electric field are preferentially excluded from being drawn into a suction cavity placed near the conductors.

Abstract: The present invention describes a device for sorting small particles using electric fields. The device described herein comprises one or more electrically conducting structures suspended in a fluid flow stream used to redirect the movement of particles in the flow stream. The electrically conducting structures are longitudinally disposed at a center axis of a fluidic channel. As particles flow in the fluid, electric fields on the suspended conductors move the small particles from one flow region to another, allowing them to be redirected to different endpoints.

Abstract: A control system includes a task manager that can determine capability requirements to perform a task on the target object. The task has an associated series of sub-tasks, with the sub-tasks having one or more capability requirements. The task manager selects and assigns a first sequence of sub-tasks to a first robotic machine that has a first set of capabilities and operates according to a first mode of operation. The task manager selects and assigns a second sequence of sub-tasks to a second robotic machine that has a second set of capabilities and operates according to a second mode of operation. The task manager selects the first robotic machine based on the first set of capabilities and the first mode of operation of the first robotic machine, and selects the second robotic machine based on the second set of capabilities and the second mode of operation.

Abstract: A microfluidic component package that is readily integratable within a microfluidic system.

Abstract: A vehicle system with spray control is provided. The vehicle system includes a vehicle platform for a vehicle, a dispenser configured to dispense a composition onto at least a portion of an environmental feature adjacent to the vehicle, and a controller configured to operate one or more of the vehicle, the vehicle platform, or the dispenser based at least in part on environmental information.

Abstract: A wearable sensor apparatus is disclosed that includes a flexible substrate adapted to be coupled with a skin surface of an expectant mother. A conductor is disposed on the flexible substrate. The conductor can include micron-scale invaginations. The conductor can be capable of repeatable variation in resistance when subject to a strain. Also disclosed is a system for monitoring the health of a fetus in utero that includes a wearable sensor apparatus. The wearable sensor apparatus is configured to output a signal responsive to an electrical input. The system includes a computing system with one or more hardware processors. The computing system is programmed to implement a signal processing module configured to access the output signal from the wearable strain gauge and generate an output indicative of health of the baby in utero.

Abstract: A miniature wireless pressure sensor has an inductor and a capacitor. The inductor and the capacitor form a L-C resonator with a resonate frequency. The inductor's inductance is affected by a slidable electro-magnetic element. When an outside pressure is applied onto the element, it causes the element to move and such movement changes the inductance of the inductor. Because of that, the resonate frequency is changed. Therefore, the change in resonate frequency indicates a change in the outside pressure. The L-C resonator is calibrated to correlate with the outside pressure. Such a miniature wireless pressure sensor facilitates the monitoring of physiological pressure in different part of human body such as eyes and cranium.

Abstract: A microwave waveguide switch that can route electromagnetic radiation by switching one or more first waveguides into one or more second waveguides. The device utilizes a stacked moveable routing component comprising multiple different routing configurations in a single stack. An external actuator moves the stack in such a way as to align different ports with different signal waveguides thereby achieving different routing states.

Abstract: Systems and methods directed to an array of microstructures for biological cell sorting with each individual structure component including an integrated magnetic element.