Abstract: A controller for an unmanned vehicle is described. The controller comprises: a receiver for receiving a deconflicted route from a deconfliction engine, the deconflicted route comprising at least one waypoint; a first communications interface for enabling electrical communication between the controller and a corresponding communications interface on an unmanned vehicle; and a processor. The processor is configured to: receive the current position of the unmanned vehicle; generate a vehicle control signal for instructing the unmanned vehicle to perform a manoeuvre which moves the unmanned vehicle from its current position to the at least one waypoint; and transmit the vehicle control signal to the unmanned vehicle through the first communications interface. An unmanned vehicle, a system and method of controlling an unmanned vehicle are also described.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to apparatuses for focusing ions at or above ambient pressure and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides an apparatus for focusing ions that includes an electrode having a cavity, at least one inlet within the electrode configured to operatively couple with an ionization source, such that discharge generated by the ionization source is injected into the cavity of the electrode, and an outlet. The cavity in the electrode is shaped such that upon application of voltage to the electrode, ions within the cavity are focused and directed to the outlet, which is positioned such that a proximal end of the outlet receives the focused ions and a distal end of the outlet is open to ambient pressure.

Abstract: A system for analysing a fluid is described, including an in-line sensor configured to analyse a fluid flowing past the in-line sensor to determine at least one in-line value of a fluid parameter of the fluid across an event period, and a sample sensor configured to analyse a sample of fluid extracted from the flow of fluid during the event period, to determine a sample value of the fluid parameter for the sample.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems including nanoelectrospray ionization emitters in a movable array format in which the emitters can be loaded, singly or simultaneously, through their narrow ends using a novel dip and go method based on capillary action, taking up sample from an array. The sample solutions in each emitter can be electrophoretically cleaned, singly or simultaneously, by creating an inductive electric field that moves interfering ions away from the narrow end of the capillary. Subsequent to cleaning, the emitters are supplied with an inductive electric field that causes electrospray into a mass spectrometer allowing mass analysis of the contents of the emitter.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to mass spectrometers that utilize ionic wind and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for sample analysis using swabs. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems that include a probe having a conductive proximal portion coupled to a porous material at a distal portion of the probe that is configured to retain a portion of a sample that has contacted the porous material, and a mass spectrometer having an inlet. The system is configured such that the porous material at a distal portion of the probe is aligned over the inlet of the mass spectrometer.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods and devices for synchronization of ion generation with cycling of a discontinuous atmospheric interface. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a system for analyzing a sample that includes a mass spectrometry probe that generates sample ions, a discontinuous atmospheric interface, and a mass analyzer, in which the system is configured such that ion formation is synchronized with cycling of the discontinuous atmospheric interface.

Abstract: A computer system may receive one or more requests for access to one or more cloud services and may store the one or more requests in a request log. The computer system may receive one or more access rules applicable to cloud service access rights. The computer system may aggregate the one or more requests of the request log to determine access requirements for a container, the container being configured to store one or more applications. The computer system may generate and store container access policies that define access of a container and the one or more cloud services, the container access policies based at least in part on the aggregated one or more requests and the one or more access rules. The computer system may send the container access policies to a request forwarder of a compute instance in a production environment.

Abstract: A system and technique for a Request Forwarder as for a computer network architecture is disclosed to provide selective access to one or more cloud services. In some implementations, a computer system may receive a request for access to a cloud service, the request including a container credential. The computer system may determine an identification of the container using the container credential. The computer system may verify that the container requesting access to the cloud service is authorized based at least in part on stored policies. Based at least in part on the determination that the container requesting access to the cloud service is authorized: receiving instance credential from a metadata service. The computer system may include the instance credential with the request. The computer system may send the request to the cloud service. In various examples, the Request Forwarder can be provided as a service.

Abstract: An electrical stimulation system includes a lead having electrodes disposed along a distal portion of the lead; and an implantable control module coupled, or coupleable, to the lead and configured for implantation in a patient. The implantable control module includes a power source, and a processor coupled to the power source and configured for directing electrical stimulation through the electrodes of the lead using the power source and for calculating an estimate of a capacity or energy of the power source that has been used based, at least in part, on the directed electrical stimulation.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for separating ions at about or above atmospheric pressure. In certain embodiments, the invention provides systems that include an ionization source that generates ions and an ion trap. The ion trap is maintained at about or above atmospheric pressure and includes a plurality of electrodes and at least one inlet configured to receive a gas flow and at least one outlet. The system is configured such that a combination of a gas flow and one or more electric fields produced by the electrodes separates the ions based on mass-to-charge ratio and sends the separated ions through the at least one outlet of the ion trap.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to integrated synthesis and analysis systems and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for performing multiple precursor, neutral loss and product ion scans in a single ion trap. In certain aspects, the invention provides systems including a mass spectrometer having a single ion trap, and a central processing unit (CPU), and storage coupled to the CPU for storing instructions that when executed by the CPU cause the system to apply at least one of the following ion scans to a single ion population in the single ion trap: multiple precursor ion scans, a plurality of segmented neutral loss scans, or multiple simultaneous neutral loss scans.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for mass spectrometry analysis of microorganisms in samples.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to mass spectrometers that utilize ionic wind and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: A system for analyzing a fluid includes an in-line sensor configured to analyze a fluid flowing past the in-line sensor to determine at least one in-line value of a fluid parameter of the fluid across an event period, and a sample sensor configured to analyze a sample of fluid extracted from the flow of fluid during the event period, to determine sample value of the fluid parameter for the sample. At least one processor is provided, configured to determine a representative in-line value of the fluid parameter across the event period based at least in part on the at least one in-line value, and determine an overall representative value of the fluid parameter across the event period based on the representative in-line value, the sample value for the sample, and one or more of the in-line values corresponding to the time of extracting the sample, wherein determination of the overall representative value is based on an error correction value determined for the in-line sensor during the event period.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analysing milk are described. A plurality of First Type Sensors (FTPs) are provided, each associated with a respective one of a plurality of Milking Clusters (MKs) of a milking system and configured to analyse milk extracted from an animal by the MK to determine at least one FTP value of a parameter of the milk across an event period. At least one of a Second Type Sensor (STP) associated with at least one of the plurality of MKs is configured to analyse the milk to determine at least one STP value of the parameter within the event period, wherein the STP is less susceptible to animal specific bias than the FTP. An Animal Specific Bias Correction (ASBC) is determined based on the at least one FTP value and the at least one STP value and applied to FTP values for milk extracted from the animal.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to ion generation using modified wetted porous materials. In certain aspects, the invention generally relates to systems and methods for ion generation using a wetted porous substrate that substantially prevents diffusion of sample into the substrate. In other aspects, the invention generally relate to ion generation using a wetted porous material and a drying agent. In other aspects, the invention generally relates to ion generation using a modified wetted porous substrate in which at least a portion of the porous substrate includes a material that modifies an interaction between a sample and the substrate.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to apparatuses for focusing ions at or above ambient pressure and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides an apparatus for focusing ions that includes an electrode having a cavity, at least one inlet within the electrode configured to operatively couple with an ionization source, such that discharge generated by the ionization source is injected into the cavity of the electrode, and an outlet. The cavity in the electrode is shaped such that upon application of voltage to the electrode, ions within the cavity are focused and directed to the outlet, which is positioned such that a proximal end of the outlet receives the focused ions and a distal end of the outlet is open to ambient pressure.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to mass tag analysis for rare cells and cell free molecules. In certain embodiments, the invention provides an apparatus including an essentially non-absorbent membrane having at least one pore, a microwell operably associated with the essentially non-absorbent membrane, and an electric field generator. The apparatus may be configured such that an electric field produced by the electric field generator operably interacts with a sample in the microwell and expels a droplet of the sample through the at least one pore in the essentially non-absorbent membrane. In certain embodiments, apparatuses of the invention are used for detection, and optionally quantification, of a target analyte from a heterogeneous sample, such as a rare target analyte (e.g., rare cell) from a biological sample.