Abstract: Provided herein is a method, apparatus, and system for identifying a health status of an individual, by using a health challenge of the individual to gather vital sign information to generate a health status of the individual. Method for identifying health status include: generating a non-persistent identifier for a user; receiving an indication of an initiation of a health challenge for the user associated with the non-persistent identifier; receiving, responsive to the health challenge, an indication of at least one vital sign of the user; determining, from the at least one vital sign, a health status of the user; and providing an indication of the health status of the user and the associated non-persistent identifier, where the health status includes a binary indication of health of the user, and where the health status is used to permit or deny a service to the user.

Abstract: Optimizing a process includes identifying a plurality of optimizable variables, determining first and second set points for each optimizable variable, running first trials using the first or second set point to obtain an output having at least one measurable parameter, calculating a delta between a required value and the measured value of each parameter of each of the outputs, calculating a first true residual for the first set point and a second true residual for the second set point for each of the optimizable variables, calculating an interpolant between the first and second true residuals and an extrapolant outside the first and second true residuals for each of the optimizable variables, and applying a set of identification rules to select an optimized set point for each of the optimizable variables selected from either the interpolant or the extrapolant for each of the optimizable variables.

Abstract: Networkable digital life jackets and associated methods are disclosed. An example life jacket includes a state manager and a swarm manager. The state manager is configured to selectively operate the life jacket in one of multiple operational states of the life jacket based on data obtained from one or more sensors of the life jacket. The swarm manager is configured to form a swarm network including the life jacket and one or more other life jackets.

Abstract: A method of operating an aircraft. The method includes sensing, using a trusted sensor, a trusted parameter of the aircraft during operation of the aircraft; receiving, at a processor, the trusted parameter; entering, by the processor, the trusted parameter as a first immutable entry into a ledger stored on an immutable non-transitory computer-recordable storage medium, wherein immutable is defined as unchangeability of data stored on the non-transitory computer-recordable storage medium, and wherein the ledger also contains additional immutable entries regarding operations of the aircraft and an aircraft environment; executing, by the processor, a recursive analysis algorithm on the first immutable entry together with the additional immutable entries to produce analyzed data; and using, by the processor, the analyzed data to improve future operational performance of the aircraft by ordering changes in how a component of the aircraft performs during operation of the aircraft based on the analyzed data.

Abstract: Networkable digital life jackets and associated methods are disclosed. An example life jacket includes a state manager and a swarm manager. The state manager is configured to selectively operate the life jacket in one of multiple operational states of the life jacket based on data obtained from one or more sensors of the life jacket. The swarm manager is configured to form a swarm network including the life jacket and one or more other life jackets.

Abstract: A method of operating an aircraft. The method includes sensing, using a trusted sensor, a trusted parameter of the aircraft during operation of the aircraft; receiving, at a processor, the trusted parameter; entering, by the processor, the trusted parameter as a first immutable entry into a ledger stored on an immutable non-transitory computer-recordable storage medium, wherein immutable is defined as unchangeability of data stored on the non-transitory computer-recordable storage medium, and wherein the ledger also contains additional immutable entries regarding operations of the aircraft and an aircraft environment; executing, by the processor, a recursive analysis algorithm on the first immutable entry together with the additional immutable entries to produce analyzed data; and using, by the processor, the analyzed data to improve future operational performance of the aircraft by ordering changes in how a component of the aircraft performs during operation of the aircraft based on the analyzed data.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for directing movement of a physical object within a three-dimensional (3D) navigable region of an environment. Generally, the apparatus divides the navigable region into geometric segments, and assigns a sequence of the geometric segments from a location to a destination to, and for movement of, the physical object. That is, the apparatus assigns a next geometric segment to the physical object moving in a current geometric segment in the sequence. The next geometric segment is then analyzed based on operational parameters of the physical object and a condition of the environment. In at least one increment, the next geometric segment is adjusted and reassigned to the physical object based thereon. Thereafter, the apparatus directs the physical object to move from the current geometric segment into the next geometric segment so assigned, or into the next geometric segment so reassigned in the at least one increment.

Abstract: Optimizing a process includes identifying a plurality of optimizable variables, determining first and second set points for each optimizable variable, running first trials using the first or second set point to obtain an output having at least one measurable parameter, calculating a delta between a required value and the measured value of each parameter of each of the outputs, calculating a first true residual for the first set point and a second true residual for the second set point for each of the optimizable variables, calculating an interpolant between the first and second true residuals and an extrapolant outside the first and second true residuals for each of the optimizable variables, and applying a set of identification rules to select an optimized set point for each of the optimizable variables selected from either the interpolant or the extrapolant for each of the optimizable variables.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for directing movement of a physical object within a three-dimensional (3D) navigable region of an environment. Generally, the apparatus divides the navigable region into geometric segments, and assigns a sequence of the geometric segments from a location to a destination to, and for movement of, the physical object. That is, the apparatus assigns a next geometric segment to the physical object moving in a current geometric segment in the sequence. The next geometric segment is then analyzed based on operational parameters of the physical object and a condition of the environment. In at least one increment, the next geometric segment is adjusted and reassigned to the physical object based thereon. Thereafter, the apparatus directs the physical object to move from the current geometric segment into the next geometric segment so assigned, or into the next geometric segment so reassigned in the at least one increment.

Abstract: The interactive animal is a remote controlled toy comprising: a remote controlled powered vehicle, a detachable covering case configured to protect subjects from harm, and an attachment means fixed to the case permitting attachment of a variety of devices attractive to a subject such as livestock, pets or small children. The interactive animal is used remotely by an operator to train, entertain, or interact with subjects such as pets, children, or livestock by providing a wide variety of moving stimuli for the subject. One or more trailer vehicles may be flexibly attached to the powered vehicle to provide additional interest for the subject.