Abstract: A vehicle system includes: an olfaction sensor comprising: a blower configured to draw air through an inlet; a filter configured to filter particulate from the air; and a volatile organic compounds (VOC) sensor disposed downstream of the filter and configured to measure an amount of VOCs in air after the air flows through the filter; and a control module configured to selectively take one or more remedial actions based on the amount of VOCs.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes: a volatile organic compounds (VOC) sensor configured to measure an amount of a VOC within a passenger cabin of a vehicle; a particulate matter sensor configured to measure an amount of particulate matter within the passenger cabin of the vehicle; a triggering module configured to, during a use of the vehicle, selectively trigger the VOC and particulate matter sensors to measure the amount of the VOC and the amount of particulate matter; an odor database including a mapping of amounts of VOCs and amounts of particulate matter to odors; and an odor determination module configured to, using the odor database, determine an odor introduced into the passenger cabin of the vehicle during the use of the vehicle based on the measured amounts of VOCs and particulate matter.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes: an olfaction sensor comprising: a blower configured to draw air through an inlet; a dehumidifier configured to decrease a humidity of the air; and a sensor located downstream of the dehumidifier and configured to measure an amount of a chemical in the air after the air flows through the dehumidifier; and a control module configured to selectively take one or more remedial actions based on the amount of the chemical in the air measured by the sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes: at least one of: a particulate matter sensor configured to measure an amount of particulate within a passenger cabin of a vehicle; and a volatile organic compounds (VOC) sensor configured to measure an amount of VOCs within the passenger cabin of the vehicle; and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system including a blower; a blower control module configured to: operate the blower in a first direction and blow air into the passenger cabin of the vehicle; and based on at least one of the amount of particulate and the amount of VOCs within the passenger cabin of the vehicle, selectively operate the blower in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, thereby blowing air from within the passenger cabin out through the HVAC system.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes: at least one of: (a) a particulate matter sensor configured to measure an amount of particulate within a passenger cabin of a vehicle; and (b) a volatile organic compounds (VOC) sensor configured to measure an amount of VOCs within the passenger cabin of the vehicle; and a control module configured to, based on at least one of the amount of particulate and the amount of VOCs within the passenger cabin of the vehicle, diagnose at least one of: a characteristic of the vehicle; presence of a chemical in the passenger cabin of the vehicle; occurrence of an event within the passenger cabin of the vehicle; and a remaining life of engine oil of the vehicle.

Abstract: An illustrative example porous fuel cell component includes a plurality of fibers, a plurality of first pores defined by spaces between the fibers, and a plurality of second pores defined by an interior space in at least some of the fibers. Another illustrative example porous fuel cell component includes a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of second fibers that are different than the first fibers. The second fibers are hollow.

Abstract: A smoking cessation system of a vehicle includes: a microphone configured to generate an output based on sound within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; a virtual assistant module configured to identify a future smoking event within the passenger cabin of the vehicle based on the output of the microphone; and a smoking module configured to take at least one remedial action in response to the identification of a future smoking event.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system are disclosed for managing a return transaction within an environment having a plurality of purchasable item. The method acquires, using at least one visual sensor disposed within the environment, first image information including a first person and including a first item associated with the first person. The method identifies the first person using image analysis performed on the first image information. Further, the method determines, using image analysis performed on the first image information and based on one or more predetermined criteria, that the first item is eligible to be returned by the first person within the return transaction. Upon completion of one or more predefined return tasks specified for the first item within the return transaction, the method updates a first data structure representing an inventory of the environment to reflect the returned first item.

Abstract: This document provides implantable intraluminal stent graft medical devices. In some embodiments, the stent graft devices provided herein are implantable in bodily conduits that have side branches, and the stent graft devices are operable to allow the flow of fluids between the conduit and the side branches. In some embodiments, the walls of the stent graft devices provided herein include compliant channels which allow for fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the stent graft devices. In some embodiments, the compliant channels are configured to inhibit or reduce tissue ingrowth, tissue bridging, and/or endothelialization.

Abstract: A mobile access device includes a memory, a transceiver and a control module. The memory is configured to store incident information. The transceiver is configured to report the incident information to a relay station. The transceiver is at least one of ultra-wideband enabled or personal area network enabled. The control module is configured to: execute an emergency alerting application; transmit an alert signal from the mobile access device to the relay station indicating an incident has occurred; collect the incident information including at least one of (i) capturing audio or video of the incident, or (ii) receiving a descriptive comments from a user of the mobile access device; generate a report message including the incident information; and perform countermeasures including sending the report message to the relay station. At least one of the alert signal or the report message includes a unique signal identifier.

Abstract: An identification system for a property includes: a mobile device including a display and configured to: selectively output a feature during execution of an application; and transmit user data stored on the mobile device; a scanning module configured to scan the feature and to generate an output based on the feature; an identity module configured to, based on the user data, determine an identity identifier indicative of an identity of a user of the mobile device; and a checking module configured to one of approve and deny an action based on: the output generated based on the feature; and the identity identifier indicative of the identity of the user of the mobile device.

Abstract: A battery charging system of an electronic device includes: a battery having a first nominal voltage and including: battery cells each having a second nominal voltage that is less than the first nominal voltage; and electrical connectors that electrically connect ones of the battery cells to provide the battery with the first nominal voltage; a first charge port configured to electrically connect to a first type of connector; a charging module configured to: receive power via the first charge port; and when a voltage of the received power is less than the first nominal voltage at least one of: charge ones of the battery cells individually; and charge groups of two or more of the battery cells.

Abstract: An ordering module is configured to receive an order for delivery of one or more intoxicants to a user of a mobile device by an intoxicant vendor. An intoxication module is configured to determine an intoxication level of the user of the mobile device based on at least one of: perspiration of the user measured using a perspiration sensor of a first wearable device; a heart rate of the user measured using a heartrate sensor of a second wearable device; an acceleration of the mobile device measured using an accelerometer of the mobile device; a voice input captured using a microphone of the mobile device; and an image of the user captured using a camera of the mobile device. The ordering module is configured to transmit the order for delivery of the one or more intoxicants and the intoxication level of the user to the intoxicant vendor via a network.

Abstract: A mobile access device includes a memory, a user interface, a transceiver, and a control module. The memory stores a service application. The user interface receives an input from a user to execute the service application. The transceiver signals a vehicle to establish a connection and initiate a location determining process to determine a location of the mobile access device within the vehicle. The control module: determines whether the service application is permitted to be executed based on the location of the mobile access device; based on the location of the mobile access device, performs an identity verification process to verify identity of at least one of the user or the mobile access device; and tracks driving behavior of the user based on (i) whether the service application is permitted to be executed, and (ii) a result of the identity verification process.

Abstract: An ordering management system for a property includes: a location module configured to determine locations of mobile devices that are located within boundaries of the property; a selection module configured to, in response to receipt of an order from a first mobile device for delivery of one or more items to a location of the first mobile device within the boundaries of the property: select one vendor at the property to supply the item(s) of the order; determine a group of the mobile devices based on the location of the first mobile device; and select a second mobile device from the group; a device communication module configured to selectively transmit, to the second mobile device, the location of the selected one vendor and the location of the first mobile device; and a vendor communication module configured to selectively transmit the order to the selected one vendor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an affinity chromatography device that has a normal flow and which separates a targeted protein from aqueous mixtures. The chromatography device includes a housing containing therein a spiral wound membrane assembly that includes at least one inner intermediate material that forms an outer flow channel, at least one polymer membrane that contains therein inorganic particles, and at least one outer intermediate material that forms an inner flow channel sequentially positioned around a central core having a solid outer wall. An aqueous mixture is passed through the outer flow channel, through the polymer membrane where the targeted protein is removed, and then through an inner flow channel. The affinity chromatography device further includes an inlet flow distributor containing an inlet and an outlet flow distributer containing an outlet. Additionally, the chromatography device has a dimensionless resistance parameter that is less than 0.08.

Abstract: A system for providing ticket based authorized entry of a mobile access device includes a memory, a transceiver and a control module. The memory stores an access code of a ticket of an event to be accessed by the mobile access device. The mobile access device also stores the access code. The control module: determines an amount of time since the ticket was purchased or an amount of time since the access code of the ticket was last updated; and updates the access code stored in the memory and signals the mobile access device via the transceiver to update the access code stored at the mobile access device in response to the amount of time since the ticket was purchased exceeding a first predetermined amount of time or the amount of time since the access code of the ticket was last updated exceeding a second predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: The method for autonomous vehicle control preferably includes sampling measurements, determining refined sensor poses based on the measurements, determining an updated vehicle pose based on the measurements and operation matrix, optionally determining evaluation sensor poses based on the refined sensor poses, optionally updating the operation matrix(es) based on the evaluation sensor poses, and/or any other suitable elements. The system for autonomous vehicle control can include one or more vehicles, one or more sensors, one or more processing systems, and/or any other suitable components.

Abstract: An energy storage and retrieval system is disclosed. The system includes a heat generating layer for generating thermal energy based on combusting a combustible substance and a thermal energy storage layer located to receive thermal energy from the heat generating layer. The thermal energy storage layer includes a thermal energy storage material to store thermal energy. The system also includes a thermal energy retrieval layer thermally connectable to the thermal energy storage material and configurable to retrieve thermal energy from the thermal energy storage layer.