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: An example hydraulic tool includes: a fluid reservoir; a pump; an electric motor; a cylinder; a piston; a first trigger button; a second trigger button; and a controller configured to perform operations comprising: receiving a first signal when the first trigger button is triggered, responsively, causing the electric motor to rotate in a first rotational direction, thereby: (i) causing the pump to provide fluid to the cylinder, and (ii) causing the piston to move in a first linear direction, thereafter, receiving a second signal when the second trigger button is triggered, and responsively to the second signal, causing the electric motor to rotate in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, thereby: (i) opening a fluid path from the cylinder to the fluid reservoir, and (ii) causing the piston to move in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction.

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: An apparatus for launching a payload includes a primary barrel, a primary projectile including a secondary barrel, and a secondary projectile including the payload. Prior to firing the apparatus to launch the payload, the primary projectile is contained within the primary barrel, and the secondary projectile is contained within the secondary barrel. Ignition, detonation, or expansion of a primary propellant within the primary barrel launches the primary projectile from the primary barrel. Ignition, detonation, or expansion of a secondary propellant within the secondary barrel launches the secondary projectile from the secondary barrel. The secondary projectile can further include a volume of a secondary explosive material; detonation of the secondary explosive material propels at least a portion of the payload away from a remainder of the secondary projectile. The payload can include cremation remains, DNA, or text, images, or other information.

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 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.

Abstract: A rotatable container includes a projection that protrudes into the container and is aligned with an opening at a first end of the container. The projection defines a concave surface with a ramp that guides treats through the opening when oriented vertically. The container may be cylindrical and sit on a base defining a cylindrical seat. A second end of the container engages a rotator on the base that is driven by a motor. A front wall of the container may define an opening that aligns with the opening of the container when the ramp is oriented vertically. A sensor may sense a position of the projection and invoke pausing of rotation by the motor.

Abstract: One or more peripheral optical elements direct light emanating from a central field portion of a visual field (via one or more central optical elements of a visual sensor) onto a peripheral sensor portion of the visual sensor. The peripheral optical element(s) map an image of the central field portion onto the peripheral sensor portion for detection by the visual sensor. The central optical element(s) define the central field portion and form (from light emanating from the central field portion and directly incident on the central optical element(s)) an image of the central field portion on a corresponding central sensor portion of the visual sensor distinct from the peripheral sensor portion.

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: 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 radiotherapy apparatus and method, comprising a source of radiation for delivering pulses of radiation at a base frequency; and a control unit configured to generate a time-averaged power level of x by generating an nth pulse when n is equal to the rounded value of an integer multiple of 1/x, where x is a value between 0 and 1 representing a proportion of a maximum power output of the radiotherapy apparatus. The pulses may form a repeating pulse train pattern, and the control unit may comprise a processing unit configured to provide a pulse train pattern having a number of available slots, the slots being marked as a permitted pulse or a suppressed pulse.

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: In one embodiment, a method includes initiating at a client application at a client device, a single sign-on authentication with a security device, receiving at the client application, a session identifier and location of a web portal for the single sign-on authentication from the security device, and passing the session identifier and location of the web portal from the client application to a browser installed at the client device, for use by the browser in performing the single sign-on authentication at the client device. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A rotatable container includes a projection that protrudes into the container and is aligned with an opening at a first end of the container. The projection defines a concave surface with a ramp that guides treats through the opening when oriented vertically. The container may be cylindrical and sit on a base defining a cylindrical seat. A second end of the container engages a rotator on the base that is driven by a motor. A front wall of the container may define an opening that aligns with the opening of the container when the ramp is oriented vertically. A sensor may sense a position of the projection and invoke pausing of rotation by the motor.

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: A method of processing a utility consumption signal, comprising: monitoring an input utility consumption signal for a change in magnitude; if a change is detected: extracting a first portion of the input signal including the change; extracting a first set of features corresponding to the first portion; determining an event probability value for each of one or more utility consuming device state changes, the or each event probability value being determined from the first set of features and being the probability that the first portion of the signal corresponds to the change in state of the device; if none of the event probability values are above a first threshold value; searching for two or more plateaus in the first portion, wherein each pair of adjacent plateaus define a further change in magnitude of the signal between the plateaus; if two or more plateaus are detected: extracting a sub-portion of the signal corresponding to each of the further changes and each combination of the further changes; ext

Abstract: An assembly can include a compressor backplate; a bearing boss that extends axially from the compressor backplate and that includes an outer surface and male coupling features disposed along the outer surface; and a casing that includes a compressor end, a bearing boss opening at the compressor end, a turbine end, an inner surface located between the compressor end and the turbine end and female coupling features disposed along a portion of the inner surface, the male coupling features and the female coupling features configured to couple the bearing boss to the casing. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of configuring an automated code calculation system, comprising retrieving information relating to a group of two or more functions, updating a weighting value for each combination of an item from a first set and an item from a second set, where each item in the first set and each item in the second set corresponds to one or more functions, where the weighting value is higher if the items are both contained in the group of functions than if one of the items is not contained in the group of functions and storing the weighting values together with the corresponding combination of items.

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.