Abstract: A cutting tool and an attachment mechanism configured to removably securely couple the cutting tool and a cutting instrument together. The cutting tool comprises a tang end portion, a tip end portion, and a cutting edge on the tip end portion. The attachment mechanism comprises a first and second clamping members with first and second engagement surfaces, respectively. The second clamping member further comprises a pair of axially-spaced projections extending and a pair of laterally-spaced projections extending past the second engagement surface. The attachment mechanism further comprises an adjustment mechanism configured to selectively adjust the distance between the first and second engagement surfaces. The tang end portion comprises an axially extending coupling slot and a pair of elastically-deformable securement members at lateral sides that extend laterally outward as they extend axially from the tang end portion toward the tip end portion.

Abstract: A cart stabilization system and rolling cart elements for robotic surgery and other medical instrumentation are disclosed. The cart stabilization system includes a base and lifting caster systems coupled to a bottom portion of the base. Each lifting caster system includes a rolling element, a swivel foot assembly moveably coupled to the rolling element; and a hydraulic mounting base coupled to a portion of the swivel foot assembly. Methods of assembling a lifting caster system and for using a cart stabilization system are also disclosed.

Abstract: Surgical robotic systems and methods that are configured to mitigate and withstand vibration forces. The robotic systems include an articulated arm comprising a plurality of arm segments, and adjustable joints coupled between adjacent arm segments. The robotic systems include an end effector rotatably coupled to an end arm segment comprising a powered drive portion. The end effector comprises a cutting tool attachment mechanism that is configured to couple with a cutting tool such that the cutting tool extends axially therefrom, and the powered drive portion translates the cutting tool along a cutting pathway along which the cutting tool is configured to effectuate cutting that is angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cutting tool. The end effector is oriented such that the longitudinal axis of the cutting tool, and that of the end effector itself, are angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the end arm segment.

Abstract: A cutting tool and an attachment mechanism configured to removably securely couple the cutting tool and a cutting instrument together. The cutting tool comprises a tang end portion, a tip end portion, and a cutting edge on the tip end portion. The attachment mechanism comprises a first and second clamping members with first and second engagement surfaces, respectively. The second clamping member further comprises a pair of axially-spaced projections extending and a pair of laterally-spaced projections extending past the second engagement surface. The attachment mechanism further comprises an adjustment mechanism configured to selectively adjust the distance between the first and second engagement surfaces. The tang end portion comprises an axially extending coupling slot and a pair of elastically-deformable securement members at lateral sides that extend laterally outward as they extend axially from the tang end portion toward the tip end portion.

Abstract: A ball pitching device including a launching surface for receiving balls, the launching surface being configured to receive and hold a ball in the launching position prior to the ball being launched, a launching system including at least one impulse mechanism configured to impact the ball in the launching position, and one or more control components configured to control at least one of a pitch power and a pitch trajectory of the ball launched from the launching position.

Abstract: A ball pitching device including a launching surface for receiving balls, the launching surface being configured to receive and hold a ball in the launching position prior to the ball being launched, a launching system including at least one impulse mechanism configured to impact the ball in the launching position, and one or more control components configured to control at least one of a pitch power and a pitch trajectory of the ball launched from the launching position.

Abstract: A method for initiating a time- and geographic-based electronic transaction includes: storing, in a mobile computing device, payment details associated with a transaction account; receiving a payment zone notification upon entry of the mobile computing device into a predefined geographic area, the notification including payment terms; registering a first timestamp upon receipt of the notification; displaying the payment terms; receiving an indication of approval of the payment terms; receiving an exit notification upon exit of the mobile computing device from the predefined geographic area; registering a second timestamp upon receipt of the exit notification; calculating a transaction amount based on an elapsed amount of time between the first timestamp and the second timestamp and a payment rate; and transmitting the calculated transaction amount and payment details.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine includes outer and inner housings defining an enclosure therebetween, and first and second side housings disposed on opposite sides of the outer housing. The inner housing is rotatable relative to the outer housing, at least one retractable barrier and at least one fixed barrier. The at least one retractable barrier and the at least one fixed barrier are disposed in the enclosure so as to divide the enclosure into a combustion chamber and an exhaust chamber. The at least one retractable barrier is mounted along a pivot axis and is pivotable between an extended position and a retracted position. An intake port, exhaust port, and ignition source are also provided. An exhaust duct extends from within the enclosure to outside the outer housing in a direction tangent to flow in the enclosure.

Abstract: A ball pitching device including a launching surface for receiving balls, the launching surface being configured to receive and hold a ball in the launching position prior to the ball being launched, a launching system including at least one impulse mechanism configured to impact the ball in the launching position, and one or more control components configured to control at least one of a pitch power and a pitch trajectory of the ball launched from the launching position.

Abstract: A method for initiating a time- and geographic-based electronic transaction includes: storing, in a mobile computing device, payment details associated with a transaction account; receiving a payment zone notification upon entry of the mobile computing device into a predefined geographic area, the notification including payment terms; registering a first timestamp upon receipt of the notification; displaying the payment terms; receiving an indication of approval of the payment terms; receiving an exit notification upon exit of the mobile computing device from the predefined geographic area; registering a second timestamp upon receipt of the exit notification; calculating a transaction amount based on an elapsed amount of time between the first timestamp and the second timestamp and a payment rate; and transmitting the calculated transaction amount and payment details.

Abstract: A method for initiating a time- and geographic-based electronic transaction includes: storing, in a mobile computing device, payment details associated with a transaction account; receiving a payment zone notification upon entry of the mobile computing device into a predefined geographic area, the notification including payment terms; registering a first timestamp upon receipt of the notification; displaying the payment terms; receiving an indication of approval of the payment terms; receiving an exit notification upon exit of the mobile computing device from the predefined geographic area; registering a second timestamp upon receipt of the exit notification; calculating a transaction amount based on an elapsed amount of time between the first timestamp and the second timestamp and a payment rate; and transmitting the calculated transaction amount and payment details.

Abstract: There is provided a system including a wireless tag reader, a first wireless antenna, a wireless tag including an integrated circuit (IC), a conductive element electronically connecting the wireless tag to the first wireless antenna, a non-transitory memory storing an executable code, a hardware processor executing the executable code to transmit an interrogation signal, receive a tag signal from the wireless tag electronically connected to the first wireless antenna in response to the interrogation signal, the tag signal including a wireless tag identification (ID) uniquely identifying the wireless tag, and determine an interaction by a user with the wireless tag based on the tag signal.

Abstract: A prepaid spending card for the storage of funds, the prepaid spending card comprising a single primary account number. The prepaid spending card further comprises a first purse identified by a first pseudo DDA, the first purse authorized to received funds from any available funding source, and a second purse identified by a second pseudo DDA, the second purse authorized to send and receive funds only from restricted sources. The first pseudo DDA is used to route incoming funds to the first purse and the second pseudo DDA is used to route incoming funds to the second purse. Moreover, the first purse receives funds from any available funding source and the second purse receives from restricted funding sources.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine includes outer and inner housings defining an enclosure therebetween, and first and second side housings disposed on opposite sides of the outer housing. The inner housing is rotatable relative to the outer housing, at least one retractable barrier and at least one fixed barrier. The at least one retractable barrier and the at least one fixed barrier are disposed in the enclosure so as to divide the enclosure into a combustion chamber and an exhaust chamber. The at least one retractable barrier is mounted along a pivot axis and is pivotable between an extended position and a retracted position. An intake port, exhaust port, and ignition source are also provided. An exhaust duct extends from within the enclosure to outside the outer housing in a direction tangent to flow in the enclosure.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine includes outer and inner housings defining an enclosure therebetween, and first and second side housings disposed on opposite sides of the outer housing. The inner housing is rotatable relative to the outer housing and at least two barriers divide the enclosure into a combustion chamber and an exhaust chamber. At least one barrier is rotatable relative to at least one other barrier and at least one barrier comprises a retractable barrier mounted along a pivot axis and is pivotable between an extended position and a retracted position. An intake port, exhaust port, and ignition source are also provided. The rotary internal combustion engine further includes a cylindrical stationary shaft disposed inside the inner housing and oriented substantially coaxially with the inner housing. The stationary shaft has an intake opening configured to be intermittently fluidly connected with the intake port.

Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects through felting. The system may include a composition head configured to deposit a manufacturing material comprising a strand of interlocked fibers onto a composition bed along a composition path. The composition path may define a path along which the composition head deposits the manufacturing material to form a predetermined three-dimensional object. The composition head may include a reciprocating felting needle configured to draw the manufacturing material from a material source and deposit the manufacturing material on the composition bed, and a feed lock configured to control the feed of the manufacturing material from the material source to the composition head. The system may include a controller for the composition head comprising one or more processors configured by computer-readable instructions to control the composition head to deposit the manufacturing material on the composition bed through felting.

Abstract: There is provided a three-dimensional (3D) printer for creating a 3D object using a fabric including a cutting device, an inverted cutting surface, a securing mechanism to secure the fabric against the inverted cutting surface for cutting the fabric by the cutting device into a plurality of layers, a movable platform for receiving each of the plurality of layers, in sequence, from the inverted cutting surface after each layer is cut from the fabric, and a bonding tool to bond each layer of the plurality of fabric layers to a previously received layer as the fabric layers are sequentially received by the movable platform to create the 3D object.

Abstract: There is provided a system including a wireless tag reader, a wireless tag attached to an object, a non-transitory memory storing an executable code, and a hardware processor executing the executable code to transmit, using the wireless tag reader, an interrogation signal, receive, using the wireless tag reader, a tag signal from the wireless tag attached to the object, in response to the interrogation signal, the tag signal including a wireless tag identification uniquely identifying the wireless tag, determine a tag state associated with the wireless tag using a probabilistic estimate based on the tag signal received from the wireless tag, and determine an interaction state of the object based on the tag state of the wireless tag attached to the object.