Abstract: Methods of producing thermoplastic lignocellulose are described herein. The methods include mixing a feed stream and a recycle stream to form a mixed feed stream, the feed stream comprising unmodified lignocellulose, the recycle stream comprising modified lignocellulose that has passed through an extruder; providing the mixed feed stream to the extruder at a feed port of the extruder; providing a liquid modifier to the extruder at a second port of the extruder, the second port being downstream from the feed port so that the liquid modifier mixes with the mixed feed stream within the extruder to initiate side-chain modification of the unmodified lignocellulose within the mixed feed stream, the liquid modifier comprising a cationic surfactant/sulfuric acid additive and an esterification agent; and producing a product stream by the extruder at an outlet of the extruder, the product stream comprising the thermoplastic lignocellulose as extrudate.

Abstract: A method for the stabilisation of contaminants within an asphalt raw material is disclosed. The method comprised mixing the asphalt raw material with an adsorbent under conditions to bind contaminants in the asphalt raw material and stabilise the contaminants under asphalt mixing conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle using a control barrier function candidate are disclosed. In one example, a system includes a memory in communication with a processor. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the movement of a vehicle to satisfy one or more constraints defined by a control barrier function candidate that is based on a maximum phase recovery ellipse that defines a safe set for a sideslip angle-yaw rate phase plane where the vehicle remains in a recoverable state.

Abstract: Thermal management systems and associated methods are provided with acoustic isolation. An example system includes a computing device that defines a first housing supporting one or more processing units and a thermal management system. The thermal management system includes a pressure generation mechanism and one or more cooling conduits operably coupled with the pressure generation mechanism, and the one or more cooling conduits provide fluid communication between the computing device and the pressure generation mechanism. The pressure generation mechanism causes circulation of cooling fluid to the computing device via the one or more cooling conduits so as to dissipate heat generated by the one or more processing units, and the pressure generation mechanism is acoustically isolated from the computing device.

Abstract: Approaches presented herein provide for automated management of operational systems, such as cooling and power systems, for a computing environment such as a data center. A secondary coolant distribution unit (CDU) can be connected to a cooling loop to allow for cutover from coolant flow from a primary CDU, which can allow for tasks such as coolant cleaning or replacement without having to power down the electronic components being cooled by the coolant flow. The cooling system can also be used to cure thermal interface materials (TIMs) by heating the flow of liquid through the cooling system to at least one target temperature over a period of time according to a curing profile.

Abstract: Approaches presented herein provide for automated management of operational systems, such as cooling and power systems, for a computing environment such as a data center. A secondary coolant distribution unit (CDU) can be connected to a cooling loop to allow for cutover from coolant flow from a primary CDU, which can allow for tasks such as coolant cleaning or replacement without having to power down the electronic components being cooled by the coolant flow. The cooling system can also be used to cure thermal interface materials (TIMs) by heating the flow of liquid through the cooling system to at least one target temperature over a period of time according to a curing profile.

Abstract: Approaches presented herein provide for automated management of operational systems, such as cooling and power systems, for a computing environment such as a data center. A secondary coolant distribution unit (CDU) can be connected to a cooling loop to allow for cutover from coolant flow from a primary CDU, which can allow for tasks such as coolant cleaning or replacement without having to power down the electronic components being cooled by the coolant flow. The cooling system can also be used to cure thermal interface materials (TIMs) by heating the flow of liquid through the cooling system to at least one target temperature over a period of time according to a curing profile.

Abstract: Systems and methods are directed a leak detection system that incorporates one or more chemical sensors to detect small quantities of leaks. The leak detection system may localized chemical sensors to detect leakage within a specific sub-volume of an enclosure. The one or more chemical sensors may be configured to detect an additive incorporated into cooling fluid.

Abstract: Systems and methods of autonomously controlling a vehicle across the grip driving and drift driving operating ranges are provided. The contemplated autonomous control can be effectuated using a closed-loop control system. In some embodiments, closed-loop control may be accomplished by deriving control laws involving sideslip angle, yaw rate, wheel speed, and other vehicle states. These control laws may be used to control the vehicle in a stable drift condition.

Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to a multi-layered tubular that can detect leaks. The multi-layered tubular can include sensing layers that generate an electrical signal in response to encountering a leak. The multi-layered tubular sends an electrical signal to a controller which can take responsive action. The controller may determine the location of the leak based on the electrical signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to a leak detection system that incorporates non-contact sensors to detect leaks. The leak detection system may include local power supplies that may provide operational power to the non-contact sensors when remaining components, such as those associated with racks or electronic systems, are shipped, stored, or otherwise not provided with an external power supply. Low-powered non-contact sensors may particularly target small viewing areas for leak detection.

Abstract: A method for a replay driver skill improvement system is described. The method includes logging vehicle commands requested by a vehicle operator of an ego vehicle to perform a selected driving maneuver. The method also includes identifying one or more of the logged vehicle commands in which operation of the ego vehicle is outside of a predetermined threshold while performing the selected driving maneuver. The method further includes operating the ego vehicle according to the logged vehicle commands until the one or more of the logged vehicle commands in which operation of the ego vehicle is outside of the predetermined threshold are reached. The method also includes performing, through shared control with the vehicle operator, improved vehicle commands to complete the selected driving maneuver while operating the ego vehicle at or within the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods are directed toward multi-layer tubular arrangements that include a flow restrictive material between a first layer and a second layer. The first layer may be associated with a flow bore and may be surrounded, at least partially, by a flow restrictive material. The flow restrictive material may also be surrounding by a second layer. If an opening or hole forms in either the first or second layers, the flow restrictive material may block fluid ingress/egress to maintain operation of the multi-layer tubular until maintenance or repairs can be scheduled.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for determining optimal operational parameters for a model predictive controller (MPC) for vehicle control. The method includes training a machine learning model by simulating vehicle operations across a range of operational parameters using an MPC framework. The simulation identifies ranges of parameters that recover the vehicle from unstable states, with the bounds corresponding to the vehicle's performance envelope. The method comprises determining an optimum value for a vehicle parameter based on the simulation output, updating training data accordingly, and revising the vehicle's control system using the optimum value to control the operation of an actuator for a particular maneuver. The system may update the parameter set in response to changing vehicle or environmental conditions and supports both autonomous and human-in-the-loop operation.

Abstract: Unmanned systems, and primarily vehicles, and in most embodiments unmanned aerial systems (UAS), as well as novel guided and unguided munitions are presented herein. to the two combine to present unmanned weaponized systems that not only carry weapons functionality, but allow for advanced observation and reconnaissance. These unmanned systems are largely directed toward military applications where the weaponized unmanned system may be forward deployed to allow human warfighters to remain at long range distances from the potential targets, and to provide surveillance, target identification and tracking, general reconnaissance information, and the like, while also providing weaponized attack capabilities. The unmanned systems may, in some embodiments, include advanced command and control capabilities for communication between the system and the remote, rear-positioned warfighter, and between separate elements of the unmanned system.

Abstract: Some embodiments described herein provide intelligent movable racks for a data center and a central system for monitoring and directing the positioning of such racks within the data center. For example, a rack may include computing equipment as well as a power system, a cooling system, and a cabling system (e.g., for data communication). The rack may include a controller in communication with the computing equipment, the power system, the cooling system, and the cabling system. The rack may also include a rack interface for physically supporting the rack and operatively connecting the systems of the rack to power, cooling, and cabling infrastructure of the data center. The rack interface may receive an autonomous robot for moving the rack within the data center. The controller may control the power system and the cooling system based in part on the autonomous movement of the rack.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for vehicle control. In one example, the system includes a memory with an instruction module that, when executed by a processor, directs the processor to manage vehicle operation using a control action sequence from a model predictive controller. This controller utilizes an enhanced predicted vehicle state derived from a predicted vehicle state and a residual generated by a last-layer Bayesian meta-learning vehicle model. The system enhances vehicle control by integrating advanced predictive modeling and adaptive learning techniques.

Abstract: A method for a replay driver skill improvement system is described. The method includes logging vehicle commands requested by a vehicle operator of an ego vehicle to perform a selected driving maneuver. The method also includes identifying one or more of the logged vehicle commands in which operation of the ego vehicle is outside of a predetermined threshold while performing the selected driving maneuver. The method further includes operating the ego vehicle according to the logged vehicle commands until the one or more of the logged vehicle commands in which operation of the ego vehicle is outside of the predetermined threshold are reached. The method also includes performing, through shared control with the vehicle operator, improved vehicle commands to complete the selected driving maneuver while operating the ego vehicle at or within the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods of autonomously controlling a vehicle across the grip driving and drift driving operating ranges, are provided. The contemplated autonomous control can be effectuated using a closed-loop control system. In some embodiments, closed-loop control may be accomplished by deriving control laws involving sideslip angle, yaw rate, wheel speed, and other vehicle states. These control laws may be used to control the vehicle in a stable drift condition.

Abstract: A mobile printing robot system for printing a construction layout. The method addresses a problem that occurs when there is a loss of a tracking lock to an absolute positioning device, such as a total station. In a construction site, a line of sight between a mobile robot and an absolute positioning device may be lost when the mobile robot moves into a shadowed region behind an obstacle, such as a column. The mobile printing robot may use its local sensor data to continue to print until a maximum estimated position is reached. The mobile robot may also provide position updates to the absolute positioning device to aid it to regain a track lock when the mobile robot emerged from the shadowed region.