Abstract: A compact laser-steering end effector includes a frame, at least two active mirrors, and a pair of actuators. The frame has a greatest dimension in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of no more than 13 mm, and the mirrors are mounted proximate to the distal end of the frame. The actuators are mounted to the frame and configured to respectively change the tilt of the active mirrors relative to the frame. A pathway is provided through the frame to deliver a laser beam to the mirrors, and wherein the mirrors are positioned and configurable via the actuators to reflect the laser beam off of each mirror en route to an external target.

Abstract: An asparagine-linked glycan (N-glycan) detection reagent is provided that utilizes Fbs variants engineered from mouse Fbs proteins, wherein the Fbs variants bind specifically to N-glycosylated peptides and proteins and not to non-glycosylated peptides and proteins, including wherein the Fbs variants bind to N-glycosylated peptides and proteins and not to corresponding non-glycosylated versions of the same peptides and proteins. Compositions and methods for developing and using N-glycosylation-specific analytical, diagnostic, and therapeutic tools are provided.

Abstract: A hybrid power module is provided. The power module is associated with a truck having a lift gate. The power module includes a super capacitor comprising a bank of capacitors, with the super capacitor being in electrical communication with an alternator of the truck. The power module also includes a battery, a switch, a DC/DC boost converter, and electrical wiring. The electrical wiring connects the capacitor bank and first battery to the switch, and further connects the switch to a motor for the lift gate. The super capacitor and the first battery are positioned in parallel, with the super capacitor and the first battery residing proximate the lift gate. The super capacitor contains enough energy to power the electric motor for the lift gate through at least two operating cycles without the battery, protecting the lift gate if the battery goes weak.

Abstract: An electrical power system for a delivery vehicle. The power system is used in connection with a vehicle having an engine, and a liftgate powered by an electric motor. The power system includes a first battery, a second battery, and an alternator. The electrical power system also includes a super capacitor. The super capacitor has a first capacitor bank and a second capacitor bank, wherein each of the first and second capacitor banks comprises ultra-capacitor cells placed in series. The first and second capacitor banks reside in parallel. In addition, the first and second batteries reside in parallel with the second capacitor bank. Together, the batteries and the second capacitor bank supply power to the liftgate motor. Finally, the first capacitor bank is in electrical communication with the alternator and supplies power, with the alternator, to a relay start for the delivery vehicle to start the engine.

Abstract: A soft-robotic grasper includes a plurality of elongated, entangling filaments having a length-to-thickness ratio of at least 20. The grasper can comprise a manifold that includes an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports in fluid communication with the outlet ports, wherein each elongated filament is coupled in fluidic communication with a respective outlet port of the manifold, wherein each elongated filament defines an interior hollow channel into which a pressurized fluid can be pumped through the respective outlet port with which it is coupled, wherein each elongated filament is mechanically programmed to undergo a curling displacement when pressurized fluid is pumped into its interior hollow channel, and wherein the elongated filaments are spaced and configured to entangle with one another when displaced via the pumping of the pressurized fluid into the interior hollow channels of the elongated filaments.

Abstract: A strain sensor comprising a conductive member having a plurality of elements arranged adjacent to one another, and a non-conductive and elastically deformable material encapsulating the conductive member, wherein, in an equilibrium state, compressive forces cause at least one of the plurality of elements to contact at least a portion of an adjacent element, and wherein, when a strain is applied, a resulting elastic deformation causes at least one of the plurality of elements to space apart from an adjacent element such that the contacted portion decreases or is eliminated. A multi-axis force sensor comprising a sensing array comprising at least two planar sensors arranged radially on a planar substrate in antagonistic pairs, and a compressible member positioned between the substrate and a central portion of the sensing array, the compressible member acting to displace the central portion of the sensing array away from the substrate.

Abstract: An artificial muscle system includes a collapsible skeleton, a flexible skin, and a muscle actuation mechanism. The collapsible skeleton is contained inside a volume defined, at least in part, by the flexible skin. The flexible skin and the collapsible skeleton are configured for the flexible skin to provide a pulling force on the collapsible skeleton when a pressure difference exists between the inside of the sealed volume and a surrounding environment to change at least one of the dimensions and thus geometry of the collapsible skeleton. The muscle actuation mechanism includes at least one of the following to deploy or contract the collapsible skeleton: (a) a fluid displacing, releasing, or capturing mechanism configured to increase or decrease fluid pressure inside the sealed volume; and (b) a heating or cooling element configured to change the temperature of fluid in the sealed volume.

Abstract: A strain sensor comprising a conductive member having a plurality of elements arranged adjacent to one another, and a non-conductive and elastically deformable material encapsulating the conductive member, wherein, in an equilibrium state, compressive forces cause at least one of the plurality of elements to contact at least a portion of an adjacent element, and wherein, when a strain is applied, a resulting elastic deformation causes at least one of the plurality of elements to space apart from an adjacent element such that the contacted portion decreases or is eliminated. A multi-axis force sensor comprising a sensing array comprising at least two planar sensors arranged radially on a planar substrate in antagonistic pairs, and a compressible member positioned between the substrate and a central portion of the sensing array, the compressible member acting to displace the central portion of the sensing array away from the substrate.

Abstract: A skin measuring microscope includes a housing, an electronic imager disposed along an imaging axis, and an illumination system. The illumination system includes a plurality of LEDs disposed in a ring-like configuration adjacent a distal end of the housing.

Abstract: A starting module for a vehicle is provided. The starting module is configured to reside on-board the vehicle, and is used to start an engine associated with the vehicle in the event the battery on the vehicle is too weak to crank the engine. The engine starting module first comprises a housing. The housing resides proximate the vehicle battery and holds a plurality of super capacitors. The super capacitors reside within the housing, are configured in series, and are electrically in parallel with the vehicle battery. The super capacitors store charge received from the electrical system of the vehicle. The starting module also includes control logic. The control logic controls the discharge of stored energy from the super capacitors. The engine starting module also comprises an isolation switch, configured to move between open and close positions in response to signals from the control logic in order to restore charge to the battery as needed.

Abstract: An electrical power system for a delivery vehicle is provided. The power system is used in connection with a delivery vehicle having an engine, and also having a liftgate powered by an electric motor. The electrical power system includes a first battery, a second battery, and an alternator. The electrical power system also includes a super capacitor. The super capacitor has a first capacitor bank and a second capacitor bank, wherein each of the first capacitor bank and the second capacitor bank comprises ultra-capacitor cells placed in series. The first capacitor bank and the second capacitor bank reside in parallel. In addition, the first battery and the second battery reside in parallel with the second capacitor bank. Together, the first battery, the second battery and the second capacitor bank supply power to the liftgate motor.

Abstract: A hybrid power module is provided. The power module is associated with a truck having a lift gate. The power module includes a super capacitor comprising a bank of capacitors, with the super capacitor being in electrical communication with an alternator of the truck. The power module also includes a battery, a switch, a DC/DC boost converter, and electrical wiring. The electrical wiring connects the capacitor bank and first battery to the switch, and further connects the switch to a motor for the lift gate. The super capacitor and the first battery are positioned in parallel, with the super capacitor and the first battery residing proximate the lift gate. The super capacitor contains enough energy to power the electric motor for the lift gate through at least two operating cycles without the battery, protecting the lift gate if the battery goes weak.

Abstract: A portable hybrid power module is provided. The power module represents a combined capacitor and battery residing together in a single housing. The battery is preferably a 12 volt DC gel cell battery while the capacitor is an ultra-capacitor residing in parallel with the battery. The ultra-capacitor may be a series of 6 to 12 super capacitors residing in series, with each super capacitor providing 2.5 volts DC charge. The hybrid power module is configured to provide a charge to start an external portable device. The device may be an all-terrain vehicle, a personal water craft, a generator set, or a vehicle. The power module includes a first device terminal and a second device terminal for establishing electrical communication with a battery of the external portable device.

Abstract: A segmented alphanumeric includes a display panel, at least one linearly actuated platform, and display elements. Each display element passes through an orifice in the display panel to generate protruded and segmented alphanumeric characters in combination with other extended display elements. A microactuator array is displaceable by the linearly actuated platform and includes electromagnets and rotors. Each rotor is mounted for rotation in at least one direction between an active state and an inactive state by at least one associated electromagnet. Each display element is displaced through the orifice by actuation of the linearly actuated platform via a respective rotor when the respective rotor is rotated into its active state and to evade displacement by the rotor when the rotor is rotated into its inactive state.

Abstract: A multi-layer, super-planar laminate structure can be formed from distinctly patterned layers. The layers in the structure can include at least one rigid layer and at least one flexible layer; the rigid layer includes a plurality of rigid segments, and the flexible layer can extend between the rigid segments to serve as a joint. The layers are then stacked and bonded at selected locations to form a laminate structure with inter-layer bonds, and the laminate structure is flexed at the flexible layer between rigid segments to produce an expanded three-dimensional structure, wherein the layers are joined at the selected bonding locations and separated at other locations. A layer with electrical wiring can be included in the structure for delivering electric current to devices on or in the laminate structure.

Abstract: A power generation system for a mobile device. The power generation system includes a combustion engine. The combustion engine serves as a power generator for the mobile device, with the combustion engine being located on a trailer. The power generation system also includes a power module. The power module comprises both an ultra-capacitor and a lithium-based battery; Preferably, the ultra-capacitor comprises a series, or bank, of super capacitors. Likewise, the battery comprises a series of lithium batteries. Preferably, the super capacitors are in electrical communication with an alternator of a truck. The power module provides power to start the combustion engine used to drive the mobile device. The mobile device may be a refrigeration system, or may be heaters, blowers, lights or other electrical items that may be carried on the trailer.

Abstract: A starting module for a vehicle is provided. The starting module is configured to reside on-board the vehicle, and is used to start an engine associated with the vehicle in the event the battery on the vehicle is too weak to crank the engine. The engine starting module first comprises a housing. The housing resides proximate the vehicle battery and holds a plurality of super capacitors. The super capacitors reside within the housing, in series, and are electrically in parallel with the vehicle battery. The super capacitors store charge received from the electrical system of the vehicle. The starting module also includes control logic. The control logic controls the release of energy from the super capacitors. The engine starting module also comprises an isolation switch, which is configured to move between open and close positions in response to signals from the control logic.

Abstract: Sialic acid recognizing-affinity reagents engineered from the neuraminidase NanB have lectin-like properties and defined specificities for sialic acid.

Abstract: A multi-layer, super-planar laminate structure can be formed from distinctly patterned layers. The layers in the structure can include at least one rigid layer and at least one flexible layer; the rigid layer includes a plurality of rigid segments, and the flexible layer can extend between the rigid segments to serve as a joint. The layers are then stacked and bonded at selected locations to form a laminate structure with inter-layer bonds, and the laminate structure is flexed at the flexible layer between rigid segments to produce an expanded three-dimensional structure, wherein the layers are joined at the selected bonding locations and separated at other locations. A layer with electrical wiring can be included in the structure for delivering electric current to devices on or in the laminate structure.

Abstract: A strain sensor comprising a conductive member having a plurality of elements arranged adjacent to one another, and a non-conductive and elastically deformable material encapsulating the conductive member, wherein, in an equilibrium state, compressive forces cause at least one of the plurality of elements to contact at least a portion of an adjacent element, and wherein, when a strain is applied, a resulting elastic deformation causes at least one of the plurality of elements to space apart from an adjacent element such that the contacted portion decreases or is eliminated. A multi-axis force sensor comprising a sensing array comprising at least two planar sensors arranged radially on a planar substrate in antagonistic pairs, and a compressible member positioned between the substrate and a central portion of the sensing array, the compressible member acting to displace the central portion of the sensing array away from the substrate.