Abstract: A technique for a modular tracked vehicle that can be reconfigured as needed to address different requirements and use cases. The modular tracked vehicle includes a chassis hull that allows interchangeable components to be connected thereto. The interchangeable components include interchangeable final drives which drive the vehicle's tracks. The chassis hull stores an energy reservoir, such as a battery or fuel tank, and the final drives include at least a gear box and drive axle. Different final drives may be provided for different torque levels, speed levels, energy sources, and or other specifications, and the final drives may be swapped based on mission requirements. Other components of the modular tracked vehicle may be interchangeable, as well. The technique may be provided, for example, as a modular tracked vehicle, a platform for a modular tracked vehicle, and/or as a method for use with a modular tracked vehicle.

Abstract: According to several aspects, a method for path planning for a vehicle includes determining a predicted trajectory of a remote vehicle. The predicted trajectory of the remote vehicle includes a plurality of predicted trajectory nodes. The method further includes determining a plurality of possible trajectories for the vehicle. The plurality of possible trajectories includes a plurality of possible trajectory nodes. The method further includes determining one or more evaluation metrics of each of the plurality of possible trajectory nodes based at least in part on a weather condition in an environment surrounding the vehicle. The method further includes selecting an optimal trajectory for the vehicle from the plurality of possible trajectories based at least in part on the one or more evaluation metrics of each of the plurality of possible trajectory nodes. The method further includes performing a first action based at least in part on the optimal trajectory.

Abstract: A cartridge for a laundry appliance includes an outer housing having an interior chamber therein. The outer housing includes a primary axis and a secondary axis that is perpendicular to the primary axis. A pump is contained within the outer housing that selectively delivers a laundry chemistry from the interior chamber to a dispensing outlet of the outer housing. The dispensing outlet is defined within a contoured edge of the outer housing and orients the dispensing outlet at an oblique angle with respect to the primary and secondary axes. A rotational drive is operated by an external actuator. The rotational drive is positioned within the outer housing and in operable communication with the pump. The rotational drive aligns with a drive aperture defined within a wall of the outer housing for receiving the external actuator.

Abstract: A system for updating a road map for a vehicle includes a plurality of vehicle sensors and a vehicle controller in electrical communication with the plurality of vehicle sensors. The vehicle controller is programmed to gather input data about an environment surrounding the vehicle using the plurality of vehicle sensors. The input data includes at least one abnormal traffic pattern indication. The vehicle controller is further programmed to generate an input label map based at least in part on the input data. The vehicle controller is further programmed to generate a vehicle output label map based at least in part on the input label map. The vehicle output label map is generated using a machine learning algorithm. The vehicle controller is further programmed to perform a first action based at least in part on the vehicle output label map.

Abstract: Facility layouts and configurations for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture. In particular implementations, the core of the facility comprises a controlled growth environment and a central processing system. The controlled growth environment includes systems for exposing crops housed in modules, such as grow towers, to controlled environmental conditions. The central processing system may include various stations and functionality both for preparing crop-bearing modules to be inserted in the controlled growth environment, for harvesting crops from the crop-bearing modules after they have been extracted from the controlled growth environment, and for cleaning or washing crop-bearing modules for re-use. The controlled growth environment may include vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers along one or more grow lines.

Abstract: Facility layouts and configurations for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture. In particular implementations, the core of the facility comprises a controlled growth environment and a central processing system. The controlled growth environment includes systems for exposing crops housed in modules, such as grow towers, to controlled environmental conditions. The central processing system may include various stations and functionality both for preparing crop-bearing modules to be inserted in the controlled growth environment, for harvesting crops from the crop-bearing modules after they have been extracted from the controlled growth environment, and for cleaning or washing crop-bearing modules for re-use. The controlled growth environment may include vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers along one or more grow lines.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter including a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric generator including a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.

Abstract: A HotSwap system includes a HotSwap bus and HotSwap cartridges containing payloads and subsystems. The HotSwap cartridges can be installed into or removed from the HotSwap bus, with the installation or removal involving the use of a HotSwap End Effector. Subsystems can be attached to the HotSwap cartridges and can interface with the HotSwap bus. The cartridges can accommodate current spacecraft standard subsystems or standard payloads, and are intended to be removed, replaced, or exchanged in orbit, including by a service vehicle or robot to allow for rapid replacement of old, used, or damaged spacecraft systems. The cartridges are secured in place in the HotSwap bus, which can allow power and communication between subsystems.

Abstract: ThermaSat™ propulsion system uses water as a safe and non-explosive propellant, and which is unpressurized at liftoff. Utilizing solar thermal propulsion, the compact and efficient capacitor heats water to steam to produce high thrust and total impulse. The advanced optical system allows for the thermal capacitor to charge through solar power alone with no protruding concentrators or power draw from the main bus. Additional solar panels, body mounted to the ThermaSat, provide auxiliary heating of the thermal capacitor when not directly incident to sunlight to promote non-sun pointing operations. Additionally, a conductive insulative system or method can include a phase change material and an insulated thermal capacitor wrapped in an insulative material including an inner layer of a high temperature multi-layer insulation and an outer layer of low temperature multi-layer insulation and the outside of the outer layer is covered with a reflective material.

Abstract: A technique provides an amphibious, submersible vehicle, which includes an electric drive and is capable of operating both on land and in water. The vehicle includes a water-tight compartment that houses batteries and a set of electric motors for propelling the vehicle using tracks on land and on a subsea floor. The vehicle is further capable of propelling itself through water, using the tracks and/or a set of thrusters powered by the batteries.

Abstract: A universal mounting structure for changing attachments on a construction machine includes first and second ear plates mounted disposed in spaced relation. The ear plates include a first and second pair portions of elongated cutout patterns. First and second collar/pin assembly each includes a pin and a pair of collars. Each collar has an eccentric bore configured to removably receive each end of a pin and each collar has surfaces engaging complementary surfaces of one of the first or second pair portions of the elongated cutout patterns. The first and second collar/pin assemblies are configured such that a center distance between the pins can be adjusted 1) in large increments by moving either one or both of the first and second collar/pin assemblies within the respective pair portion of the elongated cutout patterns, and 2) in small increments by axial rotation of a pair of collars about a respective pin of one or both of the collar/pin assemblies.

Abstract: A detector including a resistance measuring device connected to a first conductive wire and a second conductive wire. The detector can be formed of a material that experiences Radiation Induced Conductivity (MC) when exposed to radiation and can be placed in a radiation field to measure electrical resistivity of the detector and the radiation field to gauge a strength of the radiation field. As the radiation field increases, the electrical resistivity of the detector decreases. Additionally, a combination detector can include a first detector with a first wire and a first material, and a second detector with a second wire coated with a coating comprising a fast or thermal neutron absorber. When placed in the thermal neutron field, the coating on the second detector removes a portion of thermal neutrons and leaves RIC effects on the second wire below the coating due to a remaining portion of thermal neutrons.

Abstract: A radioisotope generator including a laser, a volume of target isotope, and nanoparticles in a solid, liquid, or gas state is provided. In at least one aspect, the radioisotope generator accelerates the decay rate of an isotope, with the laser being used to accelerate the decay of the isotope for the production of desired product isotopes.

Abstract: A firefighting vehicle includes a chassis that houses an electric drivetrain for driving wheels of the vehicle. A conduit extends within the chassis from back to front for conveying firefighting fluid. Within the chassis, a first motor and a first battery pack are disposed on a first side of the conduit and a second motor and a second battery pack are disposed on a second side of the conduit. The first motor is configured to drive a first wheel on a first side of the vehicle, and the second motor is configured to drive a second wheel on a second side of the vehicle. The conduit is configured to provide firefighting fluid to a monitor mounted at the front of the chassis, where the fluid can be discharged toward a target, such as a fire.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter including a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric generator including a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter including a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric generator including a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.

Abstract: Techniques are directed to utilizing a suspension protector to deflect debris away from a set of suspension components of a tracked vehicle. The tracked vehicle includes a vehicle body, a suspension, and a set of suspension protectors. The suspension couples with the vehicle body and is constructed and arranged to control movement of the vehicle body using tracks. Each suspension protector couples with the vehicle body and is disposed a predefined distance from a respective wheel of the suspension to deflect debris thrown from the respective wheel and a respective track away from a respective set of suspension components of the suspension.

Abstract: A non-therapeutic method for reducing or eliminating the allergic effect of an allergen. Also relates to a cucurbituril, a derivative thereof, a variant thereof or a mixture thereof for use in treating and/or preventing the allergic effect of an allergen.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter including a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric generator including a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.