Abstract: Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface devices, RIS, may be used to improve receipt of radio signals received by wireless transmit-receive units, WTRUs, in a given area. In such area, WTRUs may receive radio signals directly from the transmitter, and indirectly, via reflection of the radio signals from the transmitter by the RIS device. A RIS may consist of programmable sub-wavelength sized unit cells placed in close proximity. Each unit cell behaves like a scatterer. Embodiments of a new RIS structure are described here, being based on a nearly passive reflecting platform. In a Nearly-Passive RIS structure according to embodiments, NP-RIS, each unit cell is programmed to have a constant invariable phase-shift. Embodiments of a unit cell selection method are described, to control the reflected wave by selecting a subset of unit cells whose reflection could assist coherent alignment of the reflected wave with the main direct signal at the WTRU.

Abstract: A method and a system for selection of collaborators in a federated learning environment for training of a federated model. The method includes initiating communication with multiple collaborators providing corresponding collaborator model trained on respective current dataset. The method further includes determining a retrospective performance score for each of the multiple collaborators based on a contribution of the respective collaborator model in training of the federated model in preceding rounds. The method further includes implementing a reinforcement learning module to select, for a current round, a subset of collaborators for utilization in training of the federated model. Herein, the subset of collaborators is selected by methodically alternating between selecting the collaborators whose respective collaborator models have not been utilized in one or more of the preceding rounds and selecting the collaborators based on the retrospective performance scores thereof.

Abstract: An example operation may include one or more of receiving a signal from a vehicle as the vehicle is travelling along a route, wherein the vehicle comprises one or more inactive features installed therein which are disabled, determining that the vehicle cannot perform a current task based on the signal received from the vehicle, identifying an inactive feature from among the one or more inactive features installed on the vehicle which can assist the vehicle in performing the desired task, and activating the inactive feature installed on the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to selecting a teleoperation control center for a requested teleoperation driving session based on characteristics of the requested teleoperated driving session and a type of control for the session. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying 1) a type of control for a requested teleoperated driving session and 2) a computational parameter for the requested teleoperated driving session based on a session characteristic for the requested teleoperated driving session and the type of control. The method also includes identifying control capabilities of different teleoperation control centers. The method also includes transmitting control of a requesting vehicle to a target teleoperation control center of the different teleoperation control centers based on 1) the computational parameter, 2) the type of control, and 3) the control capabilities of the different teleoperation control centers.

Abstract: A radiative cooling apparatus including a layer of a material. The layer defines an exterior face. The material has a composition such that the layer is configured to reflect, at the exterior face, at least partly of the incoming electromagnetic radiation of at least some wavelengths in the solar spectrum. The layer is further configured to emit thermally-generated electromagnetic emission of at least some mid-infrared wavelengths out from the exterior face. Ceramics provided by embodiments of the invention could produce extra cooling effect without any electricity consumption, creating a prominent benefit to the energy saving of air conditioning systems of buildings.

Abstract: An example operation includes one or more of responsive to an inoperability of a vehicle above a threshold, requesting for the vehicle to be remotely operated, receiving software, by the vehicle, based on the level of inoperability, responsive to an installation of the software on the vehicle, remotely operating the vehicle using the installed software, responsive to the inoperability of the vehicle above the threshold while it is remotely operated, receiving an update to the software, responsive to an installation of the updated software on the vehicle, further remotely operating the vehicle using the installed updated software, and responsive to the inoperability below the threshold, requesting a cessation of the further remote operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and a system for aggregation of semantic segmentation models from multiple collaborators includes selecting, in batches, at least two collaborators from the multiple collaborators. The method further includes receiving corresponding semantic segmentation model information from each of the at least two collaborators. The method further includes assigning respective weight parameters to the semantic segmentation model information from each of the at least two collaborators. The method further includes adding controlled noise to the weight parameters for the semantic segmentation model information from each of the at least two collaborators. The method further includes generating an aggregated model based on the semantic segmentation model information using the weight parameters with the noise added thereto from each of the at least two collaborators.

Abstract: Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface devices, RIS, may be used to improve receipt of radio signals received by wireless transmit-receive units, WTRUs, in a given area. In such area, WTRUs may receive radio signals directly from the transmitter, and indirectly, via reflection of the radio signals from the transmitter by the RIS device. A RIS may consist of programmable sub-wavelength sized unit cells placed in close proximity. Each unit cell behaves like a scatterer. Embodiments of a new RIS structure are described here, being based on a nearly passive reflecting platform. In a Nearly-Passive RIS structure according to embodiments, NP-RIS, each unit cell is programmed to have a constant invariable phase-shift. Embodiments of a unit cell selection method are described, to control the reflected wave by selecting a subset of unit cells whose reflection could assist coherent alignment of the reflected wave with the main direct signal at the WTRU.

Abstract: A woven, water-vapor permeable, water-responsive, shape-memory wool fabric that possesses switchable pore size and shape responsive to varying water content absorbed thereby is demonstrated, more particularly, the wool fabric exerts corresponding thermal and water vapor regulations between the wearer and the surroundings with respect to the temperature and humidity changes.

Abstract: A radiative cooling apparatus including a layer of a material. The layer defines an exterior face. The material has a composition such that the layer is configured to reflect, at the exterior face, at least partly of the incoming electromagnetic radiation of at least some wavelengths in the solar spectrum. The layer is further configured to emit thermally-generated electromagnetic emission of at least some mid-infrared wavelengths out from the exterior face. Ceramics provided by embodiments of the invention could produce extra cooling effect without any electricity consumption, creating a prominent benefit to the energy saving of air conditioning systems of buildings.

Abstract: The present invention provides water-responsive, shape-memory natural fiber, yarn, fabric and textile comprising thereof with pore actuating function, and method for preparing the same. Fabric and textile prepared according to the present invention possess switchable pore size and shape responsive to varying water content absorbed thereby, and also exert corresponding thermal and water vapor regulations between the wearer and the surroundings with respect to the temperature and humidity changes.

Abstract: The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates to a transparent and reusable vacuum infusion heating bag for heating one or more curable materials against a tool, dispersing a permeating substance through the curable material and forming composite parts. The transparent and reusable vacuum infusion heating bag comprises a substantially transparent laminate containing a heating element. The heating element is sandwiched between a first layer and a second layer of flexible polymer material.

Abstract: The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) relates to a transparent and reusable vacuum infusion heating bag for heating one or more curable materials against a tool, dispersing a permeating substance through the curable material and forming composite parts. The transparent and reusable vacuum infusion heating bag comprises a substantially transparent laminate containing a heating element. The heating element is sandwiched between a first layer and a second layer of flexible polymer material.