Abstract: In one aspect, a tire monitoring apparatus having a circuit board, battery, and valve body intermediate the circuit board and the battery. The valve body has an attachment end portion for connecting to a valve stem of a tire, a filling end portion, and an internal passageway to permit air to travel from the filling end portion to the attachment end portion. The circuit board has a sensor configured to detect a variable of air traveling in the internal passageway of the valve body and communication circuitry of the circuit board operable to wirelessly communicate data associated with the variable of the air. The tire monitoring apparatus further includes a support permanently encapsulating the circuit board and battery about the valve body. The support includes a structural member molded onto the valve body and an embedding member securing the circuit board and the battery to the structural member.

Abstract: A machine is cleaned by directing a foam detergent into the machine to remove contaminants from inside the machine. An effluent portion of the foam detergent exits from the machine with some of the contaminants. One or more of a turbidity, a salinity, an amount of total dissolved solids, or a concentration the contaminants in the effluent is measured. A cleaning time period during which the foam detergent is to be directed into the machine is determined based on the turbidity, the salinity, the amount of total dissolved solids, and/or the contaminant concentration that is measured from the effluent. The foam detergent continues to be directed into the machine during the cleaning time period, and the flow of the foam detergent into the machine is terminated on expiration of the time period.

Abstract: An example system includes a nozzle having an inlet; an outlet mechanism disposed longitudinally adjacent to the nozzle; a conduit longitudinally adjacent to the outlet mechanism, where the conduit includes a distal chamber, a middle chamber, and a proximal chamber that are longitudinally disposed along a length of the conduit; a partition block configured to move between (i) a first position at which the partition block is disposed laterally adjacent to the middle chamber, such that the partition block is offset from a longitudinal axis of the conduit, and (ii) a second position at which the partition block resides in the middle chamber between the distal chamber and the proximal chamber; and a deceleration structure disposed at a proximal end of the conduit and bounding the proximal chamber, where the deceleration structure is configured to decelerate fruit that has traversed the conduit.

Abstract: An example system includes a nozzle having an inlet: an outlet mechanism disposed longitudinally adjacent to the nozzle; a conduit longitudinally adjacent to the outlet mechanism where the conduit includes a distal chamber, a middle chamber, and a proximal chamber, that; are longitudinally disposed along a length of the conduit; a partition block configured to move between (i) a first position at which the partition block: is disposed laterally adjacent to the middle chamber, such that the partition block is offset from a longitudinal axis of the conduit, and (ii) a second position at which the partition block resides in the middle chamber between the distal chamber and the proximal chamber; and a deceleration structure disposed at a proximal, end of the conduit and bounding the proximal chamber, where the deceleration structure is configured to decelerate fruit feat has traversed the conduit.

Abstract: An example system includes a vacuum generating device, a robotic arm, and a harvesting device coupled to the robotic arm. The harvesting device includes an end-effector having an inlet; a vacuum tube coupled to the inlet of the end-effector and to the vacuum generating device, where the vacuum generating device is configured to generate a vacuum environment in the vacuum tube; an outlet mechanism coupled to the vacuum tube; and a deceleration structure configured to decelerate fruit that has traversed at least a portion of the vacuum environment.

Abstract: A machine is cleaned by directing a foam detergent into the machine to remove contaminants from inside the machine. An effluent portion of the foam detergent exits from the machine with some of the contaminants. One or more of a turbidity, a salinity, an amount of total dissolved solids, or a concentration the contaminants in the effluent is measured. A cleaning time period during which the foam detergent is to be directed into the machine is determined based on the turbidity, the salinity, the amount of total dissolved solids, and/or the contaminant concentration that is measured from the effluent. The foam detergent continues to be directed into the machine during the cleaning time period, and the flow of the foam detergent into the machine is terminated on expiration of the time period.

Abstract: An example system includes a vacuum generating device, a robotic arm, and a harvesting device coupled to the robotic arm. The harvesting device includes an end-effector having an inlet; a vacuum tube coupled to the inlet of the end-effector and to the vacuum generating device, where the vacuum generating device is configured to generate a vacuum environment in the vacuum tube; an outlet mechanism coupled to the vacuum tube; and a deceleration structure configured to decelerate fruit that has traversed at least a portion of the vacuum environment.

Abstract: A machine is cleaned by directing a foam detergent into the machine to remove contaminants from inside the machine. An effluent portion of the foam detergent exits from the machine with some of the contaminants. One or more of a turbidity, a salinity, an amount of total dissolved solids, or a concentration the contaminants in the effluent is measured. A cleaning time period during which the foam detergent is to be directed into the machine is determined based on the turbidity, the salinity, the amount of total dissolved solids, and/or the contaminant concentration that is measured from the effluent. The foam detergent continues to be directed into the machine during the cleaning time period, and the flow of the foam detergent into the machine is terminated on expiration of the time period.

Abstract: An example system includes a vacuum generating device, a robotic arm, and a harvesting device coupled to the robotic arm. The harvesting device includes an end-effector having an inlet; a vacuum tube coupled to the inlet of the end-effector and to the vacuum generating device, where the vacuum generating device is configured to generate a vacuum environment in the vacuum tube; an outlet mechanism coupled to the vacuum tube; and a deceleration structure configured to decelerate fruit that has traversed at least a portion of the vacuum environment.

Abstract: An example system includes a nozzle having an inlet: an outlet mechanism disposed longitudinally adjacent to the nozzle; a conduit longitudinally adjacent to the outlet mechanism where the conduit includes a distal chamber, a middle chamber, and a proximal chamber, that; are longitudinally disposed along a length of the conduit; a partition block configured to move between (i) a first position at which the partition block: is disposed laterally adjacent to the middle chamber, such that the partition block is offset from a longitudinal axis of the conduit, and (ii) a second position at which the partition block resides in the middle chamber between the distal chamber and the proximal chamber; and a deceleration structure disposed at a proximal, end of the conduit and bounding the proximal chamber, where the deceleration structure is configured to decelerate fruit feat has traversed the conduit.

Abstract: A machine is cleaned by directing a foam detergent into the machine to remove contaminants from inside the machine. An effluent portion of the foam detergent exits from the machine with some of the contaminants. One or more of a turbidity, a salinity, an amount of total dissolved solids, or a concentration the contaminants in the effluent is measured. A cleaning time period during which the foam detergent is to be directed into the machine is determined based on the turbidity, the salinity, the amount of total dissolved solids, and/or the contaminant concentration that is measured from the effluent. The foam detergent continues to be directed into the machine during the cleaning time period, and the flow of the foam detergent into the machine is terminated on expiration of the time period.

Abstract: A method for mapping a multiple-floor structure includes building a plurality of maps that includes one map for each of at least two of the floors, detecting a set of anchor points, where the set of anchor points includes at least one anchor point on each of the maps, linking the anchor points to produce a set of linked anchor points, and aligning the maps around the set of linked anchor points to produce a set of aligned maps. A method for mapping a structure using a single robot includes generating, by the robot, a first map at a first point in time, storing the first map, generating, by the same robot, a second map at a second point in time subsequent to the first point in time, and aggregating the first map and the second map to produce an aggregated map.

Abstract: A method for mapping a multiple-floor structure includes building a plurality of maps that includes one map for each of at least two of the floors, detecting a set of anchor points, where the set of anchor points includes at least one anchor point on each of the maps, linking the anchor points to produce a set of linked anchor points, and aligning the maps around the set of linked anchor points to produce a set of aligned maps. A method for mapping a structure using a single robot includes generating, by the robot, a first map at a first point in time, storing the first map, generating, by the same robot, a second map at a second point in time subsequent to the first point in time, and aggregating the first map and the second map to produce an aggregated map.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for autonomous object tracking. In one embodiment, a method for tracking a moving object across at least a portion of a video signal made up of a plurality of image frames includes stabilizing the video signal by processing selected portions of selected image frames, detecting at least one movement in the stabilized video signal, and computing a location of the detected movement(s).

Abstract: A system for reducing carbonaceous material is disclosed. The system includes a compartment configured to receive the carbonaceous material. An auger is located within the compartment and centered about a drive shaft. A rotational drive mechanism is coupled to the drive shaft and configured to rotate the auger to enable the carbonaceous material to travel through the compartment as the auger is rotated. A plurality of lifting arms are coupled to a surface of the auger. The lifting arms are configured to lift and stir the carbonaceous material as the auger is rotated. At least one microwave generator is coupled to the compartment and configured to radiate the carbonaceous material as it travels through the compartment to reduce the carbonaceous material into at least one chemical component of the carbonaceous material.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for autonomous object tracking. In one embodiment, a method for tracking a moving object across at least a portion of a video signal made up of a plurality of image frames includes stabilizing the video signal by processing selected portions of selected image frames, detecting at least one movement in the stabilized video signal, and computing a location of the detected movement(s).