Abstract: Methods for improving the efficiency and productivity of hybrid corn seed production are provided herein. Various methods to improve the transfer of pollen from male corn plants to female corn plants, and thus increase yield, are provided herein. Without being limiting, these methods include varying the height of male and female corn plants in a field, as well as varying the number, arrangement, and ratio of male-to-female rows in a field.

Abstract: Methods for providing compositions to corn fields prior to harvesting are provided herein. These methods provide an extended time period for the use of lower height or standard height farm equipment in-season in corn fields, while reducing the risk of damage to the corn plants. These methods also allow for late season access with lower height or standard height farm equipment, while reducing the risk of damage to the corn plants.

Abstract: A gearless transmission may provide a similar outcome to a gear train, without meshing teeth. Such a gearless transmission may comprise an input shaft comprising a plurality of lobes disposed thereon. The lobes may extend radially from the input shaft in opposite directions from one another. Each of the lobes may comprise a plurality of connecting rods freely rotatable thereabout. Each of the connecting rods may be slidably attached to a hollow body disposed around the input shaft. The hollow body may be formed from a plurality of rings fixed together and secured to an output shaft.

Abstract: The invention is a system for optimizing a trailer path and a tow vehicle path. The system includes image sensors configured to capture images of a trailer and images of a path of travel both in front of and behind the trailer and tow vehicle, a weight determination system, accelerometers that sense acceleration of the tow vehicle and/or the trailer, a data input device configured to receive input data, and a processing device. The processing device includes a processor and non-volatile memory. The processor is configured to receive image data from the image sensors, receive weight data from the weight determination system, receive accelerometer data from the one or more accelerometers and receive the input data from the data input device. Additionally, the processor is configured to determine a trailer path and a tow vehicle path based on the image data, accelerometer data, and the input data.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a navigation system and computer-implemented methods for proactively re-routing vehicles based on an analysis of input component data obtained from the navigation-enabled devices. The navigation system scores the input component data to obtain a measure of frustration (e.g., a feeling of being upset or annoyed) of the user of the navigation-enabled device. The navigation system may provide a detour suggestion for display on the navigation-enabled device to persuade the user of the device to direct their vehicle to depart from its current location or route in an effort to remove the vehicle from traffic, and thereby reduce the frustration level of the user. The detour suggestion may include an alternative route to the original destination, or an alternative destination.

Abstract: The invention is a system for optimizing a trailer path. The system includes an image sensor configured to capture images of a trailer attached to a tow vehicle, accelerometers that sense acceleration of at least one of the tow vehicle and the trailer, a data input device configured to receive input data, and a processing device. The processing device includes a processor and non-volatile memory. The processor is configured to receive image data from the image sensor, receive accelerometer data from the one or more accelerometers and receive the input data from the data input device. Additionally, the processor is configured to determine a trailer path based on the image data, accelerometer data, and the input data. The processor is also configured to communicate the trailer path to a user or vehicle control system, thereby prompting adjustments to the tow vehicle path and or acceleration when the trailer path is not optimum.

Abstract: A retightenable wedge system for tightening a coil in a slot of a generator stator bar is presented. The retightenable wedge system includes a first filler layer, a spring member, a second filler layer and a retightenable wedge assembly. The retightenable wedge assembly includes a slot wedge having an aperture, a tightening member having form fit feature and a locking member having mating form fit feature. The tightening member is tightenable in the aperture such that a radial load is applied on the second filler layer for tightening the coil in the slot. The tightening member is locked in place in the aperture by an engagement between the form fit feature of the tightening member and the mating form fit feature of the locking member such that the tightening member is restrained from backing out of the slot wedge.

Abstract: The invention is a monitoring system for determining a vehicle safety setting based on weight. The system includes a monitoring station, a weight determination system, a data input device configured to receive input data, and a processing device. The processing devices includes a processor and non-volatile memory. The processor is configured to receive load ratings for a tow vehicle and tow equipment, receive weight data from the weight determination system, and receive the input data from the data input device. The processor is also configured to determine at least one safety setting based on the load ratings, the weight data, and the input data, send the safety setting data to the monitoring system, and communicate the safety setting to a user.

Abstract: The invention is a monitoring system for determining a vehicle maintenance condition based on weight. The system includes a monitoring station, a weight determination system, a data input device configured to receive input data, and a processing device. The processing device includes a processor and non-volatile memory. The processor is configured to receive load ratings for a tow vehicle and tow equipment, receive maintenance requirements for the tow vehicle and the tow equipment, receive vehicle use requirements for the tow vehicle and the tow equipment, receive weight data from the weight determination system, and receive the input data from the data input device. Additionally, the processor is configured to determine at least one maintenance condition based on the load ratings, the weight data, and the input data. The processor is also configured to send the maintenance condition data to the monitoring system and communicate the maintenance condition to a user.

Abstract: A tool system for tightening a retrightenable wedge system in a slot of a generator stator core is presented. The tool system includes a carriage assembly and a wedge tool assembly that is pivotally coupled to the carriage assembly. The carriage assembly includes motorized drives that axially moves the tool system along the slot and holds the tool system on the slot at an axial position. The wedge tool assembly includes a torqueing socket to tighten the retightenable wedge assembly in the slot. The torqueing socket is driven by a worm gear arrangement.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems of glyph management using texture atlases that may, among other things, improve User Interface (UI) performance and quality, as well as reduce memory requirements for storing glyphs. Due to their monochrome nature, glyphs are stored on any one of the red, green, blue, or alpha color channels that exist within a texture memory. Commonly used glyphs may be used to generate an initial texture atlas or texture atlases. Texture atlases may also be dynamically updated as additional glyphs are needed. Required glyphs needed to be displayed in a UI may be provided from the texture atlas to a graphics processor, and the graphics processor can use texture information to render the glyphs in the UI.

Abstract: A head mounted display comprises an eye tracking system configured to enable eye tracking using polarization. The eye tracking system includes one or more illumination sources and an optical detector comprising polarization sensitive pixels. The one or more illumination sources are configured to illuminate a user's eye and generate reflections directed towards the optical detector. The eye tracking system determines, for each polarization sensitive pixel in a subset of the polarization sensitive pixels, one or more estimation parameters. The eye tracking system determines, for the subset of the polarization sensitive pixels, depth information for one or more glints associated with one or more surfaces of the eye, based in part on the polarization of the reflections and the one or more estimation parameters. The determined depth information is used to update a model of the eye. The eye tracking system determines eye tracking information based on the updated model.

Abstract: The invention is a system for automatically adjusting drive modes based on weight. The system includes a weight determination system, a data input device configured to receive input data, and a processing device. The processing devices includes a processor and non-volatile memory. The processor is configured to receive weight data from the weight determination system, receive the input data from the data input device, and receive a user input. The processor is also configured to determine at least one drive mode setting based on the weight data, the input data and the user input, send the drive mode setting data to a vehicle control system, and communicate the drive mode setting to a user.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) includes a structured light generator, an imaging device and a controller. The structured light generator illuminates a local area with a structured light pattern in accordance with emission instructions from the controller. The structured light generator comprises an illumination source, an acousto-optic device, and a projection assembly. The acousto-optic device generates a structured light pattern from an optical beam emitted from the illumination source. The projection assembly modifies a general intensity envelope of the structured light pattern in order for the structured light pattern to illuminate a larger section of the local area, and projects the modified structured light pattern into the local area. The imaging device captures of portions of the structured light pattern scattered or reflected from the local area. The controller determines depth information for the local area based at least in part on the captured images.

Abstract: A rim for a bicycle wheel that includes a tire, hub and spokes. The bicycle rim generally includes a radially outer tire-engaging portion, a radially inner spoke-engaging portion, a first sidewall and a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall. The first and second sidewalls extend between the tire engaging and spoke-engaging portions. The tire-engaging and spoke-engaging portions and first and second sidewalls form a toroid. The rim when attached to the tire forms a side profile and a transverse cross section that positions a center of pressure of the rim.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for determining tow equipment compatibility that includes a processing device having a processor and non-volatile memory. The system also includes a data input device configured to input at least one unique tow equipment identification code (UTEIC) identifying a specific piece of tow equipment and properties thereof. The processor is configured to receive the UTEIC from the data input device, receive a user input, determine tow equipment compatibility based on the user input and the UTEIC, and communicate tow equipment compatibility data to a user.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a navigation system and computer-implemented methods for proactively re-routing vehicles based on an analysis of input component data obtained from the navigation-enabled devices. The navigation system scores the input component data to obtain a measure of frustration (e.g., a feeling of being upset or annoyed) of the user of the navigation-enabled device. The navigation system may provide a detour suggestion for display on the navigation-enabled device to persuade the user of the device to direct their vehicle to depart from its current location or route in an effort to remove the vehicle from traffic, and thereby reduce the frustration level of the user. The detour suggestion may include an alternative route to the original destination, or an alternative destination.

Abstract: A system includes two or more lifting devices attached to a structure each lifting device having a drum rotated by a motor to draw in or let out a line from the drum. The drum includes a groove formed in an outer surface thereof to accommodate the line. In certain embodiments, each of the lifting devices are quickly and easily detachable from the structure by way of a flange and mounting bracket. The flange and mounting bracket have holes which are coaxially aligned. A pin or other fastener is used to join the flange and mounting bracket together. Two or more lifting devices may be connected to and moved along a mounting bracket.

Abstract: A vehicle camera system captures and transmits video to a user device, which includes a viewing device for playback of the captured video, such as virtual reality or augmented reality glasses. A rendering map is generated that indicates which pixels of the video frame (as identified by particular coordinates of the video frame) correspond to which coordinates of a virtual sphere in which a portion of the video frame is rendered for display. When a video frame is received, the rendering map is used to determine the texture values (e.g., colors) for coordinates in the virtual sphere, which is used to generate the display for the user. This technique reduces the rendering time when a user turns his or her head (e.g., while in virtual reality) and so it reduces motion and/or virtual reality sickness induced by the rendering lag.

Abstract: In various example embodiments, a system and method for using a mobile device to determine a haul weight are disclosed. A method includes: providing predetermined calibration settings relating force to engine speed for a vehicle travelling at various speeds, altering accelerometer data based on filtered vehicle pitch and roll data, determining that one or more vehicle performance parameters fall within a threshold range, storing a plurality of data pairs that include longitudinal acceleration and drive force, and determining a slope of a line that linearly approximates the plurality of data pairs, the slope indicating a total weight, the total weight comprising a weight of the vehicle and a weight being hauled by the vehicle; and transmitting the total weight to a display.