Abstract: Devices and methods for withdrawing bodily fluid from a subject are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a handheld device can include a housing having an opening, a skin-piercing assembly, and an actuator coupled to the skin-piercing assembly. The skin-piercing assembly can include a casing, a drive member pivotably mounted within the casing and carrying a blade, and a biasing member coupling the drive member to the casing. The actuator can be movable relative to the housing from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the drive member can engage the casing to maintain the biasing member in a biased configuration. Movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position can disengage the drive member from the casing to permit the biasing member to drive the blade at least partially through and/or across the opening in the base.

Abstract: Devices and methods for withdrawing bodily fluid from a subject are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a handheld device can include a housing having an opening, a skin-piercing assembly, and an actuator coupled to the skin-piercing assembly. The skin-piercing assembly can include a casing, a drive member pivotably mounted within the casing and carrying a blade, and a biasing member coupling the drive member to the casing. The actuator can be movable relative to the housing from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the drive member can engage the casing to maintain the biasing member in a biased configuration. Movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position can disengage the drive member from the casing to permit the biasing member to drive the blade at least partially through and/or across the opening in the base.

Abstract: A system collaboratively and autonomously plans and controls a team of vehicles having subsystems within an environment. The system includes a mission management component, a communication component, a payload controller component, and an automatic target recognition component. The mission management component plans and executes a mission plan of the team and plans and executes tasks of the vehicles. The communication component plans communication and networking for the team. The communication component manages quality of service for the team. The communication component directs communication subsystems for the team and for the vehicles. The payload controller component directs and executes sensor subsystems for the team and for the vehicles. The automatic target recognition component processes and fuses information from the sensor subsystems and from the vehicles for use by the mission management component.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient intervisibility determination. The intervisibility determination method of the present invention provides a multiple threat processing capability within a specified area of terrain using a common database. Computation is simplified through the method of processing data posts in the terrain elevation database. By taking integer steps and incrementing distance, x or y, and a predicted elevation value at each step, a small number of operations may be performed. Recomputing a change in elevation value may be reduced. An umbra database provides an enhanced look-up capability for displaying and updating the intervisibility display information. The systems and methods of the present invention may be suitable for use on a vehicle and in mission management activities.

Abstract: Miniaturized UV detection apparatus is disclosed comprising a low voltage UV bulb and detector. Bulb and detector are arranged in juxtaposition with their optical axes essentially parallel. Optical means are provided to focus the light from the bulb onto, for example, a forged banknote (bill). The paper onto which most banknotes are printed does not fluoresce under TV light but that commonly used by forgers does. If the note fluoresces, it is probably a forgery and the flouresced light is focused by the optical means onto the detector causing an output signal to be generated and passed to discriminating circuitry which operates means to accept genuine notes and reject forgeries, according to the magnitude of the signal. The PCB on which the components are mounted also acts as a screen between bulb and detector to stop light from the bulb reaching the detector. The components are located in a sleeve and are protected by insulating and thermally conducting potting compounds.