Abstract: A system and method for calibrating an irrigation system to account for variations in flow rates caused by field elevation changes, pipe friction losses, water emitter nozzle wear, pressure-regulator inaccuracies, and other factors. A calibration map is created to account for the flow rate variations and then consulted to control operation of the irrigation system.

Abstract: Examples described herein generally relate to performing frame extrapolation in image frame rendering. A vertex mesh as a set of vertices is generated, and each vertex is mapped to a screen space position for defining a texture. One or more motion vectors for one or more regions in a first image frame of a stream of image frames can be determined. The screen space positions associated with at least a portion of the set of vertices within the texture can be modified based at least in part on the one or more motion vectors. A graphics processing unit (GPU) can render the first image frame into the texture. The extrapolated image frame is displayed after the first image frame and before a next image frame in the stream of image frames.

Abstract: Examples described herein generally relate to rendering graphics in a computing device. A processing over-budget condition related to rendering a frame can be detected, based on which a value of a rendering parameter for a layer, where the layer is one of multiple layers to render for the frame can be modified. The layer can be rendered based at least in part on the value of the rendering parameter while one or more other layers of the multiple layers can be rendered based on respective values for the rendering parameter. The value of the rendering parameter for the layer can be different from at least one of the respective values of the rendering parameter for the one or more other layers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to arrays of piezoelectric strands. Some implementations are directed to using an array of piezoelectric strands, along with associated driving and sensing components, to enable determination of one or more properties of external force(s) applied to the array, such as what areas of the array have external force being applied, a measure of the applied external force(s), material properties of object(s) applying the external force(s), etc. Each of the piezoelectric strands of an array may include at least a longitudinally extending piezoelectric material and a longitudinally extending conductive electrode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing adaptive bitrate streaming using alternative streams of protected content in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described. One embodiment of the invention includes a processor, and memory containing a client application. In addition, the client application configures the processor to: request a top level index file identifying a plurality of alternative streams of protected content, where each of the alternative streams of protected content are encrypted using common cryptographic information; obtain the common cryptographic information; request portions of content from at least the plurality of alternative streams of protected content; access the protected content using the common cryptographic information; and playback the content.

Abstract: System, including methods and apparatus, for identifying and picking spectrally distinct colonies. In an exemplary method, a filter may be received in an optical path extending from a light source to a grayscale image detector. The filter may be configured to increase an intensity difference between a first type of colony and a spectrally distinct second type of colony. Colonies including both types may be received in the optical path. An image of the colonies may be obtained with the grayscale image detector. At least one of the types of colony may be identified in the image. One or more colonies of the at least one type may be picked robotically.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a method by a controller that includes: executing a model of a material based on a geometric template of the material defined by geometric parameters and at least one geometric constraint of the material; determining a value of an objective function based on differences between a three-dimensional representation of the material based on measurements of the material and the model of the material based on the geometric template of the material; and determining updated values of the geometric parameters of the geometric template. The method further includes iterating the executing the model of the material, the determining the value of the objective function, and the determining the updated values of the geometric parameters until a parameter associated with the objective function satisfies a criterion and, outputting the updated values of the geometric parameters associated with the objective function that satisfies the criterion.

Abstract: The principles described herein provide methods and systems for locating a tracking device. In particular, one disclosed method includes associating a user with a tracking device, receiving an indication that the tracking device is lost, setting a flag indicating that the tracking device is lost, receiving a location within a proximity of the tracking device from one of a plurality of mobile devices associated with a community of users, and providing the location to the user.

Abstract: A vertical tilling implement to be pulled behind and agricultural vehicle having a number of gangs of fluted-concave disc blades, rolling baskets, and wheels connected to a main frame. As the vertical tilling implement is pulled, the fluted-concave disc blades move the soil in a direction lateral to the side of the blades as well as up. Meanwhile, the rolling bars aid in leveling the seedbed and crushing the remaining large pieces of soil. The vertical tilling implement reduces the amount of subsoil compaction and cuts through heavy residue making it ideal for use in the fall or in the spring.

Abstract: A tracking server stores information identifying one or more community mobile devices and information identifying one or more tracking devices within a proximity of each of the one or more community mobile devices. The tracking server receives a tracking device request from a mobile device. The tracking device request includes information identifying a tracking device and configuration instructions for configuring the tracking device. The tracking server identifies a community mobile device from the one or more community mobile devices within a proximity of the tracking device. The tracking server sends the tracking device request to the identified community mobile device. The identified community mobile device is configured to forward the tracking device request to the tracking device and the tracking device is configured to re-configure the tracking device based on the configuration instructions included in the tracking device request.

Abstract: A preconfiguration system preconfigures tracking devices before they are received by a user of the tracking devices. The preconfiguration system generates an activation signal that can be detected by an activation signal detector on a tracking device. Upon detecting the activation signal, the tracking device begins to operate in a preconfiguration mode and establishes a communicative connection with the preconfiguration system. The preconfiguration system can then communicate with the tracking device to perform a variety of tasks, including receiving a tracking device identifier from the tracking device so that the tracking device identifier can be associated with the user identifier for the user who purchased the tracking device.

Abstract: A method includes heating an initial titanium alloy comprising a duplex microstructure at a first solution temperature that is below a phase transition temperature of the alloy. Substantially all secondary alpha phase domains may dissolve during the heating. The method also includes cooling the initial titanium alloy at a first cooling rate to form a recrystallized annealed titanium alloy comprising primary alpha phase domains. The method further includes heating the recrystallized annealed titanium alloy to a second solution temperature that is below the phase transition temperature of the alloy. The method additionally includes cooling the recrystallized annealed titanium alloy at a second cooling rate to form a treated titanium alloy comprising the duplex microstructure. The second cooling rate is different than the first cooling rate. A distribution of crystallographic orientations of primary alpha phase domains in the treated titanium alloy may be different than in the initial titanium alloy.

Abstract: A method for maintaining the alignment of the edges of a trocar defect by inserting into a defect a device for compressing the tissue such that part of the device is above while the other is below the defect, then pulling back on the device so that the part below the defect is up against the defect, then while holding the device below the defect in place, push down on the part above the wound so that it compresses the tissue. Finally, release the device from the insertion tool.

Abstract: A system is described for measuring distance between an RFID reader and an RFID backscatter tag, including an adaptive linear combiner, which is a tapped delay line with controllable weights on each tap, and outputs that are summed and subtracted from a reference to produce an error signal. After a sufficient number of cycles, the weight distribution indicates the delay of the received signal with respect to the reference, and by extension determines the distance between the tag and receiver.

Abstract: An end effector is provided. The end effector comprises a housing, a movement system within the housing, an inspection system, a collar installation system, and a sealant application system. The housing has an operating window. The movement system comprises at least one of a rotation mechanism or a number of linear slides. The inspection system is associated with the movement system. The collar installation system is associated with the movement system. The sealant application system is associated with the movement system. Activating the movement system positions any of the inspection system, the collar installation system, or the sealant application system in an active position relative to the operating window.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to reduce the overall weight of a rear differential cooling system of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a body panel system. That body panel system includes (a) a rear diffuser, having a front air inlet, (b) an underbody panel, overlying the rear diffuser as well as (c and d) first and second air tunnels formed between the rear diffuser and the underbody panel, and (e) a rear valance, including first and second vent openings for discharging air received from the first air tunnel. A heat exchanger is provided between the air tunnels and the vent openings. A related method for improving weight distribution and reducing overall weight of a rear differential cooling system is also provided.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining an image of a feature machined in a component with an imaging device, determining, by a computing device, a quality of the feature in the component based on the image of the feature, and storing, by the computing device, an indication of the quality of the feature in combination with a unique identifier for the feature in a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

Abstract: An interactive system and method allow for broadcast of basic content data along with data that define graphical inserts that can be played with or super-imposed on screens of the decoded broadcast. Coordinated pages or screens may be transmitted to audience secondary devices, such as smart phones, tablet computers, and so forth. Audience members may participate in an interactive experience by selecting options provided on the secondary devices. Audience responses are received, aggregated, and rules applied in accordance with the desired experience. The graphical indicia are altered during the broadcast, and optionally during or just following a period for audience feedback.

Abstract: In various example embodiments, a system and method for structuring search results for attribute comparison are presented. A product selection from a user device is received. The product selection has a plurality of attributes associated with it. A plurality of adjustable sliders configured to allow the user to refine a search is generated and caused to be displayed in a user interface of the user device. One or more adjustment of the plurality of adjustable sliders is received. In response to the user to an adjustment made to a first adjustable slider of the plurality of adjustable sliders, an analysis of a networked database for search results that match values indicated by the plurality of adjustable sliders including the adjustment made to the first adjustable slider is performed. The search results are caused to be presented on the user interface displayed on the user device. The search results can be in example form of a multi-dimensional graph or list.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which routing of data may be automatically modified based on detected state data of a computing system. For example, user input may be routed from an actuator set to a host computer system when the host computer system is in an online state, or to an auxiliary computing device when the host computer system is offline. State may be determined based on one or more various criteria, such as online or offline, laptop lid position, display orientation, current communication and/or other criteria. The auxiliary display and/or actuator set may be embedded in the host computer system, or each may be separable from it or standalone, such as a remote control or cellular phone.