Abstract: A system and method for operation of an autonomous vehicle (AV) yard truck is provided. A processor facilitates autonomous movement of the AV yard truck, and connection to and disconnection from trailers. A plurality of sensors are interconnected with the processor that sense terrain/objects and assist in automatically connecting/disconnecting trailers. A server, interconnected, wirelessly with the processor, that tracks movement of the truck around and determines locations for trailer connection and disconnection. A door station unlatches/opens rear doors of the trailer when adjacent thereto, securing them in an opened position via clamps, etc. The system computes a height of the trailer, and/or if landing gear of the trailer is on the ground and interoperates with the fifth wheel to change height, and whether docking is safe, allowing a user to take manual control, and optimum charge time(s). Reversing sensors/safety, automated chocking, and intermodal container organization are also provided.

Abstract: Magnetic recording media suitable for high density recording are provided by a carbon substrate, a magnetic recording layer, and at least one interlayer therebetween which provides one or more properties beneficial to preventing diffusion, inducing a preferred orientation in the magnetic recording layer and/or promoting adhesion between a carbon substrate and a barium hexaferrite-based magnetic recording layer. Alternatively, the present magnetic recording media may contain two different interlayers, which bar diffusion of carbon atoms from said substrate to said magnetic recording layer, improve adhesion between adjacent layers, induce an orientation in the magnetic recording layer, or any combination thereof. The present recording media are particularly advantageous for perpendicular recording. Processes for producing these magnetic recording media are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a carbon substrate for a magnetic disk capable of increasing the treatment rate leading to a lowering of the manufacturing cost, reducing the variation of the surface roughness of each substrate, and the variation of the surface roughness among the substrates in each lot. The surface of a carbon substrate is roughened to have a surface roughness Ra of 10-500 .ANG. by dry etching. The examples of the dry etching methods include chemical dry etching, barrel etching, plasma etching, RIE, RIBE, and ion milling.

Abstract: A method for producing an ion beam for ion implantation by chemically enhanced bombardment of solids. The method is carried out in a reaction chamber having an anode and cathode and a cathode liner rich in a selected element, namely boron, arsenic, phosphorus or antimony. A non-poisonous feed gas is introduced into the reaction chamber and energy is supplied to the feed gas to generate a plasma in the reaction chamber. The constituents of the plasma react chemically with the selected element in the cathode liner and an electrical potential is established between the anode and the cathode so that ions in the plasma bombard the cathode liner. The chemical reaction and bombardment together generate an ion species in the plasma containing the selected element. A beam of ions containing the selected species is then extracted from the plasma.

Abstract: A continuous, noncyclic magnetic refrigerator consisting of a liquid nitrogen cryostat having a motor-driven wheel with a pressed, porous rare earth compound as a rim that rotates through two thermally separated inner reservoirs of liquid helium, the first reservoir being at an elevated temperature relative to the second reservoir, two superconducting magnets of different field strengths, the larger of which is situate in the first reservoir and is adjacent to the said rim while the smaller magnet is positioned in the second reservoir adjacent to said rim, and said reservoir or reservoirs having a convection-driver pump to increase circulation of the helium in said second or first and second reservoirs through said porous rim.