Abstract: A health indicator system for a sensor pod includes one or more sensors associated with the sensor pod, a sensor pod housing, an internal sensor status monitoring system configured to determine a status of at least one sensor of the one or more sensors, and a plurality of visual indicators located on at least one exterior surface of the sensor pod housing, the plurality of visual indicators configured to display a predetermined configuration based on the determined status of each of the one or more sensors. The plurality of visual indicators are located on the sensor pod housing at a level such that when an external operator standing on a ground surface approaches the vehicle, the plurality of visual indicators is within the external operator's field of view.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing redundant pulse-width modulation (PWM) throttle control. The system includes a manual throttle controller configured to generate a manual PWM throttle control signal, and an automated throttle control system. The automated throttle control system includes a plurality of automated throttle controllers, each of which being configured to independently control a throttle of a vehicle, and each including a processor configured to generate and output an automated PWM throttle control signal, a first double pole double throw (DPDT) relay that, when engaged, is configured to receive and output the manual PWM throttle control signal, and a second DPDT relay, configured to receive and output the automated PWM throttle control signal to an engine, when the second DPDT relay is engaged; and receive and output the manual PWM throttle control signal to the engine, when the DPDT relay is disengaged.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing redundant pulse-width modulation (PWM) throttle control. The system includes a manual throttle controller configured to generate a manual PWM throttle control signal, and an automated throttle control system. The automated throttle control system includes a plurality of automated throttle controllers, each of which being configured to independently control a throttle of a vehicle, and each including a processor configured to generate and output an automated PWM throttle control signal, a first double pole double throw (DPDT) relay that, when engaged, is configured to receive and output the manual PWM throttle control signal, and a second DPDT relay, configured to receive and output the automated PWM throttle control signal to an engine, when the second DPDT relay is engaged; and receive and output the manual PWM throttle control signal to the engine, when the DPDT relay is disengaged.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing redundant pulse-width modulation (PWM) throttle control. The system includes a manual throttle controller configured to generate a manual PWM throttle control signal, and an automated throttle control system. The automated throttle control system includes a plurality of automated throttle controllers, each of which being configured to independently control a throttle of a vehicle, and each including a processor configured to generate and output an automated PWM throttle control signal, a first double pole double throw (DPDT) relay that, when engaged, is configured to receive and output the manual PWM throttle control signal, and a second DPDT relay, configured to receive and output the automated PWM throttle control signal to an engine, when the second DPDT relay is engaged; and receive and output the manual PWM throttle control signal to the engine, when the DPDT relay is disengaged.

Abstract: A health indicator system for a sensor pod includes one or more sensors associated with the sensor pod, a sensor pod housing, an internal sensor status monitoring system configured to determine a status of at least one sensor of the one or more sensors, and a plurality of visual indicators located on at least one exterior surface of the sensor pod housing, the plurality of visual indicators configured to display a predetermined configuration based on the determined status of each of the one or more sensors. The plurality of visual indicators are located on the sensor pod housing at a level such that when an external operator standing on a ground surface approaches the vehicle, the plurality of visual indicators is within the external operator's field of view.

Abstract: An LCM recovery system that relies on gravity and density or specific gravity differences between three of the main components of drilling fluids, i.e., the mud and chemicals, lost circulation material (LCM) or additives, and drill solids or cuttings. Fluid enters the LCM recovery tank from the well via a flow line or mud gas separator return leg. Cuttings, having a greater density than additives, tend to settle and become trapped on the input side of the LCM recovery tank. The less dense fluid and entrained or suspended LCM tends to travel over the baffle near the center of the tank. LCM can then be efficiently returned to the active mud system for reconditioning or pumping downhole again.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for managing a power supply for hot-swappable components of a high-power networking device. According to these techniques, a high-power networking device includes a power distribution module (PDM). The PDM is receive a high-voltage, high-power supply input, generate supply plurality of high-power, reduced voltage supplies, and distribute the plurality of high-power reduced voltage supplies to a plurality of hot-swappable components of the high-power networking system via an intermediate distribution plane.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a protocol dependent control path for instrument applications. In a representative embodiment, identifications of a client, of an instrument application, of a client specific protocol, and of an application specific protocol are obtained. The client is configured to invoke the application and to communicate using the client specific protocol. The application is configured to communicate using the application specific protocol. Then a control path between the client and the application is automatically created. In another representative embodiment, a system for creating the protocol dependent control path for instrument applications includes a management logic module configured to obtain identification of the client, to obtain identification of the instrument application, to obtain identification of the client specific protocol, to obtain identification of the application specific protocol, and to automatically create the control path between the client and the application.

Abstract: Alteration of a Standard Commands for Programmable Instrumentation (SCPI) command set for instrument control. In representative embodiments, each command of the command set includes a different combination of SCPI grammatical elements; the SCPI grammatical elements are organized hierarchically in a tree data structure; and the tree has nodes with each node comprising one of the SCPI grammatical elements. A node to alter is selected, and an alteration to the selected node is specified. Access to the selected node, as well as to any descendant nodes of the selected node is restricted; the selected node is altered in accordance with the specified alteration, wherein the alteration of the selected node is performed at runtime; and the access restriction to the selected node and to any descendant nodes of the selected node is removed, wherein the access restriction, node alteration, and access removal are performed while the instrument is operational.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a protocol dependent control path for instrument applications. In a representative embodiment, identifications of a client, of an instrument application, of a client specific protocol, and of an application specific protocol are obtained. The client is configured to invoke the application and to communicate using the client specific protocol. The application is configured to communicate using the application specific protocol. Then a control path between the client and the application is automatically created. In another representative embodiment, a system for creating the protocol dependent control path for instrument applications includes a management logic module configured to obtain identification of the client, to obtain identification of the instrument application, to obtain identification of the client specific protocol, to obtain identification of the application specific protocol, and to automatically create the control path between the client and the application.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for remotely controlling an instrument. In representative embodiments, at least one communication is received from each of at least two clients, wherein each received communication conforms to a client specific protocol. It is determined from which client each received communication was received. An application resident on the instrument for which each received communication is intended is determined, wherein at least one application is resident on the instrument. And each received communication is transferred to the intended application.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for obtaining a client program grammar communication from an Application Programming Interface (API) call. The API call is first obtained. When metadata is associated with the API call, the associated metadata is obtained and a best estimation of the client program grammar communication is obtained from the associated metadata and from the API call. Otherwise, a best estimation of the client program grammar communication is automatically obtained from the API call.

Abstract: A method for translating between Standard Commands for Programmable Instrumentation (SCPI) protocol and .NET protocol communications. When the communication from the client is a SCPI protocol command, it is converted to a .NET protocol command. The .NET protocol command is evaluated to determine the validity of the parameters sent from the client with the SCPI protocol command. Otherwise, when the communication is a SCPI protocol query from the client, the SCPI protocol query is converted to a .NET protocol query, and the .NET protocol query is evaluated to determine the validity of the parameters sent from the client with the SCPI protocol query. When the communication is intended for an instrument application, an appropriate Application Program Interface (API) responsive to method calls in the .NET protocol is then called.

Abstract: Alteration of a Standard Commands for Programmable Instrumentation (SCPI) command set for instrument control. In representative embodiments, each command of the command set includes a different combination of SCPI grammatical elements; the SCPI grammatical elements are organized hierarchically in a tree data structure; and the tree has nodes with each node comprising one of the SCPI grammatical elements. A node to alter is selected, and an alteration to the selected node is specified. Access to the selected node, as well as to any descendant nodes of the selected node is restricted; the selected node is altered in accordance with the specified alteration, wherein the alteration of the selected node is performed at runtime; and the access restriction to the selected node and to any descendant nodes of the selected node is removed, wherein the access restriction, node alteration, and access removal are performed while the instrument is operational.

Abstract: In an instrumentation system, the functionality of an I/O interface which controls an instrument is extended with an I/O interface extension library. The extension library operates to receive a function call and determines whether the function call is supported by the underlying I/O interface. If the function call is supported by the underlying I/O interface, the function call is passed on to the I/O interface for processing. If the function call is not supported by the underlying I/O interface, the function call is decoded into a sequence of standard I/O primitives that are supported by the underlying I/O interface, which are then sent on to the I/O interface for processing. In one embodiment, reduced overall latency time is achieved by packaging multiple sequential functions into a package and sending the package over an I/O bus to the instrument I/O controller as a single unit rather than sending each sequential function using separate bus instructions.