Abstract: An automated farming machine can operate in low light environments (e.g., at night) using one or more lights, attached to a boom, to illuminate the ground surface of a field for cameras of the machine. The cameras capture images of the field, which the machine processes by identifying a region of interest (ROI) within the image and a plant within the ROI. The boom moves as the machine goes over uneven ground, causing the brightness captured in the images to change. The machine may analyze a portion of the ground surface that is illuminated to identify an ROI within the image. The machine identifies the ROI by comparing the brightness of the image to a threshold brightness level. The machine takes actions based on the ROI, such as spraying herbicide on a weed identified in the ROI at a certain time after identifying the weed.

Abstract: A camera is mounted on the front of a sprayer. Targets are identified from images generated by the camera. The location of the target is identified relative to a nozzle on the sprayer. A control signal is generated to control the timing and duration of actuation of the nozzle.

Abstract: A pressure-swing adsorption (PSA) system includes a plurality of substantially similar pairs of towers, each tower containing adsorbent material for separating a gas into components. Each tower has a top header and the bottom headers, the headers being connected to extensions which define conduit segments. When a new pair of towers is placed alongside an existing pair of towers, the conduit segments are aligned to define longer conduits spanning all of the pairs of towers. Thus, the longer conduits can be used to direct gas into towers from all of the pairs, and to withdraw product gas from towers in all of the pairs. The capacity of the PSA system can thus be easily expanded or reduced. Some or all of the piping used to direct gas to and from the towers is replaced by one or more control blocks, which define passages for gas flow.

Abstract: A device for separating a gas, such as air, into components, includes a plurality of modules, each module having one or more polymeric membranes capable of gas separation. A set of valves, pipes, and manifolds together arrange the modules in one of two possible configurations. In a first configuration, the modules are arranged in parallel. In a second configuration, the modules are divided into two groups which are arranged in series. The device can be switched from parallel to series, or from series to parallel, simply by changing the positions of a small number of valves, typically three valves. The device can therefore produce gas either of higher purity, or moderate purity, depending on the settings of the valves. The device also includes improved structures for connecting the modules to inlet and outlet manifolds, and also includes devices for temporarily isolating one or more modules from the system.

Abstract: In an agricultural machine vision system for the selective treatment of a field employing a boom deployed sensor and treatment device, the system utilizes at least one image sensor mounted on the boom to produce base image data. A boom angle detector detects boom height which is used to correct the base image data into remapped image data including a region of interest to produce corrected image data producing a regularized image of the region of interests for treatment, independent of boom tilt.

Abstract: A device for separating a gas, such as air, into components, includes a plurality of modules, each module having one or more polymeric membranes capable of gas separation. A set of valves, pipes, and manifolds together arrange the modules in one of two possible configurations. In a first configuration, the modules are arranged in parallel. In a second configuration, the modules are divided into two groups which are arranged in series. The device can be switched from parallel to series, or from series to parallel, simply by changing the positions of a small number of valves, typically three valves. The device can therefore produce gas either of higher purity, or moderate purity, depending on the settings of the valves. The device also includes improved structures for connecting the modules to inlet and outlet manifolds, and also includes devices for temporarily isolating one or more modules from the system.

Abstract: A device for separating a gas, such as air, into components, includes a plurality of modules, each module having one or more polymeric membranes capable of gas separation. A set of valves, pipes, and manifolds together arrange the modules in one of two possible configurations. In a first configuration, the modules are arranged in parallel. In a second configuration, the modules are divided into two groups which are arranged in series. The device can be switched from parallel to series, or from series to parallel, simply by changing the positions of a small number of valves, typically three valves. The device can therefore produce gas either of higher purity, or moderate purity, depending on the settings of the valves.

Abstract: The various embodiments herein relate to imaging devices and systems that capture an image of a target object and separately capture light from the light source illuminating the target object to compensate for inconsistent lighting of that object. Some systems have scene cameras to capture the images of the target objects and a separate light capturing camera to capture the light from the light source. Other embodiments relate to a single camera capturing an image of the target object while simultaneously capturing light from the light source.

Abstract: A device for separating a gas, such as air, into components, includes a plurality of modules, each module having one or more polymeric membranes capable of gas separation. A set of valves, pipes, and manifolds together arrange the modules in one of two possible configurations. In a first configuration, the modules are arranged in parallel. In a second configuration, the modules are divided into two groups which are arranged in series. The device can be switched from parallel to series, or from series to parallel, simply by changing the positions of a small number of valves, typically three valves. The device can therefore produce gas either of higher purity, or moderate purity, depending on the settings of the valves.

Abstract: The automated treatment of agricultural fields allows precise application of treatment to only areas of the field requiring treatment, allowing reduced use of agricultural products such as pesticides and the related reduction in environmental stress. Such automated treatment requires the monitoring of image information of the field to detect objects of interest such as weeds. Such monitoring of image information of the field suffers from the real world problem of shadows cast from the agricultural equipment and/or adjacent trees or structures that cast shadows across the field. Shadows are extracted from the image data by smoothing the data, and developing a shadow mask by employing an intensity histogram and identifying a local minima in the darker intensities of the histogram to identify a shadow threshold. The image areas within the shadow area detected by said mask are then corrected by multiplication with correction coefficients to extract the shadow.

Abstract: A prosthetic hand system may include a plurality of prosthetic fingers and a prosthetic thumb. The prosthetic hand system may include a thumb drive mechanism that may be used to actuate the prosthetic thumb. In some examples, the thumb drive mechanism may be configured to enable the prosthetic thumb to perform a pinching or grasping motion and a release motion. The prosthetic hand system may also include a backlock that enables the prosthetic thumb to maintain pinching or gripping pressure after a motor has been disengaged. The prosthetic hand system may also include a gear lock that may be configured to lock a finger joint. The prosthetic hand system may also include an adaptive gripping joint that may be located on each prosthetic finger. In some examples, the adaptive gripping joint may be configured to passively adapt the plurality of prosthetic fingers to one or more differently shaped objects.

Abstract: A prosthetic hand system may include a plurality of prosthetic fingers and a prosthetic thumb. The prosthetic hand system may include a thumb drive mechanism that may be used to actuate the prosthetic thumb. In some examples, the thumb drive mechanism may be configured to enable the prosthetic thumb to perform a pinching or grasping motion and a release motion. The prosthetic hand system may also include a backlock that enables the prosthetic thumb to maintain pinching or gripping pressure after a motor has been disengaged. The prosthetic hand system may also include a gear lock that may be configured to lock a finger joint. The prosthetic hand system may also include an adaptive gripping joint that may be located on each prosthetic finger. In some examples, the adaptive gripping joint may be configured to passively adapt the plurality of prosthetic fingers to one or more differently shaped objects.

Abstract: An apparatus used for winding or unwinding winch straps includes a clevis, a first engagement plate, and a second engagement plate. Both the first engagement plate and the second engagement plate contain a lobe, a lug, an oblong body, and a plate pinhole which are rotatably connected to the clevis with a plate retaining pin which traverses through the plate pinhole. When in use, a power tool is attached to a tool-receiving slot, which is integrated into a structural body of the clevis. Next, the lobe of the first engagement plate and the second engagement plate establishes a connection with the spool hub the apparatus is being used on. Simultaneously, the lug of the first engagement plate and the second engagement plate are pressed against the spool hub. Therefore, the force is transferred from the power tool to the spool via the introduced apparatus.

Abstract: A prosthetic hand system may include a plurality of prosthetic fingers and a prosthetic thumb. The prosthetic hand system may include a thumb drive mechanism that may be used to actuate the prosthetic thumb. In some examples, the thumb drive mechanism may be configured to enable the prosthetic thumb to perform a pinching or grasping motion and a release motion. The prosthetic hand system may also include a backlock that enables the prosthetic thumb to maintain pinching or gripping pressure after a motor has been disengaged. The prosthetic hand system may also include a gear lock that may be configured to lock a finger joint. The prosthetic hand system may also include an adaptive gripping joint that may be located on each prosthetic finger. In some examples, the adaptive gripping joint may be configured to passively adapt the plurality of prosthetic fingers to one or more differently shaped objects.

Abstract: A prosthetic hand system may include a plurality of prosthetic fingers and a prosthetic thumb. The prosthetic hand system may include a thumb drive mechanism that may be used to actuate the prosthetic thumb. In some examples, the thumb drive mechanism may be configured to enable the prosthetic thumb to perform a pinching or grasping motion and a release motion. The prosthetic hand system may also include a backlock that enables the prosthetic thumb to maintain pinching or gripping pressure after a motor has been disengaged. The prosthetic hand system may also include a gear lock that may be configured to lock a finger joint. The prosthetic hand system may also include an adaptive gripping joint that may be located on each prosthetic finger. In some examples, the adaptive gripping joint may be configured to passively adapt the plurality of prosthetic fingers to one or more differently shaped objects.

Abstract: A prosthetic hand system may include a plurality of prosthetic fingers and a prosthetic thumb. The prosthetic hand system may include a thumb drive mechanism that may be used to actuate the prosthetic thumb. In some examples, the thumb drive mechanism may be configured to enable the prosthetic thumb to perform a pinching or grasping motion and a release motion. The prosthetic hand system may also include a backlock that enables the prosthetic thumb to maintain pinching or gripping pressure after a motor has been disengaged. The prosthetic hand system may also include a gear lock that may be configured to lock a finger joint. The prosthetic hand system may also include an adaptive gripping joint that may be located on each prosthetic finger. In some examples, the adaptive gripping joint may be configured to passively adapt the plurality of prosthetic fingers to one or more differently shaped objects.

Abstract: An apparatus used for winding or unwinding winch straps includes a clevis, a first engagement plate, and a second engagement plate. Both the first engagement plate and the second engagement plate contain a lobe, a lug, an oblong body, and a plate pinhole which are rotatably connected to the clevis with a plate retaining pin which traverses through the plate pinhole. When in use, a power tool is attached to a tool-receiving slot, which is integrated into a structural body of the clevis. Next, the lobe of the first engagement plate and the second engagement plate establishes a connection with the spool hub the apparatus is being used on. Simultaneously, the lug of the first engagement plate and the second engagement plate are pressed against the spool hub. Therefore, the force is transferred from the power tool to the spool via the introduced apparatus.

Abstract: A prosthetic hand system may include a plurality of prosthetic fingers and a prosthetic thumb. The prosthetic hand system may include a thumb drive mechanism that may be used to actuate the prosthetic thumb. In some examples, the thumb drive mechanism may be configured to enable the prosthetic thumb to perform a pinching or grasping motion and a release motion. The prosthetic hand system may also include a backlock that enables the prosthetic thumb to maintain pinching or gripping pressure after a motor has been disengaged. The prosthetic hand system may also include a gear lock that may be configured to lock a finger joint. The prosthetic hand system may also include an adaptive gripping joint that may be located on each prosthetic finger. In some examples, the adaptive gripping joint may be configured to passively adapt the plurality of prosthetic fingers to one or more differently shaped objects.

Abstract: An image acquisition system and method employing multi-axis integration (MAI) may incorporate both optical axis integration (OAI) and time-delay integration (TDI) techniques. Disclosed MAI systems and methods may integrate image data in the z direction as the data are acquired, projecting the image data prior to deconvolution. Lateral translation of the image plane during the scan in the z direction may allow large areas to be imaged in a single scan sequence.

Abstract: A system and method employing photokinetic techniques in cell biology imaging applications are disclosed. Systems and methods of acquiring image data of an object may comprise: selectively inducing photoactivation of material at a site on the object; performing an optical axis integration scan; simultaneously executing a time delay integration scan sequence; and processing acquired image data in accordance with one or more desired analyses. Various methodologies and applications may include, inter alia, selective photobleaching of a site on the object, diffusion rate, velocity, and wave-front propagation analyses, multi-dimensional analyses of dispersion characteristics, biomolecular binding in cellular organelles, and photoactivation assisted systematic image segmentation for the study of cellular components.