Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a housing, a front agitator and a rear agitator. A suction chamber is located between the front agitator and the rear agitator. A baffle is located within the suction chamber between the agitators. During use of the cleaner head, debris becomes entrained within air drawn towards the suction chamber. Guide members mounted on the housing guide the entrained debris towards the suction chamber, whereas the baffle guides the air upwardly towards a central suction port of the suction chamber.

Abstract: In various examples, systems and methods are disclosed that perform sensor fusion using rule-based and learned processing methods to take advantage of the accuracy of learned approaches and the decomposition benefits of rule-based approaches for satisfying higher levels of safety requirements. For example, in-parallel and/or in-serial combinations of early rule-based sensor fusion, late rule-based sensor fusion, early learned sensor fusion, or late learned sensor fusion may be used to solve various safety goals associated with various required safety levels at a high level of accuracy and precision. In embodiments, learned sensor fusion may be used to make more conservative decisions than the rule-based sensor fusion (as determined using, e.g., severity (S), exposure (E), and controllability (C) (SEC) associated with a current safety goal), but the rule-based sensor fusion may be relied upon where the learned sensor fusion decision may be less conservative than the corresponding rule-based sensor fusion.

Abstract: An analytical instrument produces intensity versus time measurements or intensity versus m/z measurements for each acquisition of n acquisitions using m instrument parameter values for each acquisition of n acquisitions, wherein n is a number greater than or equal to two and m is a number equal to or greater than one. For each acquisition of the n acquisitions, the instrument stores a data file that includes m one or more instrument parameter values applied to the instrument, producing n data files. A first data file of the n data files for a first acquisition is retrieved. A next data file of the n data files of a next acquisition is retrieved. The m corresponding parameter values of the first data file and the next data file are compared. If any corresponding parameter values differ between the first data file and the next data file, a notification of an instrument parameter difference corresponding to a name of the next data file is displayed.

Abstract: In various examples, physical sensor data may be generated by a vehicle in a real-world environment. The physical sensor data may be used to train deep neural networks (DNNs). The DNNs may then be tested in a simulated environment—in some examples using hardware configured for installation in a vehicle to execute an autonomous driving software stack—to control a virtual vehicle in the simulated environment or to otherwise test, verify, or validate the outputs of the DNNs. Prior to use by the DNNs, virtual sensor data generated by virtual sensors within the simulated environment may be encoded to a format consistent with the format of the physical sensor data generated by the vehicle.

Abstract: There is provided a cleaning head for a surface treating appliance, comprising a suction chamber having a suction aperture, a brush bar arranged in the suction chamber and a comb having a plurality of teeth, each tooth extending into the suction chamber so that at least a distal end of each tooth is arranged to contact a portion of the brush bar. A contact face of each tooth is arranged to contact a radially extending portion of the brush bar and at least one corner between the contact face and a side face of the tooth includes at least one notch. Advantageously, the corner notches help break hair and other debris that might be wound on the brush bar and assists in entraining the hair or debris in the airflow through the suction aperture.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product that authenticates a caller using calling party information. In an embodiment, an authentication device receives the call request and associated calling party information that includes a calling party number. The authentication device retrieves parameters associated with the calling party number, where a retrieved parameter is a number of accounts linked to the calling party number. The authentication device determines whether the number of accounts is between one and a threshold value, inclusive, and verifies that the call request originates from a location or a device associated with the calling party number. Based on the verifying and determining, the authentication device generates an authentication result that indicates whether the calling party number is authenticated.

Abstract: A system and method for an on-demand shuttle, bus, or taxi service able to operate on private and public roads provides situational awareness and confidence displays. The shuttle may include ISO 26262 Level 4 or Level 5 functionality and can vary the route dynamically on-demand, and/or follow a predefined route or virtual rail. The shuttle is able to stop at any predetermined station along the route. The system allows passengers to request rides and interact with the system via a variety of interfaces, including without limitation a mobile device, desktop computer, or kiosks. Each shuttle preferably includes an in-vehicle controller, which preferably is an AI Supercomputer designed and optimized for autonomous vehicle functionality, with computer vision, deep learning, and real time ray tracing accelerators. An AI Dispatcher performs AI simulations to optimize system performance according to operator-specified system parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring conditions in a crawl space is provided. The system generally comprises at least one sensor, computing device, data aggregator operably connected to the at least one sensor, processor operably connected to the computing device, power supply, and non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the processor and having instructions stored thereon. The system is designed to collect condition data via the at least one sensor and determine whether the conditions within the crawl space could have a detrimental impact on the building. In particular, the system is designed to monitor settling of a building over time and alert a user if the settling exceeds a predefined threshold.

Abstract: In various examples, physical sensor data may be generated by a vehicle in a real-world environment. The physical sensor data may be used to train deep neural networks (DNNs). The DNNs may then be tested in a simulated environment—in some examples using hardware configured for installation in a vehicle to execute an autonomous driving software stack—to control a virtual vehicle in the simulated environment or to otherwise test, verify, or validate the outputs of the DNNs. Prior to use by the DNNs, virtual sensor data generated by virtual sensors within the simulated environment may be encoded to a format consistent with the format of the physical sensor data generated by the vehicle.

Abstract: In various examples, systems and methods are disclosed relating to refinement of safety zones and improving evaluation metrics for the perception modules of autonomous and semi-autonomous systems. Example implementations can exclude areas in the state space that are not safety critical, while retaining the areas that are safety-critical. This can be accomplished by leveraging ego maneuver information and conditioning safety zone computations on ego maneuvers. A maneuver-based decomposition of perception safety zones may leverage a temporal convolution operation with the capability to account for collision at any intermediate time along the way to maneuver completion. This provides a significant reduction in zone volume while maintaining completeness, thus optimizing or otherwise enhancing obstacle perception performance requirements by filtering out regions of state space not relevant to a system's route of travel.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a housing which defines a suction chamber. The suction chamber has a suction inlet through which air enters the suction chamber, and a suction port through which air exits the suction chamber. The cleaner head includes a plurality of casters for supporting the cleaner head. Each caster is rotatable relative to the housing about a first axis which is perpendicular to the suction inlet. Each caster is also rotatable relative to the housing about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

Abstract: A method for measuring a concentration of an analyte in a sample includes: sampling, from a first sample, a first one or more droplets for mass analysis, wherein the first sample includes the sample; performing mass analysis on the first one or more droplets to determine a first intensity of an analyte in the first one or more droplets; sampling, from a second sample, a second one or more droplets for mass analysis, wherein the sec-ond sample includes the sample and a first spike of the analyte; performing mass analysis on the second one or more droplets to determine a second intensity of the analyte in the second one or more droplets; fitting a curve to the first intensity and the second intensity; and based on the fitted curve, calculating an analyte concentration for the sample.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present disclosure relate to switching between execution schedules related to execution of tasks, or runnables, by multiple compute engines. The execution schedules includes respective sets of commands that dictate timing and order of execution, by the compute engines, of tasks, or runnables, corresponding to computing applications.

Abstract: The technology relates to systems and methods for performing mass spectrometry analysis of a sample. An example method may include receiving, as input via an input device, a target mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio for a fragment ion of interest; setting a target m/z range based on the target m/z ratio; ionizing the sample to generate precursor ions; fragmenting the precursor ions to generate fragment ions having a range of mass-to-charge ratios larger than the target m/z range; accelerating the fragment ions to a detector such that fragment ions inside and outside of the target m/z ratio are detected; summing a count of fragment ions within the target m/z range without storing ion counts for fragment ions outside of the target m/z range; and storing the summed ion count as corresponding with the target mass-to-charge ratio.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring conditions in a crawl space is provided. The system generally comprises at least one sensor, computing device, data aggregator operably connected to the at least one sensor, processor operably connected to the computing device, power supply, and non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the processor and having instructions stored thereon. The system is designed to collect condition data via the at least one sensor and determine whether the conditions within the crawl space could have a detrimental impact on the building. In particular, the system is designed to alert a third-party when a condition might cause damage to a building so that the third-party might correct the cause of the condition.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present disclosure relate to executing, by a plurality of compute engines, a plurality of runnables of a computing application based at least on an execution schedule and a set of commands associated with the execution schedule. The execution schedule may be generated using a compiling system to include the set of commands. The set of commands may include one or more individual commands corresponding to one or more timing fences dictating a timing and order of execution of one or more individual runnables of the plurality of runnables.

Abstract: In various examples, a system is provided for monitoring and controlling program flow in an event-triggered system. A program (e.g., application, algorithm, routine, etc.) may be organized into operational units (e.g., nodes executed by one or more processors), each of which tasked with executing one or more respective events (e.g., tasks) within the larger program. At least some of the events of the larger program may be successively executed in a flow, one after another, using triggers sent directly from one node to the next. In addition, the system of the present disclosure may include a manager that may exchange communications with the nodes to monitor or assess a status of the system (e.g., determine when a node has completed an event) or to control or trigger a node to initiate an event.

Abstract: A brushbar for a vacuum cleaner is described. The brushbar includes a cylindrical body, one or more pairs of bristle strips and one or more plush strips arranged helically about the body. Each pair of bristle strips includes a first strip of first bristles and a second strip of second bristles, the first bristles being stiffer and shorter than the second bristles. The plush strips are arranged on either side of each pair of bristle strips and include a plush of fibres.

Abstract: A method of performing liquid chromatography (LC) with an LC system including an LC column and an analyzer includes delivering a transport liquid to an open port interface (OPI) of a sample receiving circuit, wherein the sample receiving circuit includes a sample transfer chamber. A sample is ejected from a sample holder into the OPI with a non-contact ejector. The transport liquid and the sample are received in the sample transfer chamber. The sample transfer chamber is decoupled from the sample receiving circuit. A solvent is delivered to the analysis circuit. The sample is pushed from the sample transfer chamber with the solvent. The sample and the solvent is passed through the LC column to produce an eluent. The eluent is analyzed with the analyzer.

Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring and controlling program flow in an event-triggered system. A program (e.g., application, algorithm, routine, etc.) may be organized into operational units (e.g., nodes executed by one or more processors), each of which tasked with executing one or more respective events (e.g., tasks) within the larger program. At least some of the events of the larger program may be successively executed in a flow, one after another, using triggers sent directly from one node to the next. In addition, the system of the present disclosure may include a manager that may exchange communications with the nodes to monitor or assess a status of the system (e.g., determine when a node has completed an event) or to control or trigger a node to initiate an event.