Abstract: A harvesting program system iteratively generates current harvesting programs for performance by harvesting equipment on a mushroom bed. The system receives current mushroom bed data corresponding to the mushroom bed including growing mushrooms at the current times. The system processes the current mushroom bed data using a mushroom bed model to generate current virtual mushroom beds corresponding to current states of the mushroom bed at the current times. The mushroom bed model is trained using labelled training mushroom bed data including known values of the mushroom bed, and using previously-generated virtual mushroom beds corresponding to predicted states of the mushroom bed. The system generates using the mushroom bed model predicted virtual mushroom beds corresponding to predicted states of the mushroom bed at future times. The system generates current harvesting programs based on the predicted virtual mushroom beds, and transmits them performance by the harvesting equipment on the mushroom bed.

Abstract: A protective warning system for a vehicle is provided. A device comprises: a long-range camera and a stereoscopic camera positioned in a housing to image external objects in a rear-facing direction when the housing is mounted to a vehicle. A controller detects, using images from the long-range camera, an external object in the rear-facing direction and processes stereoscopic images from the stereoscopic camera to determine when the external object is located within a first zone or a second zone extending in the rear-facing direction, the second zone being closer to the stereoscopic camera than the first zone. In response to determining that the external object is located within the first zone or the second zone, the controller controls the one or more notification devices to provide one or more first or second notifications associated with a first or second urgency level.

Abstract: An electric vehicle noise sniffer and methods of mitigating packet flow interruptions by noise cancellation and avoidance of noise region envelopes are provided. A vehicle comprises: electrical component(s) that operate according to data indications: and a power line that conveys the data indications and power to the electrical component(s). A method comprises: determining an electrical characteristic of the data indications on the power line: determining a present electrical characteristic of noise on the power line and/or estimating a future electrical characteristic of the noise on the power line: and causing the data indications to change to a new electrical characteristic different from the present electrical characteristic and the future electrical characteristic of the noise on the power line to avoid interference of the noise with the data indications. The electrical characteristics are one or more of in frequency space, amplitude space and direct current offset space.

Abstract: There are provided methods and systems for operating electric vehicles. One example method includes generating a first digital message at a source component of the electric vehicle. The source component is connected to a first bus comprising one of a Power Communication Network bus (PCN bus) and a Vehicle Communication Network bus (VCN bus) of the electric vehicle. The PCN and VCN buses are each connected to a Vehicle Control Module (VCM) of the electric vehicle. The method also includes transmitting the first digital message from the source component to the VCM over the first bus, and generating at the VCM a second digital message based on the first digital message. In addition, the method includes transmitting the second digital message from the VCM to a destination component of the electric vehicle. The destination component is connected to a second bus comprising one of the PCN and VCN buses.

Abstract: There are provided methods and systems for operating electric vehicles. One example method includes generating, at a first component of the electric vehicle, a message in a first communication protocol and converting, at a first conversion module associated with the first component, the message into a power line communication protocol to form a first converted message. The method also includes transmitting the first converted message over a power line connecting the first component to a second component of the electric vehicle, and converting, at a second conversion module associated with the second component, the first converted message into a second communication protocol to form a second converted message. The second communication protocol is used by the second component. In addition, the method includes receiving the second converted message at the second component.

Abstract: Electric vehicles with battery management and sensors are provided. An electric vehicle may be configured to charge individual main batteries using individual intermediate batteries while the electric vehicle is in operation via suitable control of switches. An electric vehicle may be configured to charge batteries using a regeneration current based on sensor data from sensors, such one or more of a camera, an accelerometer, a gyroscope an atmospheric pressure sensor and a Hall sensor. An electric vehicle may be configured to avoid rear end collisions based on images from a rear-facing camera.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating an electric device. The method includes receiving one or more operating power levels being used by one or more loads on a given circuit of the electric device, and setting a power threshold based on the one or more operating power levels. The method also includes receiving an output power level being delivered to the given circuit by a power source connected to the given circuit, and comparing the output power level with the power threshold. Furthermore, the method includes, if the output power level exceeds the power threshold, reducing the output power level to less than or equal to the power threshold. A related power regulator is also provided.

Abstract: There are provided robot swarms and methods of operating thereof. Such a swarm may include two or more robots each having a microphone, a speaker, and a communication terminal for sending or receiving an electromagnetic signal to or from a communication partner to affect electromagnetic communication with the communication partner. Upon detection of a disruption to the electromagnetic communication, a given robot of the two or more robots may switch from electromagnetic communication to acoustic communication by exchanging an acoustic signal between one of the speaker and the microphone of the given robot and one of a corresponding microphone and a corresponding speaker of a corresponding communication partner.

Abstract: A method for driving a tractor on a flatbed trailer. The method includes locating a starting position of the tractor, determining a final position for the tractor, and searching for a ramp attached to the flatbed trailer. A driving path is calculated to drive the tractor from the starting position, along the ramp, and to the final position. The tractor is autonomously operated to drive along the driving path. The method may periodically detect an intermediate position of the tractor and determining if the intermediate position is located on the driving path. The driving path may be updated with a course correction to drive the tractor from the intermediate position to the final position. The tractor is stopped after arriving at the final position.

Abstract: A protective warning system for a vehicle is provided. A device comprises: a long-range camera and a stereoscopic camera positioned in a housing to image external objects in a rear-facing direction when the housing is mounted to a vehicle. A controller detects, using images from the long-range camera, an external object in the rear-facing direction and process stereoscopic images from the stereoscopic camera to determine when the external object is located with a first zone or a second zone extending in the rear-facing direction, the second zone being closer to the stereoscopic camera than the first zone. In response to determining that the external object is located with the first zone or the second zone, the controller controls the one or more notification devices to provide one or more first or second notifications associated with a first or second urgency level.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a rechargeable battery pack having a plurality of rechargeable batteries. The method includes measuring charge-level for the rechargeable batteries; and selecting a first battery set including a doner battery having a high charge-level, and a recipient battery having a low charge-level that is less than the high charge-level of the doner battery. The method also includes: rebalancing the first battery set; measuring a rest profile of the recipient battery after rebalancing the first battery set; and determining battery health of the recipient battery based on at least the rest profile.

Abstract: An apparatus in an illustrative embodiment comprises at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory. The processing device is configured to receive power consumption data relating to at least one monitored device, and to classify the monitored device based at least in part on the power consumption data. The processing device is further configured to select a power policy for the classified device, and to control application of power to the classified device in accordance with the selected power policy. For example, controlling application of power to the classified device in accordance with the selected power policy may comprise determining contextual information for the classified device, generating a control signal based at least in part on the contextual information and the selected power policy, and transmitting the control signal to at least one node of a node network. Other illustrative embodiments include methods and computer program products.

Abstract: A material handling robot including a mobile base, a plurality of drones, and a plurality of docking stations on the mobile base for receiving the drones. The mobile base has motorized wheels for driving the mobile base, and a platform for supporting a load. Each drone has a power source and a drone sensor for monitoring environment around the drone. Each docking station has a power charger for recharging the power source, and a launch mechanism for deploying the drone. The robot also includes a controller for communicating with the mobile base and the drones. The controller has: a material handling mode for transporting loads on the platform of the mobile base; and a security mode where at least one of the drones is deployed to conduct surveillance using the drone sensor.

Abstract: A method for driving a tractor on a flatbed trailer. The method includes locating a starting position of the tractor, determining a final position for the tractor, and searching for a ramp attached to the flatbed trailer. A driving path is calculated to drive the tractor from the starting position, along the ramp, and to the final position. The tractor is autonomously operated to drive along the driving path. The method may periodically detect an intermediate position of the tractor and determining if the intermediate position is located on the driving path. The driving path may be updated with a course correction to drive the tractor from the intermediate position to the final position. The tractor is stopped after arriving at the final position.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating an electric device. The method includes receiving one or more operating power levels being used by one or more loads on a given circuit of the electric device, and setting a power threshold based on the one or more operating power levels. The method also includes receiving an output power level being delivered to the given circuit by a power source connected to the given circuit, and comparing the output power level with the power threshold. Furthermore, the method includes, if the output power level exceeds the power threshold, reducing the output power level to less than or equal to the power threshold. A related power regulator is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus in an illustrative embodiment comprises at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory. The processing device is configured to obtain an identifier of a first node of a set of nodes deployed at a building or other structure, to associate the first node with a user account, to obtain an identifier of a second node of the set of nodes, and to associate the second node with the first node and the user account. Associating the first node with the user account may comprise, for example, establishing an association between the first node and the user account without the processing device having access to a network connection. Additionally or alternatively, the identifier of the first node may be sent to a backend server over a network connection, with configuration information for the first node being received from the backend server in response thereto.

Abstract: Inspired by Shack Hartmann Wavefront Patterns, a device may obtain three dimensional images for use in authentication. Since such images can have high resolution, damage in, for instance, skin on a finger may be recorded and used as part of a temporary template image. In future authentication attempts, an aged version of the temporary template image may be used. Additionally, reference points on the damage may be employed when authenticating.

Abstract: A module of implantable cortical and/or intra-cortical comprising a first electrode and a second electrode. Each electrode has a base with interconnect pads adapted to be connected to a processor, a stem having interface pads on a first face, the interface pads adapted to contact soft tissue, routing tracks between the interconnect pads and the interface pads, and abutment surfaces on the second face of each said electrode. The abutment surfaces of the first electrode and of the second electrode are complementary, whereby the first electrode and the second electrode form a translation joint along a length of the stem when the electrodes are joined.

Abstract: An apparatus in an illustrative embodiment comprises at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory. The processing device is configured to receive power consumption data relating to at least one monitored device, and to classify the monitored device based at least in part on the power consumption data. The processing device is further configured to select a power policy for the classified device, and to control application of power to the classified device in accordance with the selected power policy. For example, controlling application of power to the classified device in accordance with the selected power policy may comprise determining contextual information for the classified device, generating a control signal based at least in part on the contextual information and the selected power policy, and transmitting the control signal to at least one node of a node network. Other illustrative embodiments include methods and computer program products.

Abstract: An apparatus in an illustrative embodiment comprises at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory. The processing device is configured to obtain an identifier of a first node of a set of nodes deployed at a building or other structure, to associate the first node with a user account, to obtain an identifier of a second node of the set of nodes, and to associate the second node with the first node and the user account. Associating the first node with the user account may comprise, for example, establishing an association between the first node and the user account without the processing device having access to a network connection. Additionally or alternatively, the identifier of the first node may be sent to a backend server over a network connection, with configuration information for the first node being received from the backend server in response thereto.