Abstract: Methods and systems for maintaining a distributed ledger and/or blockchain of transactions and/or events pertaining to autonomous vehicles and/or smart contracts. An enforcement server may receive indications of transactions and/or events generated by one or more autonomous vehicles. The transactions and/or events may include information relating to a trigger condition and/or a decision condition associated with one or more smart contracts. The enforcement server may route the transaction to the appropriate smart contract to determine whether a trigger condition has been satisfied. When a trigger condition is satisfied, the enforcement server may automatically perform an action to enforce the smart contract and/or update the distributed ledger.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for generating a quantified indicator of cognitive skills in an individual. In certain configurations, the apparatus, systems, and methods can be implemented for enhancing cognitive skills in an individual.

Abstract: This document describes apparatuses that include integrated memory card ejector and sensor ports. A first described aspect of an apparatus includes a memory card connector, a housing, and a carriage. The memory card connector includes a receiver configured to receive a memory card and an ejector assembly configured to eject the memory card from the receiver. The housing includes a sidewall that includes a memory card slot and an integrated port. The integrated port defines an outside opening of the housing. The carriage includes a slide portion slidably positioned in the integrated port and is accessible through the outside opening of the housing. The carriage includes a carriage body having an outer port, a sensor port, and an acoustic chamber defined within the carriage body. The carriage includes an ejector connector configured for contacting the ejector assembly and a sensor assembly mounted on the carriage at the sensor port.

Abstract: A device for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit from an upstream side of the device to a downstream side of the device. The device includes an upstream valve casing defining an inlet, a downstream valve casing defining an outlet aperture, and a valve core secured between the upstream valve casing and the downstream valve casing. The upstream valve casing, the downstream valve casing and the valve core are formed as discrete parts. The valve core includes a housing defining a control volume. The valve member is mounted on the housing and positioned on the upstream side of the outlet aperture, the valve member being arranged to move reciprocally to selectively open and close the outlet aperture, thereby controlling flow of the fluid through the outlet aperture.

Abstract: A device for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit from an upstream side of the device to a downstream side of the device. The device includes a housing defining a valve aperture and a mounting member arranged on the downstream side of the valve aperture. A valve member is movably mounted on the mounting member and is arranged to selectively open and close the valve aperture to control the flow of fluid. A soft seal is arranged on the housing for substantially sealing the valve aperture when the valve member contacts the housing. The soft seal is located downstream of a convex curved surface of the housing which is shaped to separate the flow of fluid through the valve aperture away from the surface of the housing such that the fluid does not impinge directly on the soft seal.

Abstract: A mounting system configured to support a component relative to a mounting surface of a vehicle includes a mounting bracket including a mounting portion configured to be coupled to the mounting surface of the vehicle. The mounting bracket defining a component receptacle configured to support the component. The mounting bracket comprises a first plastic material. The mounting system also includes a seal coupled to the mounting bracket and configured to engage the mounting surface of the vehicle to inhibit ingress of debris between the mounting portion and the mounting surface of the vehicle. The seal comprises a second plastic material, different than the first plastic material. The mounting system may be included in a window assembly where the mounting surface of the vehicle is an inner surface of a transparent pane and the component is a sensor.

Abstract: A device for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit from an upstream side of the device to a downstream side of the device. The device includes a valve housing having defined therein a valve aperture, a valve member movably mounted relative to the valve aperture. The valve member is arranged to be displaced reciprocally in a direction to selectively open and close the valve aperture. The device also includes a magnet mounted on or relative to the valve member, with the magnet being displaced by displacement of the valve member. A plurality of magnetic field sensors are mounted on the valve housing.

Abstract: A system and method for leveling a selected surface of a structure. The system includes a handheld mobile device and a platform leveling assembly (PLA) supportable on a structure to be leveled. The PLA includes a PLA controller and a PLA receiver communicatively coupled with the PLA controller. The handheld mobile device includes a tilt sensor configured to sense an attitude of a selected surface on which the handheld mobile device is placed; and a mobile device controller communicatively coupled to the tilt sensor and the transmitter and configured to receive signals from the tilt sensor indicating the attitude of the selected surface on which the handheld mobile device is placed.

Abstract: A mounting system configured to support a component relative to a mounting surface of a vehicle includes a mounting bracket including a mounting portion configured to be coupled to the mounting surface of the vehicle. The mounting bracket defining a component receptacle configured to support the component. The mounting bracket comprises a first plastic material. The mounting system also includes a seal coupled to the mounting bracket and configured to engage the mounting surface of the vehicle to inhibit ingress of debris between the mounting portion and the mounting surface of the vehicle. The seal comprises a second plastic material, different than the first plastic material. The mounting system may be included in a window assembly where the mounting surface of the vehicle is an inner surface of a transparent pane and the component is a sensor.

Abstract: A system for remotely operating a machine, such as a mine vehicle, includes at least one first emitter for emitting a first signal corresponding to a first zone adjacent to the machine. A transmitter is provided for receiving the first signal emitted by the emitter, the transmitter being adapted for issuing commands for controlling the machine and also indicating the presence of the transmitter in the first zone. A controller is also provided for controlling the machine based on the control signals from the transmitter based on the presence of the transmitter in the first zone. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An actuator for a pilot valve, including a housing, a piston movably mounted in the housing and an actuator chamber defined between the piston and the housing. The actuator includes a control fluid feed for introducing a fluid into the actuator chamber to control fluid pressure, with the fluid pressure acting on the piston. The actuator also includes an actuation member for acting on the pilot valve and a loading spring between the piston and the actuation member. The loading spring is arranged to bias the piston against the fluid pressure in the actuator chamber. The control fluid feed controls the fluid pressure so the fluid pressure acts on the piston against the bias of the loading spring to control the biasing force.

Abstract: A system and method for lightfield communication can be configured to receive one or more images, determine one or more features in the one or more images, and generate a lightfield image from the one or more images where at least one of the one or more features is in a focal plane of the lightfield image.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide systems and methods for facilitating synchronized delivery of shipments/items scheduled to be delivered to multiple serviceable points located nearby one another. Various embodiments identify nearby serviceable points based on an identification of serviceable points being located along a common street segment. Accordingly, serviceable point data identifying corresponding street segment identifiers are stored for a plurality of serviceable points. Thereafter, shipping data for a first shipment to be delivered to a first serviceable point is received, and a determination is made whether a second shipment scheduled to be delivered to a second serviceable point is available for synchronized delivery with the first shipment. The determination comprises determining whether the street segment corresponding to the first serviceable point is the same as and/or is connected to the street segment corresponding to the second serviceable point.

Abstract: A fluid-flow control device includes a valve aperture and a mounting member arranged downstream of the aperture. A valve member, movably mounted on the mounting member, controls the flow of fluid through the aperture. A control volume, defined between the mounting member and the valve member receives a control fluid from a control fluid feed. A variable flow restrictor is rotatably arranged within a restriction volume of the control fluid feed such that a flow path connecting the inlet, and the outlet, of the restriction volume is defined between the restrictor and the wall of the restriction volume. The restrictor is axi-symmetric about its axis of rotation.

Abstract: A system and/or method can be operable to receive a plurality of views of one or more scenes (e.g., from different perspectives) and generate a lightfield image and/or lightfield video from the plurality of views. The generated lightfield image and/or lightfield video can be encoded, transmitted, and/or decoded, for instance to facilitate sharing of the lightfield image and/or light field video.

Abstract: A device for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit from an upstream side of the device to a downstream side of the device. The device includes an upstream valve casing defining an inlet, a downstream valve casing defining an outlet aperture, and a valve core secured between the upstream valve casing and the downstream valve casing. The upstream valve casing, the downstream valve casing and the valve core are formed as discrete parts. The valve core includes a housing defining a control volume. The valve member is mounted on the housing and positioned on the upstream side of the outlet aperture, the valve member being arranged to move reciprocally to selectively open and close the outlet aperture, thereby controlling flow of the fluid through the outlet aperture.

Abstract: An apparatus for drilling with a drilling machine including a boom for supporting a drill and a feed for feeding the drill. A single joystick is adapted for controlling the movement of the boom and the feed independently or together, such as according to different protocols (e.g., for causing movement of the boom and feed in the same direction, or in different directions). Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for controlling the flow of a fluid through a conduit from an upstream side of the device to a downstream side of the device is provided. The device includes an upstream valve casing defining an inlet, a downstream valve casing defining an outlet aperture, and a valve core secured between the upstream valve casing and the downstream valve casing. The upstream valve casing, the downstream valve casing and the valve core are formed as discrete parts. The valve core includes a housing defining a control volume. The valve member is mounted on the housing and positioned on the upstream side of the outlet aperture, the valve member being arranged to move reciprocally to selectively open and close the outlet aperture, thereby controlling flow of the fluid through the outlet aperture.

Abstract: A system and method can include receiving a set of views, encoding the set of views, and displaying the set of views such that they are perceived as a holographic image.

Abstract: A system or method for augmenting a lightfield image can include receiving a plurality of images of a subject, overlaying augmentation content on the images, optionally obscuring portions of the augmentation content based on the perspective of the image and the subject, and displaying the aligned images and the augmentation content at a holographic display.