Abstract: Interactions with virtual systems may be difficult when users inadvertently fail to provide sufficient information to proceed with their requests. Certain types of inputs, such as auditory inputs, may lack sufficient information to properly provide a response to the user. Additional information, such as image data, may enable user gestures or poses to supplement the auditory inputs to enable response generation without requesting additional information from users.

Abstract: A hydraulic piston position determination system for a vehicle includes a hydraulic piston actuator configured to move a piston member in response to a hydraulic fluid pressure to engage/disengage a friction member, a hydraulic solenoid valve configured to control the hydraulic fluid pressure at the hydraulic piston actuator by regulating a flow of hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid supply system, and a controller configured to control the hydraulic piston actuator by controlling the hydraulic solenoid valve according to an actual duty cycle based on a flow demand change associated with the hydraulic piston actuator, and determine a position of the hydraulic piston actuator based on (i) a magnetic reluctance change and (ii) a difference between the actual duty cycle and a steady-state duty cycle for the hydraulic solenoid valve.

Abstract: An aqueous passivation composition for treatment of zinc or zinc alloy coatings is provided that is substantially free of nitrate anions and hexavalent chromium, said composition having a pH of less than 3 and comprising: i) a source of trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) ions; ii) at least one ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid represented by the General Formula (I): R1CH(OH)COOH (I), where R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group, a C2-C6 alkenyl group, a C1-C6 alkoxy group, a C3-C6 cycloalkyl group or a C6-C10 aryl group; iii) phosphoric acid; iv) at least one compound having both a thiol group (—SH) and a carboxyl group (—CO2H); and v) at least one water-soluble or water-dispersible fluoroacid or a salt of Ti, Zr, Hf, Si, Sn, Al, Ge, and B.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an aqueous passivation composition for the treatment of zinc or zinc alloy coatings, said composition having a pH of from 6.5 to 9 and comprising, based on the weight of the composition: a) at least one base polymer selected from acrylic polymers and non-ionic polyurethane polymers present in an amount of from 5 to 60 wt. % of; b) trivalent Cr(III) ions, present in an amount of from 0.1 to 2.5 wt. %, calculated as Cr; c) ascorbic acid; d) at least one aluminum compound present in an amount of from 0.1 to 2.5 wt. %; and, e) at least one finely divided wax present in the composition in an amount of up to 10 wt. %; wherein said composition is substantially free of nitrate anions and is substantially free of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)).

Abstract: An improved apparatus for producing unidirectionally solidified components over wide range of shapes and sizes from the smallest aero-engine turbine parts to the largest industrial gas turbine parts with improved quality and productivity where a chill block is equipped with a seed crystal ejector mechanism inserts seed crystals into shell mold at the instant of melt pouring and where an intermediate melt pouring funnel indexing device facilitates smooth pouring of melt in instalments in order to cast large and tall directionally solidified castings in relatively thin walled mold at faster mold withdrawl rate with finer and better metallurgical structure and higher production rate than the prior art.

Abstract: A nickel-based superalloy includes from 1.4 to 4.4 wt. % of Cr, from 3 to 8 wt. % of Co, from 5 to 7.5 wt. % of W, from 4.8 to 7.5 wt. % of Re, from 6 to 9 wt. % of Ta, from 4.8 to 6 wt. % of Al, from 0.1 to 0.5 wt. % of Nb, from 0.8 to 1.8 wt. % of Hf, from 0.05 to 0.1 wt. % of C, from 0.01 to 0.05 wt. % of Y, from 0.005 to 0.15 wt. % of B, and balance Ni.

Abstract: A Ni-based superalloy consists of from 1.4 to 4.4 wt % of Cr; from 3 to 8 wt % of Co; from 5 to 7.5 wt % of W; from 4.8 to 7.5 wt % of Re; from 7.5 to 10 wt % of Ta; from 4.8 to 5.8 wt % of Al; from 0.1 to 0.2 wt % of Hf; from 0.1 to 0.5 wt % of Nb; from 0.01 to 0.05 wt % of Y; and balance Ni.

Abstract: A process for preparing a Ni-based superalloy cast article includes (a) preparing an alloy charge composed of from 1.4 to 4.4 wt. % of Cr, from 3 to 8 wt. % of Co, from 5 to 7.5 wt. % of W, from 4.8 to 7.5 wt. % of Re, from 6 to 9 wt. % of Ta, from 4.8 to 6 wt. % of Al, from 0.1 to 0.5 wt. % of Nb, from 0.8 to 1.8 wt. % of Hf, from 0.05 to 0.1 wt. % of C, from 0.01 to 0.05 wt. % of Y, from 0.005 to 0.15 wt. % of B, and balance Ni, wherein the sum of W+Re is about 12 wt. %, the sum of Al+Ta+Hf+Nb ranges from 13.6 to 15.6 wt. %, and the sum of W+Re+Ta+Hf+Nb ranges from 20.2 to 22.8 wt.