Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods and systems for evaluating and recording a property of a system of interest (SOI) such as, e.g., a property of artificial intelligence (AI), and recording a change to the property of the SOI, e.g., recording a morphism of AI. Recording an SOI property, and any property changes, may include recording a digital property of the SOI to a blockchain. An SOI morphism may be recorded to a blockchain as one or more hash values of an encoding of the SOI. An SOI morphism may be autonomously or exogenously generated and recorded to the blockchain. The records on the blockchain may indemnify one or more parties associated with the SOI. Indemnifying may include executing a smart contract on a blockchain to mitigate risk of loss. An SOI may be asked to complete one or more tests to distinguish between a human, AI, and non-AI programs.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a highly energetic plasma employs a low-energy neutral beam injected into a magnetically contained mirror plasma to produce plasma ions boosted in energy to fusion levels by a coordinated radiofrequency field.

Abstract: A method of activating an illumination assembly within a symbology reader is provided, the illumination assembly having a first illumination source and a second illumination source, the symbology reader having an imaging sensor configured to operate at a predetermined framerate where each frame includes an exposure period over which the imaging sensor is active to capture image data and a non-exposure period over which the imaging sensor is not active to capture image data, the method comprising: during a first frame, activating the first illumination source during at least a portion of the respective exposure period and activating the second illumination source over at least a portion of the respective non-exposure period; and during a second frame, activating the second illumination source during at least a portion of the respective exposure period and activating the first illumination source over at least a portion of the respective non-exposure period.

Abstract: A powered clutch actuator assembly for integration with a clutch assembly is provided. The actuator and clutch assemblies, sized to fit within constraints of an aircraft landing gear wheel-mounted taxi drive system, are engineered to occupy a default neutral disengaged position that prevents torque transfer when torque to move the aircraft should not be transferred to the taxi drive system. Multiple solenoids and diodes power rotational motion of the actuator assembly to move a bi-directional clutch component in a desired rotational direction during torque transfer. A locking solenoid automatically locks and maintains the actuator assembly in a neutral disengaged condition when none of the solenoids are powered and disengages the actuator assembly when one solenoid is powered to cause rotation of the actuator assembly. Solenoid supports structured to operate as integral heat sinks may direct heat to an on-aircraft heat sink, prolonging the working life of the actuator assembly.

Abstract: A lubrication distribution system is provided for mechanical systems, including gearboxes, to evenly and precisely apply lubricant to system structures during operation. The system includes a rotating lubrication distribution component that functions both to pump and to precisely direct lubricant. Machined locator elements enable accurate positioning of the rotating lubrication distribution component within the system. A plurality of lateral ports and surface features in the rotating lubrication distribution component receive and distribute lubricant transferred during rotation from one or more lubricant collection components with profiled lubricant transfer elements that enables collection of lubricant from eddies produced by profiles of the lubricant transfer elements during rotation of the rotating lubrication distribution component.

Abstract: A lubrication distribution system is provided for mechanical systems, including gearboxes, to evenly and precisely apply lubricant to system structures during operation. The system includes a rotating lubrication distribution component that functions both to pump and to precisely direct lubricant. Machined locator elements enable accurate positioning of the rotating lubrication distribution component within the system. A plurality of lateral ports and surface features in the rotating lubrication distribution component receive and distribute lubricant transferred during rotation from one or more lubricant collection components with profiled lubricant transfer elements that enables collection of lubricant from eddies produced by profiles of the lubricant transfer elements during rotation of the rotating lubrication distribution component.

Abstract: A dental wedge is provided to facilitate separating adjacent teeth and supporting a band during a filling process. The dental wedge includes an elongate body having a distal end and a proximal end tapering to the distal end. The elongate body may include an inside surface and an outside surface opposite the inside surface that extend from the proximal end to the distal end. The inside surface is configured to support a matrix band in contact with a tooth surface of a working tooth, and the outside surface including a base surface and a rib that protrudes from the base surface away from the inside surface.

Abstract: A matrix band for dental applications including a base material and a coating. The base material has an outer surface and a tooth contact surface as well as a perimeter. The coating is applied to the tooth contact surface and extends to the perimeter of the tooth contact surface. The coating is a fluorinated ethylene propylene, polytetrafluoroethylene and polyether sulfone.

Abstract: A distributed processing system delegates the allocation and control of computing work units to agent applications running on computing resources including multi-processor and multi-core systems. The distributed processing system includes at least one agent associated with at least one computing resource. The distributed processing system creates work units corresponding with execution phases of applications. Work units can be associated with concurrency data that specifies how applications are executed on multiple processors and/or processor cores. The agent collects information about its associated computing resources and requests work units from the server using this information and the concurrency data. An agent can monitor the performance of executing work units to better select subsequent work units. The distributed processing system may also be implemented within a single computing resource to improve processor core utilization of applications.

Abstract: As typically embodied, the inventive ramp system for bridging between structures (e.g., marine vessels) includes a hydraulic elevator device and a ramp unit. The ramp unit includes three adjoining planar members, the ramp member (the main ramp body) being pivotably connected at each end to one of the two platform members. The hydraulic elevator device includes the coaxial combination of a cylinder and a piston, the piston being translatable along and pivotable about the axis. The cylinder-piston combination is secured, axis vertical, to a first structure, with one of the ramp unit's platform members attached atop the piston. In order to position the other (unattached) platform member upon a selected (e.g., horizontal) location of a second structure, the ramp unit is configurable in terms of the attached platform member's height, the ramp unit's horizontal rotation angle, and the respective vertical rotation angles of the ramp unit's two pivotable connections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cargo transfer at sea, more particularly, a flow-through vessel and related method for the at-sea and underway launching and loading of air-cushion vehicles. The vessel includes a hull having a forward end and an aft end, a continuous deck extending from the forward end to the aft end of the hull, a forward ramp attached to the continuous deck at the forward end of the hull, and an aft ramp attached to the continuous deck at the aft end of the hull. At least a portion of the continuous deck is uncovered and accessible from above the deck.

Abstract: The present invention's vehicle, suitable for being hoisted while carrying people between destinations, is compactable and de-compactable. As typically embodied, the vehicle includes a box-shaped open frame, plural chairs, and a shock-absorbent base. The frame includes a rectangular floor panel, a rectangular ceiling panel, and four posts connecting the floor and ceiling panels. Each post is foldable via a medial hinge to half its unfolded length, and is attached in a hinged manner at its opposite ends to respective corner portions of the floor panel and the ceiling panel. Each chair is mounted on the floor panel and can be folded down to a position adjacent to the top surface of the floor panel using hinges variously connecting chair components including a seat, a chair back, two side safety restraints, and a chair support. The shock-absorbent base is solid or inflatable and is attached beneath the floor panel.

Abstract: A vertical damping system for a plurality of water vessels for diminishing the relative vertical movement between two or more water vessels moored in a skin-to-skin orientation. The vertical damping system may include one or more vertical damping devices, each device pivotally connected to a side portion of a first vessel and detachably connecting to a side portion of a second vessel. The vertical damping device may be a piston/cylinder arrangement and the damping system may involve more than two water vessels. The vertical damping system counteracts the effect of roll motion on water vessels, thereby enabling ship-to-ship functions such as cargo loading and the like.