Abstract: Many different types of systems are utilized or tasks are performed in a marine environment. The present invention provides various configurations of unmanned vehicles, or drones, that can be operated and/or controlled for such systems or tasks. One or more unmanned vehicles can be integrated with a dedicated marine electronic device of a marine vessel for autonomous control and operation. Additionally or alternatively, the unmanned vehicle can be manually remote operated during use in the marine environment. Such unmanned vehicles can be utilized in many different marine environment systems or tasks, including, for example, navigation, sonar, radar, search and rescue, video streaming, alert functionality, among many others. However, as contemplated by the present invention, the marine environment provides many unique challenges that may be accounted for with operation and control of an unmanned vehicle.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for disinfecting tonometer probes are described. One example provides a specialized container that allows easy catching of a used probe without having to touch the probe, allows for the storage of multiple used probes, allows for simple disinfection of the probes without having to handle the probes or remove them from the container, allows for rinsing of the probes and container without handling the probes, and then allows for the simple insertion of the disinfected probes directly from the container without having to touch the probes or reinsert them into their specialized tubes.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance including an agitator rotatable about an axis; a housing having a front side, a rear side, and first and second sides which extend between the front and rear sides, said housing defining a chamber which at least partially surrounds the agitator, the chamber having a dirty air inlet and a dirty air outlet; and a spray nozzle device for spraying cleaning fluid onto the agitator in a direction towards the rear side of the housing, said spray nozzle device being fluidly connectable to a cleaning fluid supply tank of a cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance, including an agitator rotatable about an axis; a housing having a front side, a rear side and first and second sides which extend between the front side and rear side, said housing at least partially defining a chamber. The chamber at least partially surrounds the agitator, the chamber having a dirty air inlet and a dirty air outlet. The chamber includes an opening for permitting access to and removal of the agitator from the chamber and a cover cooperatively associated with the housing for permitting access to the chamber through the opening. The cover is movable to an agitator access position to permit the agitator to be removed from the chamber through the opening in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axis of the agitator and in a direction which is substantially parallel to a plane of the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance including a housing having a front side, a rear side, and first and second sides which extend between the front side and the rear side, the housing further including a floor facing surface which extends between the front side, rear side and first and second sides which, in use, faces a surface to be cleaned. A floor engaging device is connected to the floor facing surface of the housing and which extends laterally between the first and second sides of the housing, said floor engaging device including a first portion for absorbing liquid from a surface to be cleaned; and a second portion positioned closer to either a front side or a rear side of the housing, said second portion being relatively stiff compared to the first portion.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance including an agitator rotatable about an axis; a housing having a front side, a rear side, and first and second sides which extend between the front side and rear side, said housing further including a floor facing surface. The housing defines a chamber which at least partially surrounds the agitator, the chamber having a dirty air inlet and a dirty air outlet. A wiper device which extends laterally between the first and second sides of the housing and is positioned on or adjacent the floor facing surface. A floor engaging device extends laterally between the first and second sides of the housing and is positioned on or adjacent the floor facing surface. The floor engaging device includes an absorbent portion. The wiper device and the floor engaging device are positioned rearwardly of the dirty air inlet.

Abstract: The present invention provides glucose sensitive insulin derivatives comprising a macrocycle, a glucose mimetic and human insulin or an analogue thereof, and their pharmaceutical use. Furthermore, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such glucose sensitive insulin derivatives, and to the use of such compounds for the treatment or prevention of medical conditions relating to diabetes.

Abstract: A pet interaction device is described. In some examples, the device includes a housing having an opening, and a treat dispenser configured to deliver a treat to a shelf within the housing or other target area visible from the outside by a pet that looks through the opening. The device also includes a camera having a lens that is oriented to provide the camera with a view from the inside of the housing outwards through the opening. The treat dispenser delivers a treat onto the shelf where it is visible to the pet through the opening, such that the camera will have a view of the pet as it gazes at the treat on the shelf.

Abstract: A control and monitoring device integrated in an intermediary coupling unit, said intermediary coupling unit being configured to couple an electrical appliance to a power supply, said control and monitoring device comprising a control module configured to change a status of the electrical appliance; a sensor configured to monitor a condition of said electrical appliance and/or an environment thereof; and a processor configured to instruct the control module to change a status of the electrical appliance based on an output of the sensor. Complementary devices and methods of operating such devices are also presented herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides glucose sensitive insulin derivatives comprising a macrocycle, a glucose mimetic and human insulin or an analogue thereof, and their pharmaceutical use. Furthermore, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such glucose sensitive insulin derivatives, and to the use of such compounds for the treatment or prevention of medical conditions relating to diabetes.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a server and from a sharing entity, data encrypted using a first encryption key associated with the sharing entity. The server receives from the sharing entity a copy of the first encryption key encrypted using a second encryption key different from the first encrypted key and associated with the relying entity. The server receives from the sharing entity a license that includes data defining at least one rule associated with the relying entity accessing the data stored on the server. The server sends to the relying entity the copy of the first encryption key such that the relying entity can decrypt the copy of the first encryption key to access the data using the first encryption key, in accordance with the at least one rule. The server removes from memory the data in accordance with the at least one rule of the license.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the status of an apparatus comprises processing in a processor a cyclic signal emitted and/or received by said apparatus, by sampling at least part of a plurality of cycles of the cyclic signal at n points to provide n measured values; comparing the n measured values to a predetermined distribution of values at said n points representing a first state of the apparatus; and if the n measured values fall outside predetermined criteria relating to the predetermined distribution, providing an indication that the apparatus is not in the first state.

Abstract: A power plug for coupling an electrical appliance to an electrical power supply, comprising: a current sensor, configured to measure current supplied through the plug to the electrical appliance; a voltage sensor, configured to measure voltage supplied through the plug to the electrical appliance; a processor configured to determine power consumption data from data relating to the current and voltage measurements made by the current and voltage sensors and monitor the performance of the electrical appliance using the power consumption data; and a transmitter, configured to transmit information relating to the performance of the electrical appliance.

Abstract: A method of producing vehicles comprises: in a vehicle production process, manufacturing vehicle components of different types, and assembling the vehicle components to form vehicles; creating a set of vehicle records, each being a record of one of the vehicles entering active service; performing vehicle repairs on a subset of the vehicles after they have entered active service; creating a respective record of each of the vehicle repairs, each of which comprises or indicates a vehicle age or usage value, and records a vehicle component fault identified in the vehicle repair; receiving at a data processing stage the vehicle records and vehicle repair records, wherein a predictive algorithm executed at the data processing stage processes the received records so as to, for each type of vehicle component: 1) identify a respective set of the vehicle repair records relating to that type of vehicle component, and 2) use the respective set of vehicle repair records to predict a respective number of or resource value

Abstract: A method and control system for controlling compressor output for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The power output of a gas turbine engine can vary and be below desired output levels due to operating conditions such as ambient temperature and elevation. These operating conditions can lead to lower output of the gas compressor of the turbine engine and lower operating temperatures within or proximate to a turbine of the gas turbine engine and lead to less power output. Additional fuel can be added to increase power to the gas producer shaft and increase turbine temperature of the gas turbine engine. A power transfer device can be used to remove or add power to the gas producer shaft to balance the gas producer mechanical limits and turbine thermal limits at maximum levels and lead to higher power output.

Abstract: A power plug for coupling an electrical appliance to an electrical power supply, comprising: a current sensor, configured to measure current supplied through the plug to the electrical appliance; a voltage sensor, configured to measure voltage supplied through the plug to the electrical appliance; a processor configured to: determine power consumption data from data relating to the current and voltage measurements made by the current and voltage sensors; and monitor the performance of the electrical appliance using the power consumption data; and a transmitter, configured to transmit information relating to the performance of the electrical appliance.

Abstract: A method and control system for controlling compressor output for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The power output of a gas turbine engine can vary and be below desired output levels due to operating conditions such as ambient temperature and elevation. These operating conditions can lead to lower output of the gas compressor of the turbine engine and lower operating temperatures within or proximate to a turbine of the gas turbine engine and lead to less power output. Additional fuel can be added to increase power to the gas producer shaft and increase turbine temperature of the gas turbine engine. A power transfer device can be used to remove or add power to the gas producer shaft to balance the gas producer mechanical limits and turbine thermal limits at maximum levels and lead to higher power output.

Abstract: A method for controlling an inlet-adjustment mechanism in an air inlet for a compressor so as to switch the mechanism in a binary fashion between open and closed positions for adjusting a flow area of the inlet. The method includes identifying a threshold line on a compressor map of pressure ratio versus corrected flow rate for the compressor, at which the inlet-adjustment mechanism is switched from one of its positions to the other. A fixed switch band straddling the threshold line can be used for determining when to initiate the switch of positions so as to time the switch to coincide with the operating point reaching the threshold line. Alternatively, a time to reach the threshold line can be instantaneously computed and compared to the actuator/mechanism response time.

Abstract: Enhanced methods and systems for human-pet communication are described. Example embodiments provide an Internet Canine Communication System (“ICCS”). The ICCS facilitates remote communication and interaction with between a dog and its owner, caretaker, trainer, family member, or the like. The ICCS may include a base station or similar device that is configured to deliver treats to a dog and to transmit audio/visual communication between the dog and a remote client device operated by a human user. The ICCS may also facilitate training the dog to utilize the ICCS to communicate with the user, such as by answering calls from or initiating calls to the remote client device of the user.