Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems for automatically protecting an individual from injuries using one or more sensors and one or more protective members, and methods of using the same. The system can include a supportive member supporting one or more protective members. The protective members can include at least one passive layer and at least one active layer. The active layer includes at least one energy-responsive material that changes at least one physical property thereof responsive to at least one stimulus energy. For example, the system can include at least one energy source that is configured to deliver the stimulus energy to the energy-responsive material. The system can also include one or more sensors configured to sense one or more characteristics. The system can include at least one controller communicably coupled to the energy source and the sensors.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems for automatically protecting an individual from injuries using one or more sensors, one or more rigid members, and one or more inflatable members associated therewith, and methods of using the same.

Abstract: A thermal insulator includes a plurality of layers. At least some of the layers include phononic crystals having a phononic bandgap, wherein heat transporting phonons within a selected range of frequencies are substantially blocked by each phononic crystal layer. The plurality of layers thermally isolate a first region from a second region, wherein the first region is at one end of the plurality of layers and the second region is at the other end of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to protective garments and systems that include a protective garment for protecting one or more body regions of an individual wearing the protective garment.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a building having one or more microphones coupled to a telephone includes a detector configured to detect a triggering event within the building and transmit an activating signal when the triggering event is detected, and a control module configured to receive the activating signal from the detector. The control module is programmed to activate at least one of the one or more microphones to monitor sound when the activating signal is received.

Abstract: A reconfigurable unmanned aircraft system is disclosed. A system and method for configuring a reconfigurable unmanned aircraft and system and method for operation and management of a reconfigurable unmanned aircraft in an airspace are also disclosed. The aircraft is selectively reconfigurable to modify flight characteristics. The aircraft comprises a set of rotors. The position of at least one rotor relative to the base can be modified by at least one of translation of the rotor relative to the boom, pivoting of the boom relative to the base, and translation of the boom relative to the base; so that flight characteristics can be modified by configuration of position of at least one rotor relative to the base.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include methods of removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle, systems for removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle, vehicles, methods of managing carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle, and computer software program products for managing carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle.

Abstract: An embodiment of a device includes a sensor and a communicator. The sensor is configured to be attached to a body portion of a subject, to sense an object, and to generate information related to the object. The communicator is configured to provide the information to a determiner-notifier that is configured to determine, in response to the information, if the body portion may contact the object, and to generate a notification in response to determining that the body portion may contact the object. Such a device (e.g., attached to, or part of, a shoe) may be useful to warn a subject of a potential collision between an object (e.g., stairs, furniture, door jamb, curb, toy) and a body part (e.g., foot, toes) in which the subject has lost feeling, the ability to feel pain, or proprioception. And such a warning may help the subject to avoid inadvertently and repeatedly injuring the body part.

Abstract: A system and method for repowering an unmanned aircraft system is disclosed. The system and method may comprise use of a utility transmission system configured to function as power system/source for UAV/aircraft and UAV/aircraft configured to interface with the power source/system. Systems and methods provide access and for administrating, managing, and monitoring access and interfacing by UAV/aircraft with the power system/source. UAV/aircraft system can be configured and operated/managed to interface with and use the power system/source (e.g. network of power lines from a utility transmission system) to enhance range and utility (e.g. for repowering and/or as a flyway or route). The system comprises an interface between the aircraft and the power source for power transfer; a monitoring system to monitor the aircraft; and an administrative/management system to manage interaction/transaction with the aircraft.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a nerve stimulation system includes a headset and an earpiece which includes two or more ear-contacting elements, for example an ear canal insert, and a concha insert. Ear-contacting elements may be mounted onto an earpiece housing have projecting mounting structures, which provide mechanical and electrical connection between ear-contacting elements and housing through various materials and configurations. In an embodiment, a nerve stimulation system includes a neural stimulation subsystem including neural stimulation device control circuitry for use in combination with a personal computing device to control a neural stimulation device.

Abstract: Structures and protocols are presented for signaling a status or decision concerning a wireless service or device within a region to a network participant or other communication device (smartphone or motor vehicle, e.g.).

Abstract: A method may include automatically remotely identifying at least one characteristic of an individual via facial recognition; and providing a display for the individual, the display having a content at least partially based on the identified at least one characteristic of the individual. A system may include a facial recognition module configured for automatically remotely identifying at least one characteristic of an individual via facial recognition; and a display module coupled with the facial recognition module, the display module configured for providing a display for the individual, the display having a content at least partially based on the identified at least one characteristic of the individual.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems are described that include accepting at least one attribute of at least one individual, querying at least one database at least partly based on the at least one attribute, selecting from the at least one database at least one bioactive agent and at least one artificial sensory experience to address the at least one attribute of at least one individual, and/or presenting an indication of the at least one bioactive agent and the at least one artificial sensory experience at least partly based on the selecting from the at least one database at least one bioactive agent and at least one artificial sensory experience to address the at least one attribute of at least one individual.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system and a method. A system includes a first ultrasound transmitter acoustically coupled to a conducting layer of a display surface and configured to deliver a first ultrasound wave to a selected delineated area. The first ultrasonic wave has parameters sufficient to induce a non-linear vibrational response in the conducting layer. A second ultrasound transmitter is acoustically coupled to the conducting layer and configured to deliver a second ultrasound wave to the selected delineated area. The second ultrasonic wave has parameters sufficient to induce a non-linear vibrational response in the conducting layer. A controller selects a delineated area in response to an indication of a touch to the display surface, and initiates delivery of the first and second ultrasonic waves. A convergence of the first and second ultrasonic waves at the selected delineated area produces a stress pattern perceivable or discernible by the human appendage.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are described for tracking, registering, etc. of medical staff, patients, instrumentation, events, or the like according to a treatment staging plan. For example a medical apparatus includes a right-patient verification device having an interrogation interface device that elicits at least one of identification data, authorization data, or treatment plan data from a medical procedure authorization device associated with a patient; and a right-site verification device that generates patient-specific treatment staging data consistent with the at least one of the identification data, the authorization data, or the treatment plan data.

Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include capturing a scene that includes one or more images, through use of an array of more than one image sensor, selecting a particular portion of the scene that includes at least one image, wherein the selected particular portion is smaller than the scene, transmitting only the selected particular portion from the scene to a remote location, and de-emphasizing pixels from the scene that are not part of the selected particular portion of the scene. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include systems, methods, and devices for automated delivery of medical services and products. In certain embodiments, the systems and/or methods are at least partially controlled by a computer.

Abstract: A sound processing system includes a sound input device for providing a sound input, a sound output device for providing a sound output, and processing electronics including a processor and a memory, wherein the processing electronics is configured to receive a target sound input identifying a target sound, receive a rule input establishing a sound processing rule that references the target sound, receive a sound input from the sound input device, analyze the sound input for the target sound, process the sound input according to the sound processing rule in view of the analysis of the sound input, and provide a processed sound output to the sound output device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with determining velocity and/or acceleration information using ultrasound. A system may include one or more ultrasonic transmitters and/or receivers. An ultrasonic transmitter may be configured to transmit ultrasound into a region bounded by one or more surfaces. The ultrasonic receiver may detect a Doppler shift of reflected ultrasound to determine an acceleration and/or velocity associated with an object. The velocity and/or acceleration information may be utilized to modify the state of a gaming system, entertainment system, infotainment system, and/or other device. The velocity and/or acceleration date may be used in combination with a mapping or positioning system that generates positional data associated with the objects.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a plasmonic apparatus and method. The plasmonic apparatus includes a substrate having a first negative-permittivity layer comprising a first plasmonic surface. The plasmonic apparatus includes a plasmonic nanoparticle having a base with a second negative-permittivity layer comprising a second plasmonic surface. The plasmonic apparatus includes a dielectric-filled gap between the first plasmonic surface and the second plasmonic surface. The plasmonic apparatus includes a plasmonic cavity created by an assembly of the first plasmonic surface, the second plasmonic surface, and the dielectric-filled gap, and having a spectrally separated first fundamental resonant cavity wavelength ?1 and second fundamental resonant cavity wavelength ?2. The plasmonic apparatus includes a plurality of fluorescent particles located in the dielectric-filled gap.