Abstract: Disclosed is a device for use in freezing at least part of a biological sample in a receptacle, e.g. a vial or a cryopreservation bag, the device comprising: a base; and a receptacle holder comprising: a first part configured to, with the receptacle held by the receptacle holder during cooling of the base using a cooler device, withdraw heat energy from a first portion of the receptacle at a first heat withdrawal rate; and a second part configured such that, with the receptacle held by the receptacle holder during cooling of the base using the cooler device, a second heat withdrawal rate of heat energy withdrawal from a second portion of the receptacle via the second part is less than the first heat withdrawal rate. A temperature gradient may be established in the sample to enable progressive solidification to occur in the sample. A receptable for use in freezing a biological sample, and a freezing method are disclosed also.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device (400) is provided comprising: a liquid crystal layer having a thickness and comprising: a liquid crystal material; and a plurality of polymer structures (414a, 414b) comprising polymerised liquid crystal material. Each polymer structure (414a, 414b) is located at a different depth in the thickness of the liquid crystal layer. Electrodes are provided configured to apply an electric field to the liquid crystal layer. Each polymer structure (414a, 414b) has a different selected locked-in liquid crystal state.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for centrally managing remote storage encryption and decryption. In some embodiments, to access an encrypted volume on a storage device connected to a computing device, a virtual private network (VPN) client authenticates a user of the computing device to a VPN. After authenticating the user and establishing a VPN connection, the VPN client launches a key management system (KMS) client that authenticates the user and requests an encryption key from a KMS server based on the user, a volume identifier (ID) of the encrypted volume, and a storage device ID of the storage device. The KMS server verifies that the user is allowed to access the encrypted volume having the volume ID, and that the encrypted volume is stored on the storage device having the storage device ID. Upon verification, the KMS server transmits the encryption key to the KMS client for decrypting the encrypted volume.

Abstract: A dual use UAV or “drone” can include a battery and primary processor located at a fuselage, as well as two separate modular units removably coupled to the fuselage and in communication with the primary processor. The two separate modular units can interact with each other to provide an enhanced operation while the drone is in flight. One modular unit can be an ISR unit having a video camera, and the other modular unit can be a cargo unit. The enhanced operation can involve the ISR unit using its video camera to identify a delivery location for a cargo pod of the cargo unit. Alternative modular units can include a secondary ISR unit, a cargo fuel pod unit, or a robotic arm assembly. Standardized interfaces coupled to the fuselage can enable the ready removal of one modular unit and installation of another one.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for the deployment and retrieval of child UAVs from a V-TOL UAV Mothership. The Mothership may be piloted from a base station to one or more destination locations. At the destination location, one or more child UAVs may be deployed from a cargo bay module. The child UAVs perform tasks or complete a mission before coordinating their retrieval with the V-TOL UAV Mothership. The Mothership may plan an intercept course to retrieve the child UAVs in mid-flight or coordinate a hovering type retrieval with the child UAVs. The child UAVs are retrieved through an actuated frontal opening which provides access to the cargo bay without having to navigate through turbulence created beneath the hovering Mothership by the vertical thrust rotors.

Abstract: A contextual linkage search tool system and method wherein a graphic icon indicating a possible next stage of a search query sequence is returned in response to an initial user input search query. The possible next stage of the search query sequence is determined by reviewing search history data to determine locational and temporally relevant search results to the user and their initial query.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a fuselage having a first side and a second side, a first arm disposed on a first side of the fuselage, wherein the first arm is coupled to one or more first propellers, wherein the first arm is adapted to move between a first folded position in which the first arm is in a folded state inside the fuselage and a first extended position in which a first section of the first arm and the one or more first propellers are outside the fuselage, and a second arm disposed on the second side of the fuselage, wherein the second arm is coupled to one or more second propellers, wherein the second arm is adapted to move between a second folded position in which the second arm is in a folded state inside the fuselage and a second extended position in which a second section of the second arm and the one or more second propellers are outside the fuselage.

Abstract: A toy system for use in a social play experience. The toy system has a plurality of toy construction elements and a data processing system configured to store a hierarchical task structure. The task structure defines dependencies between a plurality of tasks, a subset of which include construction of respective toy construction assemblies. The data processing system is configured to select one or more tasks and assign to respective play participants. The selection and/or assignment of the one tasks is based at least in part on the dependencies between the plurality of tasks. The data processing system is configured to present, to each play participant to whom a task has been assigned, the corresponding assigned task and receive user-input indicative of a completion of the respective assigned tasks, and repeat until a play completion trigger is fulfilled.

Abstract: A VTOL drone aircraft can include a rechargeable battery, a primary processor, lift propellers, an internal combustion engine with a thrust propeller, a generator, and a power regulation controller. The generator can receive power from the internal combustion engine and deliver electrical power to the rechargeable battery, the lift propellers, or both. The power regulation controller can regulate dynamically power delivery from the internal combustion engine to the thrust propeller and the generator, and from the generator to the rechargeable battery based upon changing conditions during flight. The power regulation controller can prevent operation of the generator when peak power is needed from the internal combustion engine for the thrust propeller. The power regulation controller can also control a clutch coupled to the thrust propeller to regulate the delivery of power to the thrust propeller when the internal combustion engine is active.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a magnetoresistive quadrant detector for use in a magnetic sensing device comprising a magnetic multi-turn sensor and an angle turn sensor, in particular, an angle sensor configured to provide 180° absolute angle measurements, such as an anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) angle sensor. The quadrant detector is formed of at least two magnetoresistive elements, preferably giant magnetoresistive (GMR) elements, which may be integrated to the multi-turn sensor die or provided on a separate die within the sensor package. The magnetoresistive elements are configured to provide a unique combination of resistance states for each quadrant of magnetic field direction. This quadrant information can then be used to remedy any ambiguities in the multi-turn measurement without needing 360° absolute angle information from the single turn angle sensor.

Abstract: Some implementations of the disclosure relate to a method, comprising: obtaining, at a computing device, first video clip data including multiple sequential video frames, the multiple sequential video frames including at least a first video frame and a second video frame that occurs after the first video frame; inputting, at the computing device, the first video clip data into at least one trained model that automatically predicts, based on at least features of the first video frame and features of the second video frame, sound effect data corresponding to the second video frame; and determining, at the computing device, based on the sound effect data predicted for the second video frame, a first sound effect file corresponding to the second video frame.

Abstract: Some implementations of the disclosure relate to a method, comprising: obtaining, at a computing device, first video clip data including multiple sequential video frames, the multiple sequential video frames including at least a first video frame and a second video frame that occurs after the first video frame; inputting, at the computing device, the first video clip data into at least one trained model that automatically predicts, based on at least features of the first video frame and features of the second video frame, sound effect data corresponding to the second video frame; and determining, at the computing device, based on the sound effect data predicted for the second video frame, a first sound effect file corresponding to the second video frame.

Abstract: Some implementations of the disclosure relate to using a model trained on mixing console data of sound mixes to automate the process of sound mix creation. In one implementation, a non-transitory computer-readable medium has executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising: obtaining a first version of a sound mix; extracting first audio features from the first version of the sound mix obtaining mixing metadata; automatically calculating with a trained model, using at least the mixing metadata and the first audio features, mixing console features; and deriving a second version of the sound mix using at least the mixing console features calculated by the trained model.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a polymer dispersed liquid crystal, PDLC, film, the method comprising: forming a region of liquid polymer (206) on a substrate (212); depositing one or more liquid crystal, LC, formulations (214) into the liquid polymer; and thereafter curing (234) the liquid polymer (206) to thereby induce phase separation between the polymer (206) and the liquid crystal formulations (214), resulting in PDLC pixels (236) which are phase separated from the surrounding, cured polymer—thereby producing a PDLC film.

Abstract: Some implementations of the disclosure relate to using a model trained on mixing console data of sound mixes to automate the process of sound mix creation. In one implementation, a non-transitory computer-readable medium has executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising: obtaining a first version of a sound mix; extracting first audio features from the first version of the sound mix obtaining mixing metadata; automatically calculating with a trained model, using at least the mixing metadata and the first audio features, mixing console features; and deriving a second version of the sound mix using at least the mixing console features calculated by the trained model.