Abstract: A method of operating a solar energy plant and a solar plant are disclosed. Thermal energy produced in the plant is used to heat a first volume of water and charge a hot store in the plant. Electricity produced in the plant operates a heat engine or other device, such as a refrigeration unit, to extract heat and consequently cool a second volume of water and charge a cold store. As desired, energy is transferred from the hot store to a heat engine and energy is transferred from the heat engine to the cold store to operate the heat engine to produce power in the plant.

Abstract: A door stop apparatus for limiting opening movement of a hinge mounted door is disclosed. The door stop apparatus may comprise a body member comprising a first end surface and a second end surface opposite and parallel to the first end surface. The body member may also comprise a through-opening extending between the first end surface and the second end surface, wherein the through-opening is configured to receive the hinge pin of the door hinge. Further, the body member may comprise an abutment surface extending between the first end surface and the second end surface, wherein the abutment surface is configured to abut against the door hinge for maintaining the body member in a substantially fixed position relative to the door hinge. Additionally, the body member may comprise a first side surface extending between the first end surface and the second end surface.

Abstract: A valved holding chamber includes a holding chamber adapted to contain a substance and having an input end adapted to receive a dry powder inhaler, an output end and an interior volume defined between the input end and output end. An inhalation valve is disposed at the output end of the holding chamber and is moveable to an open position in response to an inhalation flow through the interior space. A vacuum generator, expandable volume and/or positive pressure may be used to draw medication from the dry powder inhaler into the holding chamber. Methods of using and assembling the system are also provided.

Abstract: An identification of a connectivity template to be applied to a design of a computer network is received. The design of the network is automatically analyzed to identify eligible application points in the design of the network where the connectivity template is eligible to be applied. A specification of one or more specific ones of the identified eligible application points where the connectivity template is to be applied is received. The connectivity template is applied to the specified one or more specific ones of the identified eligible application points to configure the computer network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for controlling a robot to perform a custom real-time action that uses a callback function. One of the methods comprises receiving a definition of a custom real-time control function that specifies a custom callback function, an action, and a custom reaction that references the custom callback function; providing a command to initiate the action; repeatedly executing, by the control layer of the real-time robotics control framework, the custom real-time control function at each tick of a real-time robotics system driving one or more physical robots, including: obtaining current values of one or more state variables, evaluating the custom reaction specified by the custom real-time control function according to the current values of the one or more state variables, and whenever the one or more conditions of the custom reaction are satisfied, invoking the custom callback function.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for controlling a robot to perform a custom real-time action that uses streaming inputs. One of the methods comprises receiving a definition of a custom real-time streaming control function that defines a custom streaming action, wherein the custom streaming action specifies a goal state for a robot in an operating environment; providing a command to initiate the custom streaming action; and repeatedly providing updated goal states for the custom streaming action, wherein the control layer of the framework is configured to execute the custom streaming action including driving the robot toward a most recent goal state at each tick of a real-time robotics control cycle.

Abstract: Network services are deployed in a networked environment in association with a user account. Dependencies of a network service, such as other network services, may be identified based on an online analysis and an offline analysis of the network service. Further, anomalies associated with the dependencies may be identified in some situations. A call graph may include nodes corresponding to the network services and its dependencies, and may include an identifier corresponding to a part of the call path that has the anomaly. An inspection of the call graph allows software developers to readily recognize that their service depends on a potentially flawed software that may cause a service failure or outage.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for performing transformation mode switching in a robotics control system.

Abstract: An apparatus for in-situ reconditioning of a media used in an effluent treatment bed is disclosed, in which passage of effluent has become impeded by clogging matter within the media, the bed having been planted with vegetation having roots extending into the media. The apparatus includes a frame supporting a superstructure operable to be disposed above a surface of the bed when in operation, a pair of spaced apart arms having distal ends extending downwardly from the frame, and an agitator extending between the pair of arms and having tines for sub-surface tilling of the media. The agitator is coupled to a drive system operable to cause rotation thereof. A lifter bar is disposed between the arms above the agitator such that when the frame is advanced through the bed the lifter bar passes through the bed below a primary root zone of the vegetation lifting and separating the primary root zone while the agitator tills the media below causing clogging matter to be separated from the media.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for computing interpolated robot control parameters. One of the methods includes receiving, by a real-time bridge from a control agent for a robot, a non-real-time command for the robot, wherein the non-real-time command specifies a trajectory to be attained by a component of the robot and a target value for a control parameter, wherein the control parameter controls how a real-time controller will cause the robot to react to one or more external stimuli encountered during a control cycle of the real-time controller. The real-time bridge provides the one or more real-time commands translated from the non-real-time command and interpolated control parameter information to the real-time controller, thereby causing the robot to effectuate the trajectory of the non-real-time command according to the interpolated control parameter information.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for performing at least one of enhancement, decoding, or rendering of a multichannel audio signal in response to compression feedback or feedback from a smart amplifier. For example, the compression feedback may be indicative of amount of compression applied to each of multiple frequency bands, of the audio signal or an enhanced audio signal generated in response thereto. The enhancement (e.g., bass enhancement) may include dynamic routing of audio content of the input audio signal between channels of an enhanced audio signal generated in response thereto. The enhancement and compression may be performed on a per speaker class basis. Other aspects are systems (e.g., programmed processors) and devices (e.g., devices having physically-limited bass reproduction capabilities, such as, for example, a notebook or laptop computer, tablet, soundbar, mobile phone, or other device with small speakers) configured to perform any embodiment of the method.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for computing interpolated robot control parameters. One of the methods includes receiving, by a real-time bridge from a control agent for a robot, a non-real-time command for the robot, wherein the non-real-time command specifies a trajectory to be attained by a component of the robot and a target value for a control parameter, wherein the control parameter controls how a real-time controller will cause the robot to react to one or more external stimuli encountered during a control cycle of the real-time controller. The real-time bridge provides the one or more real-time commands translated from the non-real-time command and interpolated control parameter information to the real-time controller, thereby causing the robot to effectuate the trajectory of the non-real-time command according to the interpolated control parameter information.

Abstract: An identification of a connectivity template to be applied to a design of a computer network is received. The design of the network is automatically analyzed to identify eligible application points in the design of the network where the connectivity template is eligible to be applied. A specification of one or more specific ones of the identified eligible application points where the connectivity template is to be applied is received. The connectivity template is applied to the specified one or more specific ones of the identified eligible application points to configure the computer network.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for performing at least one of enhancement, decoding, or rendering of a multichannel audio signal in response to compression feedback or feedback from a smart amplifier. For example, the compression feedback may be indicative of amount of compression applied to each of multiple frequency bands, of the audio signal or an enhanced audio signal generated in response thereto. The enhancement (e.g., bass enhancement) may include dynamic routing of audio content of the input audio signal between channels of an enhanced audio signal generated in response thereto. The enhancement and compression may be performed on a per speaker class basis. Other aspects are systems (e.g., programmed processors) and devices (e.g., devices having physically-limited bass reproduction capabilities, such as, for example, a notebook or laptop computer, tablet, soundbar, mobile phone, or other device with small speakers) configured to perform any embodiment of the method.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for using template robotic control plans. One of the methods comprises obtaining a template robotic control plan that is configurable for a plurality of different robotics applications, wherein the template robotic control plan comprises data defining (i) an adaptation procedure and (ii) a set of one or more open parameters; obtaining a user input defining a respective value or range of values for each open parameter in the set of open parameters, wherein the user input characterizes a specific robotics application for which the template robotic control plan can be configured; and executing, using the obtained values for the set of open parameters, the adaptation procedure to generate a specific robotic control plan from the template robotic control plan.

Abstract: An identification of a connectivity template to be applied to a design of a computer network is received. The design of the network is automatically analyzed to identify eligible application points in the design of the network where the connectivity template is eligible to be applied. A specification of one or more specific ones of the identified eligible application points where the connectivity template is to be applied is received. The connectivity template is applied to the specified one or more specific ones of the identified eligible application points to configure the computer network.