Abstract: A unitary cartridge for a conducted electrical weapon (CEW) may include a cartridge body that stores an electrode, a piston, a propulsion module, and a propulsion module contact. To launch the electrode from the cartridge body, a signal may be sent from the CEW through a conductor disposed within the propulsion module. The signal may be configured to heat up the conductor and ignite a pyrotechnic material in the propulsion module to create a rapidly expanding gas. The rapidly expanding gas may move the piston to propel the electrode from the cartridge body and toward a target. A frangible cap may be disposed at one end of the cartridge body to retain the electrode in the cartridge body prior to launch.

Abstract: The technology described herein relates to autonomous aerial vehicle rotor configurations. In some embodiments, the aerial vehicle includes a central body that extends along a longitudinal axis from a forward end to an aft end including a port side opposite a starboard side. Multiple rotor arms each have a proximal end coupled to the central body and a rotor assembly arranged at a distal end to provide propulsion for the aerial vehicle. The rotor assemblies include a first set of rotor assemblies and a second set of rotor assemblies. The first set of rotor assemblies are arranged in a non-inverted configuration on a top side of the aerial vehicle such that each rotor assembly includes an upward-facing rotor. The second set of rotor assemblies are arranged in an inverted configuration on a bottom side of the aerial vehicle such that each rotor assembly includes a downward-facing rotor.

Abstract: The innovation disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises systems and methods of an improved multi-domain management system. The innovation provides mitigation of uncontrolled privilege and access, lacking defined roles for at user. The innovation mitigates risk of inadvertent error while not diminishing desired trans-domain user capability. Functions such as creating user and/or service accounts, group creations, group memberships, host memberships, and the like, may thus be undertaken from a single high level location, based on controlled user rules at that level, and may do so without regard or limitation to the specific domains or master server controls at the specific domains. Agnostic aspects are coupled with scalability regardless of number of domains.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device comprising: a light guide configured to receive incident light from one or more light sources; a cover layer with a sensing surface configured to receive an input object to be sensed; and a set of photodetectors. The light guide includes diffraction gratings configured to diffract the incident light as diffracted light, wherein the diffracted light exits the light guide and travels towards the sensing surface. The diffracted light is reflected from the sensing surface as reflected light. The reflected light is sensed by the set of photodetectors to form an image of the input object.

Abstract: Provided is a method for isolating nucleic acids from a plant sample comprising (a) preparing a lysed sample wherein preparing comprises (i) lysing a plant sample by mechanically disrupting the plant sample in a lysis solution which comprises at least one chaotropic agent and one or more solid disrupting particles, and (ii) optionally clearing the lysate; (b) contacting the lysed sample with at least one protein precipitating agent and at least one inhibitor removing agent and providing a mixture; (c) obtaining a liquid phase from the mixture; and (d) isolating nucleic acids from the liquid phase. Also provided is a kit for use in such method.

Abstract: The technology described herein relates to autonomous aerial vehicle technology and, more specifically, to environment illumination for autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles. In some embodiments, a UAV includes upward-facing image capture devices, downward-facing image capture devices, one or more illumination sources, and a computer system. The computer system is configured to direct the one or more illumination sources to selectively emit light into a surrounding physical environment while the UAV is in flight, process images captured by any one or more of the plurality of upward-facing image capture devices or the plurality of downward-facing image capture devices to estimate a position and/or orientation of the aerial vehicle, generate a planned trajectory for the aerial vehicle through a physical environment based on the processing of the images, and control a propulsion system and/or flight surface of the aerial vehicle to cause the aerial vehicle to autonomously maneuver along the planned trajectory.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lysis method for releasing microbial nucleic acids from microorganisms comprised in a plant sample, comprising mechanically disrupting the plant sample in a liquid lysis composition using at least two types of solid disrupting particles, wherein (i) the first type is provided by one or more disrupting particles having a size of at least 1.5 mm and (ii) the second type is provided by a plurality of disrupting particles having a size of 1 mm or less. Also provides is a method for isolating nucleic acids including microbial nucleic acids from a plant sample and kits.

Abstract: The technology described herein relates to autonomous aerial vehicle technology and, more specifically, to image stabilization systems for autonomous aerial vehicles. In some embodiments, a UAV including a central body, an image capture assembly that couples the image capture assembly to the central body. The image stabilization assembly is configured to provide structural protection and support around the image capture assembly while passively isolating the image capture assembly from vibrations and other motion of the central body while the UAV is in flight.

Abstract: The technology described herein relates to autonomous aerial vehicle technology and, more specifically, to autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle with folding collapsible arms. In some embodiments, a UAV including a central body, a plurality of rotor arms, and a plurality of hinge mechanisms is disclosed. The plurality of rotor arms each include a rotor unit at a distal end of the rotor arm. The rotor units are configured to provide propulsion for the UAV. The plurality of hinge mechanisms mechanically attach (or couple) proximal ends of the plurality of rotor arms to the central body. Each hinge mechanism is configured to rotate a respective rotor arm of the plurality of rotor arms about an axis of rotation that is at an oblique angle relative to a vertical median plane of the central body to transition between an extended state and a folded state.

Abstract: A lock system for securing a storage container comprises a first lock having a first lock body and a shackle, the first lock having a first locked condition wherein the shackle is locked to the first lock body and a first unlocked condition wherein the shackle is unlocked from the first lock body. The first lock has a first key receptacle for actuating the first lock between the first locked condition and the first unlocked condition. The lock assembly includes a second lock having a second lock body and a cable. The second lock has a second locked condition wherein the cable is locked to the second lock body and a second unlocked condition wherein the cable is unlocked from the second lock body. The second lock has a second key receptacle for actuating the second lock between the second locked condition and the second unlocked condition. A key is receivable by both the first key receptacle and the second key receptacle and keyed to lock and unlock both the first lock and the second lock.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that captures a complete history of serial network Link Training negotiations by continuously monitoring multiple analog signals representing both sides of full duplex lanes in real-time by pattern matching the Link Training Frame Marker and the subsequent negotiation request/response data values. The apparatus and method compare the digitized version of the incoming signal against a nominal pattern at the start to find the Frame Markers and Control Channel data, storing only those Control Channel data values that do not match the current compare pattern, and further by updating the current compare pattern to the new pattern just received, so that only the transitions in the data values are stored, thereby vastly reducing the amount of data presented to the user, but nonetheless retaining the complete substantive history of the Link Training negotiations.

Abstract: A system determines wind information for achieving a desired outcome for travel of a selected group of one or more vehicles along one or more routes. The system determines wind drag and/or a parasitic energy loss for travel by different potential groups of vehicles based on the wind information. The system determines the wind drag and/or parasitic energy loss for each of plural, different locations along the one or more routes, visually presents the wind drag and/or parasitic energy loss for each of the different groups of vehicles, and/or determines the selected group of the one or more vehicles from the different groups of vehicles for travel along the one or more routes to achieve the desired outcome based on the wind drag and/or parasitic energy loss that is determined.

Abstract: A cooking system for cooking food includes a housing defining a hollow chamber configured to receive the food, a lid movable relative to said housing between an open position and a closed position to form a pressure-tight cooking volume between said hollow chamber and said lid, at least one heating element associated with at least one of said housing and said lid, and a temperature probe positionable within said pressure-tight cooking volume. The cooking system is operable in a pressure cooking mode and during said pressure cooking mode. The temperature probe is operable to detect a temperature of the food in said pressure-tight cooking volume.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a hydrogel tube, and related systems, employ extrusion of a cross-linkable hydrogel solution from an annular outer nozzle of a nozzle assembly to form a cross-linkable hydrogel tube. The cross-linkable hydrogel tube is cured to form a cross-linked hydrogel tube. A second hydrogel solution can be coextruded via the axial inner nozzle to form an inner hydrogel filament coaxially positioned within the cross-linkable hydrogel tube. The cross-linked hydrogel tube can be functionalized with collagen to enable cell adhesion, and cells can be cultured on the luminal surfaces of these tubes to yield tubular endothelial layers. A 3D printed coaxial nozzle can be used to fabricate biofunctional tubular conduits that can be utilized for engineering in vitro models of tubular biological structures.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optical imaging using an optical sensor in an active area of the display are described. The optical sensor includes a set of detector elements positioned in a detector plane; a transparent layer; and a set of first reflective surfaces in the transparent layer. Each reflective surface in the first set of reflective surfaces is positioned to receive light from a portion of a sensing region of the display and to reflect the received light. The optical sensor further includes a second set of reflective surfaces, each reflective surface in the second set of reflective surfaces is positioned to receive the transmitted light from the first set of reflective surfaces, and to further reflect the received light towards one of the set of detector elements.

Abstract: Optimizations are provided for distinguishing between webpages that are cached and webpages that have been or currently are displayed on a user interface. In some instances, a list of webpages is generated in response to a query entered by a user. Then, a determined number of webpages that were included in the list are cached in memory. These cached webpages each have an associated agent string, and at least some of these agent strings are updated to reflect a cached status. Subsequently, a first webpage is displayed on a user interface. This first webpage was included among those webpages that were cached. Further, the agent string for this webpage is updated to reflect an in-view status. In response to the first webpage being replaced by a second webpage, the agent string for the second webpage is then updated to reflect the in-view status.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for optical sensing, comprising: a display comprising a transparent substrate and a plurality of light emitters disposed above the transparent substrate; a transparent cover layer disposed above the display, wherein a top surface of the transparent cover layer provides an input surface for sensing an input object; and, an angled filter disposed below the transparent substrate of the display, wherein the angled filter is configured to allow light within a tolerance angle of an acceptance angle to pass through the angled filter, wherein the acceptance angle is centered around a non-zero angle relative to a normal of the input surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device comprising: a light guide configured to receive incident light from one or more light sources; a cover layer with a sensing surface configured to receive an input object to be sensed; and a set of photodetectors. The light guide includes diffraction gratings configured to diffract the incident light as diffracted light, wherein the diffracted light exits the light guide and travels towards the sensing surface. The diffracted light is reflected from the sensing surface as reflected light. The reflected light is sensed by the set of photodetectors to form an image of the input object.

Abstract: A system determines wind information for achieving a desired outcome for travel of a selected group of one or more vehicles along one or more routes. The system determines wind drag and/or a parasitic energy loss for travel by different potential groups of vehicles based on the wind information. The system determines the wind drag and/or parasitic energy loss for each of plural, different locations along the one or more routes, visually presents the wind drag and/or parasitic energy loss for each of the different groups of vehicles, and/or determines the selected group of the one or more vehicles from the different groups of vehicles for travel along the one or more routes to achieve the desired outcome based on the wind drag and/or parasitic energy loss that is determined.