Abstract: A method for operating and maintaining a wind farm comprising a plurality of wind turbines includes determining an odometer for one or more components of at least one of the pluralities of wind turbines in the wind farm, the odometer representing operational usage of the component(s). The method also includes tracking the operational usage for the component(s) using the odometer and a usage threshold. Further, the method includes predicting an expected time frame for one or more preventative maintenance actions based on a comparison of the tracked operational usage and the usage threshold. Moreover, the method includes triggering scheduling of the one or more preventative maintenance actions when the prediction indicates that the tracked operational usage will exceed the usage threshold. In addition, the method includes shutting down the wind turbine or idling the wind turbine once the one or more preventative maintenance actions are scheduled.

Abstract: A multi-view (MV) display with reduced bezels is provided. An MV display device includes: i) a flat panel display (FPD) with a front emission surface and including: an interior image area comprising a plurality of FPD pixels, each comprising a plurality of sub-pixels; and a perimeter non-image area; ii) an image expansion layer comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is coupled to the front emission surface of the FPD; a profile of the second surface is equal to or extends beyond a profile of the perimeter non-image area of the FPD; and the plurality of FPD pixels of the front emission surface of the FPD are imaged from the first surface to the second surface of the image expansion layer; and iii) a front optic layer coupled to the second surface of the image expansion layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control system for depressurizing a work tool auxiliary circuit fluidly connected to a work tool coupled to a work machine by a quick coupler. The system may comprise a controller configured to: receive an unlock signal for the work tool; receive tool data associated with the work tool, the tool data including a target pressure for the work tool auxiliary circuit or a release duration for the relief valve; and in response to the unlock signal and the tool data, automatically actuate opening of the relief valve (a) for the release duration or (b) until the target pressure is reached in the work tool auxiliary circuit or machine-side circuit or (c) to reach and maintain the target pressure in the work tool auxiliary circuit or machine-side circuit.

Abstract: A drive system for a zero turning radius (ZTR) vehicle includes a steering control and a sensor configured to receive a position of the steering control. A damper is coupled to the steering control and is configured to apply a selectable amount of resistive force to the steering control. A controller is in communication with the sensor and is configured to operate a motor of the ZTR vehicle responsive to the position of the steering control, and to operate the damper to apply a resistive force to the steering control responsive to actuation of the steering control.

Abstract: A motor for a vehicle includes a motor housing, a motor shaft, a hub, and a wheel speed sensor assembly. The motor shaft is disposed at least partially within the motor housing. The hub is configured to be coupled to the motor shaft and to be coupled to a wheel of the vehicle. The wheel speed sensor assembly includes a first end that is coupled to the motor housing and a second end that is rotatably coupled to the hub. The wheel speed sensor assembly is configured to generate a wheel speed signal that facilitates determination of a speed and direction of rotation of the wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one wheel hub, a wheel hub speed sensor, and a controller. The wheel hub is configured to be coupled to a drive wheel. The wheel hub speed sensor is proximate to the wheel hub and is configured to generate a wheel hub speed signal that facilitates determination of a rate and direction of rotation of the wheel hub. The controller is configured to communicate power to a motor assembly coupled to the wheel hub to rotate the wheel hub at a particular rate and in a particular direction. The particular rate and the particular direction are associated with a particular position of a plurality of positions of a steering control.

Abstract: A tide-activated power system for deriving energy from the periodic rise and fall of the level of a body of water includes a float/weight barge for rising and falling with the level of the body of water. A hydraulic cylinder has a piston that defines a pair of variable size chambers and for forcing the working fluid as the barge rises or falls. The cylinder has an intake port and an output port associated with each of the variable size chambers. A valve associated with the output port is adapted for limiting the flow of the working fluid and, thus the movement of the piston. A flow control system directs working fluid forced from the variable size chamber that is decreasing in size as the barge rises or falls towards an energy conversion mechanism and directing working fluid from the energy conversion mechanism to the other variable size chamber.

Abstract: A return-to-neutral mechanism for a hydrostatic transmission configured to return a control member of a pump to neutral after the control member has been moved toward a forward or reverse position. The return-to-neutral mechanism includes a stop member mountable to a housing, a control arm for moving the control member, and a spring for engaging the control arm and stop member to bias and return the control arm to neutral after being released from forward or reverse positions. The stop member may have an opening for receiving a fastener for mounting to the housing, and the opening may be configured to permit adjustment of the stop member along at least two transverse directions to preload the spring at the neutral position. The control arm may have abutments for moving legs of the spring, and the abutments may have recessed and protruding portions for receiving and containing the spring legs.

Abstract: Rapidly reconfigurable palletized mission equipment mounting systems and methods employ a plurality of tracks or rails installed in an aircraft fuselage. Mission equipment is secured on a pallet. The pallet is a rapidly reconfigurable mission equipment mounting pallet body defining a plurality of orifices sized to accept releasable anchor hardware, positioned to align with the tracks or rails installed in the aircraft and readily releasable anchors disposed in the orifices and configured to rapidly mount to, and rapidly dismount from, the tracks or rails. The pallet with the mission package(s) secured thereto is transferred into the aircraft and mounted the pallet in the aircraft on the tracks or rails, via the readily releasable anchors, for rapidly dismounting from the tracks or rails.

Abstract: A tide activated power system has a plurality of horizontally oriented cylinders that each have a pair of chambers. The cylinders are carried on float/weight barges that are located in a lagoon. A plurality of float/weight barges each have at least two cylinders in series. Each cylinder has a chamber holding a piston movable in the chamber defining a pair of variable size chambers: a flood variable size chamber and an ebb variable size chamber. As the float/weight barge rises and falls on the tide in the lagoon, the variable size chambers vary in size and force a working fluid to a turbine generator to create electrical energy. The piston of each of the multiple cylinders of the multiple barges forces combined to move the working fluid above the turbine generator where the flow drives the turbine generator prior to returning to the cylinder. In alternative embodiments, other mechanisms convert the energy from the rising and falling of the flow/weight barges to a non-uniform motion in one direction.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus that provides detection, characterization, and intuitive dissemination of targets. This disclosure combines improvements to ultra-wideband (UWB) sensing and machine target characterization with a means to convey data in a format that is quickly and readily understood by practitioners of the technology. The invention is well suited for Situational Awareness (SA) support in areas that are occluded by rain, fog, dust, darkness, distance, foliage, building walls, and any material that can be penetrated by ultra-wideband RF signals. Sense Through The Wall (STTW) performance parameters including target range, stand-off distance, and probability of detection are improved herein by combining a dynamically positioned sliding windowing function with orthogonal feature vectors that include but are not limited to time amplitude decay, spectral composition, and propagation time position in the return signal data.

Abstract: A slurry coating composition is described, which is very useful for enriching the surface region of a metal-based substrate with aluminum. The composition includes colloidal silica and particles of an aluminum-based powder, and is substantially free of hexavalent chromium. The slurry may include colloidal silica and an alloy of aluminum and silicon. Alternatively, the slurry includes colloidal silica, aluminum or aluminum-silicon, and an organic stabilizer such as glycerol. The slurry exhibits good thermal and chemical stability for extended periods of time, making it very useful for industrial applications. Related methods and articles are also described.

Abstract: A tide activated power system has a plurality of horizontally oriented cylinders that each have a pair of chambers. The cylinders are carried on float/weight barges that are located in a lagoon. A plurality of float/weight barges each have at least two cylinders in series. Each cylinder has a chamber holding a piston movable in the chamber defining a pair of variable size chambers: a flood variable size chamber and an ebb variable size chamber. As the float/weight barge rises and falls on the tide in the lagoon, the variable size chambers vary in size and force a working fluid to a turbine generator to create electrical energy. The piston of each of the multiple cylinders of the multiple barges forces combined to move the working fluid above the turbine generator where the flow drives the turbine generator prior to returning to the cylinder. In alternative embodiments, other mechanisms convert the energy from the rising and falling of the flow/weight barges to a non-uniform motion in one direction.

Abstract: An organic coating composition is described, which can be used to enrich the surface region of a metal-based substrate with aluminum. The composition comprises an aluminum-based powder and at least one organic resin, e.g., alkyds, epoxies, or silicone materials. At least some of the aluminum-based powder is in the form of substantially spherical powder particles. The coating composition is substantially free of hexavalent chromium. It can be applied to the substrate by a variety of techniques, such as spraying. It is then heat-treated, to cause diffusion of aluminum into the surface region of the substrate, e.g., a turbine engine component. The composition exhibits good thermal and chemical stability for extended periods of time. Related articles are also described.

Abstract: An organic coating composition is described, which can be used to enrich the surface region of a metal-based substrate with aluminum. The composition comprises an aluminum-based powder and at least one organic resin, e.g., alkyds, epoxies, or silicone materials. At least some of the aluminum-based powder is in the form of substantially spherical powder particles. The coating composition is substantially free of hexavalent chromium. It can be applied to the substrate by a variety of techniques, such as spraying. It is then heat-treated, to cause diffusion of aluminum into the surface region of the substrate, e.g., a turbine engine component. The composition exhibits good thermal and chemical stability for extended periods of time. Related articles are also described.

Abstract: Numerous hardware and software devices provide a text-based command-line interface known as a command-prompt or command shell. These command-line user interfaces only take in text-based input from the user to perform commands and/or interact with the device in some way. For network-enabled devices, these command-line interfaces can be exercised remotely through software viewed on web pages through a web browser via a system where the web page takes the user input, forwards the input to the device, gathers the response from the hardware or software device, and returns the data to the user on the web page. Additionally, the underlying device command function could be emulated and presented via the web page.

Abstract: A low-cost high performance ultra wideband antenna that combines a plurality of shielded cables with properly selected and carefully positioned load balancing components to form a novel closed loop dipole is disclosed. The apparatus includes a closed-loop broadband antenna circuit that may be comprised of single or multiple conductive radiating elements that are electrically connected to one another at the flare-end of each antenna leaf by at least one shielded conductor in one or more shielded cables of any type. The shielded cable portion of the closed loop circuit may be interrupted by load impedance tapered regions that are positioned in an area that does not interfere or interferes minimally with antenna performance. The closed-loop broadband antenna circuit and the feed-point connections may be grounded by a separate path within the device. The disclosed approach simultaneously mitigates known problems of parasitic side lobes, antenna ringing, and RF coupling that commonly plague prior art.

Abstract: A method to present easily understood images that represent targets that are detected through walls or other opaque barriers is disclosed. This method is particularly well suited for sense-through-the-wall radar systems. One of the main challenges of evolving STTW systems is that the practitioners of the technology are generally presented with complicated images to represent the gain adjusted amplitude of signals that are detected by the radar. Interpretation of images from prior art, which can be in the form of the radar speckle, target blob, wiggle plot, and horizontal amplitude intensity displays, shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, requires high levels of skill, focus, and time. Naturally, the foregoing places military and law-enforcement customers of the technology at considerable risk during hostile missions. This invention discloses a method that converts a typical radar signal into an image that is easily understood by a practitioner of STTW technology.

Abstract: A slurry coating composition is described, which is very useful for enriching the surface region of a metal-based substrate with aluminum. The composition includes colloidal silica and particles of an aluminum-based powder, and is substantially free of hexavalent chromium. The slurry may include colloidal silica and an alloy of aluminum and silicon. Alternatively, the slurry includes colloidal silica, aluminum or aluminum-silicon, and an organic stabilizer such as glycerol. The slurry exhibits good thermal and chemical stability for extended periods of time, making it very useful for industrial applications. Related methods and articles are also described.