Abstract: A mm wave radio communication mesh network comprises a wireless node apparatus comprising a plurality of wireless modems (103) and a configuration controller (307) arranged to perform a node configuration arranged to configure the wireless modems (103) as access point wireless modems or non-access point wireless modems. The configuration controller (307) controls a set of wireless modems to scan for access point beacons and determines a first wireless modem that has detected an access point beacon from a first target access point wireless modem. It then configures the first wireless modem as a non-access point wireless modem and controls it to connect to the first target access point modem. If the connection is successful, the configuration controller (307) proceeds to configure another wireless modem as an access point wireless modem.

Abstract: A pump for a microfluidic device is disclosed. The pump comprises an actuator and a resilient isolator which is a planar, layered structure. The resilient isolator may comprise a support layer and optionally other layers for strengthening against tensile stress imposed by bending. Alternatively or in addition, the resilient isolator may comprise a plurality of annular regions, layers of the resilient isolator being configured such that at least one of the plurality of annular regions is less resistant than another one of the plurality of annular regions to bending. The actuator may comprise a piezoelectric disc including a surface which comprises electrode regions for electrical connection with respective conductive regions of a conductive layer of the resilient isolator, and an alignment feature for rotational alignment of the piezoelectric disc to ensure the electrical connection between the electrode regions and the respective conductive regions.

Abstract: Hydrogen infused nuclear reactor core monoliths and processes for their production are disclosed. Such monoliths may function as both a core monolith and a moderator, providing structure and at least some moderation. Hydrogen infused monoliths may be complementary to or be used in lieu of separate moderators for thermalizing neutrons.

Abstract: A tracking system includes one or more wireless tags, a sensing device, and a processor. The sensing device is configured to generate sensing data representative of one or more people or objects in a scene. The processor is configured to detect the presence of the wireless tags within the scene. The processor is further configured to receive sensing data representative of objects in the scene and to identify tracks corresponding to the objects. The processor is further configured to process the received sensing data to generate a track descriptor associated with each of the identified objects, each track descriptor being representative of attributes of the corresponding object. The processor is also configured to analyze track descriptors associated with tracks when a wireless tag is present in the target scene. The processor is further configured to determine tracks associated the wireless tags based on the track descriptors present in the scene.

Abstract: A system for preventing collisions between components in a particle beam instrument is disclosed. The system is particularly beneficial in use with instruments wherein moveable components are used within a chamber that obscures them from being viewed from outside the chamber. The system comprises: a capacitance sensor configured to monitor the capacitance between a first component and a second component of the instrument, and a proximity module configured to: derive a capacitance parameter from the monitored capacitance between the first component and the second component; and output a proximity alert signal in accordance with a comparison between the derived capacitance parameter and a predetermined capacitance parameter threshold value.

Abstract: A valve for controlling fluid flow, the valve comprising: a first plate comprising a plurality of first holes extending through said first plate; a second plate comprising a plurality of second holes extending through said second plate, the second holes being substantially offset from the first holes of said first plate; wherein said first plate and said second plate are arranged to form a cavity therebetween in fluid communication with the first holes of said first plate and the second holes of said second plate; and a flap disposed and moveable between said first plate and said second plate, said flap having holes substantially offset from the first holes of said first plate and substantially aligned with the second holes of said second plate; wherein said flap is operable to be motivated between said first and second plates in response to a change in direction of differential pressure of the fluid across the valve; wherein said first plate comprises a coating disposed on a surface of the first plate; where

Abstract: A method of making an actuator for a resonant acoustic pump comprises: forming a through-hole in a ceramic material of a piezoelectric layer of the actuator, prior to assembly of the piezoelectric layer with other layers of the actuator; forming a through-hole in a flexible circuit layer of the actuator; forming a through-hole in an end plate layer of the actuator; and disposing each of the piezoelectric layer and the end plate layer on a respective one of opposite sides of the flexible circuit layer, so that the through-holes align to provide a passageway for a fluid to pass through the actuator.

Abstract: Techniques for using additive manufacturing (AM) to fabricate creep resistant ferritic/martensitic steel with improved high temperature strength are described. AM processing may be performed on Grade 91 steel powder. Beam powers from about 221 W to about 270 W may be used. Traverse rates from about 675 mm/s to about 825 mm/s may be used. Heat inputs ranging from about 55.7 J/mm3 to about 83.2 J/mm3 may be produced. Creep resistant ferritic/martensitic steel, produced according to the present disclosure, has improved strain yield strength and ductility as compared to wrought steel.

Abstract: A fluid conduit assembly (20) comprises: first and second fluid conduits (22,24); a coupling including first and second coupling sections (26,28), each coupling section (26,28) defining a respective hollow bore along which flowable material may flow, the first coupling section (26) in fluid connection with the first fluid conduit (22), the second coupling section (28) in fluid connection with the second fluid conduit (24), the coupling sections (26,28) configured to be releasably coupled to each other; and at least one shut-off valve located within the hollow bore of at least one of the coupling sections (26,28), the or each shut-off valve including a valve member (32) movable between a valve open position and a valve closed position in which the valve member (32) shuts off the flow of a flowable material through the hollow bore, the or each valve member (32) configured to move to its valve closed position on separation of the coupling sections (26,28), wherein the first coupling section (26) is connected to

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fan blade for a gas turbine engine, the fan blade comprising an aerofoil portion having a leading edge extending from a root to a tip, the radial distance between the leading edge at the root and the leading edge at the tip defining a blade span. A maximum thickness of the cross-sections through the aerofoil portion from a suction surface of the aerofoil portion to a pressure surface of the aerofoil portion perpendicular to the camber line decreases along the blade span from the root to the tip. There is a discontinuity in the rate of decrease of maximum thickness between a radius at 30% of the blade span from the aerofoil root and 70% of the blade span from the aerofoil root. The rate of decrease of the maximum thickness before the discontinuity is less than the rate of decrease of the maximum thickness after the discontinuity.

Abstract: A pump for a microfluidic device is disclosed. The pump comprises an actuator and a resilient isolator which is a planar, layered structure. The resilient isolator may comprise a support layer and optionally other layers for strengthening against tensile stress imposed by bending. Alternatively or in addition, the resilient isolator may comprise a plurality of annular regions, layers of the resilient isolator being configured such that at least one of the plurality of annular regions is less resistant than another one of the plurality of annular regions to bending. The actuator may comprise a piezoelectric disc including a surface which comprises electrode regions for electrical connection with respective conductive regions of a conductive layer of the resilient isolator, and an alignment feature for rotational alignment of the piezoelectric disc to ensure the electrical connection between the electrode regions and the respective conductive regions.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for personalising participation in an activity comprising a plurality of user nodes, each user node including a sensor array serving to generate data in relation to a user at the node and a data processing device for receiving the generated data from the sensor array as to the user, the apparatus further comprising a computer system in communication with the sensor array in each node. This ensures a fluent and immediate personalised experience across the different user nodes.

Abstract: A system for preventing collisions between components in a particle beam instrument is disclosed. The system is particularly beneficial in use with instruments wherein moveable components are used within a chamber that obscures them from being viewed from outside the chamber. The system comprises: a capacitance sensor configured to monitor the capacitance between a first component and a second component of the instrument, and a proximity module configured to: derive a capacitance parameter from the monitored capacitance between the first component and the second component; and output a proximity alert signal in accordance with a comparison between the derived capacitance parameter and a predetermined capacitance parameter threshold value.

Abstract: A system for preventing collisions between components in a particle beam instrument is disclosed. The system is particularly beneficial in use with instruments wherein moveable components are used within a chamber that obscures them from being viewed from outside the chamber. The system comprises: a capacitance sensor configured to monitor the capacitance between a first component and a second component of the instrument, and a proximity module configured to: derive a capacitance parameter from the monitored capacitance between the first component and the second component; and output a proximity alert signal in accordance with a comparison between the derived capacitance parameter and a predetermined capacitance parameter threshold value.

Abstract: An independent stretching device comprises a back brace configured to pass across and brace against a user's back. A first connector is secured to a first end of the lower back brace, and is threaded through a first pulley. A second connector is secured to a second end of the lower back brace on an opposite side of the user to the first end of the back brace, the second connector being threaded through a second pulley. A foot stirrup is provided for receiving a foot of the user, and has a first end connected to the first pulley and a second end connected to the second pulley. Tension applied to respective distal ends of the first and second connectors distal from the back brace creates tension which urges the foot stirrup and the back brace toward each other.

Abstract: Some systems include an illuminator configured to illuminate a scene, a detector configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from the scene, one or more retroreflective tags, and an image processor. Each of the one or more retroreflective tags is attached to or positioned near a corresponding target and is configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation from the illuminator toward the detector. The image processor can identify electromagnetic radiation reflected by one or more retroreflective tags to determine the presence of one or more retroreflective tags and corresponding targets in the scene. Retroreflective tags can include retroreflective portions and non-retroreflective portions such that, when electromagnetic radiation is incident upon the retroreflective tag, the retroreflective tag reflects the electromagnetic radiation in a pattern that corresponds to a code uniquely corresponding to the target.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes an Sb-based metamorphic photodetector grown over a silicon substrate via a buffer layer. The device includes a layered structure. The layered structure can include a silicon substrate, a buffer layer formed over the Si substrate, and an infrared photodetector formed over the buffer layer. In some embodiments, the buffer layer includes a composite buffer layer having sublayers. For example, the composite buffer layer includes a Ge-based sublayer formed over the substrate, a III-As sublayer grown over the Ge-based sublayer, and a III-Sb sublayer formed over the III-As sublayer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are directed toward occupancy detection in a predefined space including one or more sub-zones. Occupancy of the predefined space can be determined by determining the occupancy of an outer zone comprising the predefined space, and determining the occupancy of individual sub-zones to the outer zone. Occupancy values of the individual sub-zones can be rescaled such that the sum of the individual sub-zones occupancies sum to the already determined outer zone occupancy. The occupancy of the predefined space then may be determined using the rescaled occupancies of the various sub-zones included in the predefined space. Such processes can be repeated for individual sub-zones, which may be treated as a separate outer zone including one or more sub-zones.

Abstract: A tracking system includes one or more wireless tags, a sensing device, and a processor. The sensing device is configured to generate sensing data representative of one or more people or objects in a scene. The processor is configured to detect the presence of the wireless tags within the scene. The processor is further configured to receive sensing data representative of objects in the scene and to identify tracks corresponding to the objects. The processor is further configured to process the received sensing data to generate a track descriptor associated with each of the identified objects, each track descriptor being representative of attributes of the corresponding object. The processor is also configured to analyze track descriptors associated with tracks when a wireless tag is present in the target scene. The processor is further configured to determine tracks associated the wireless tags based on the track descriptors present in the scene.

Abstract: A system for preventing collisions between components in a particle beam instrument is disclosed. The system is particularly beneficial in use with instruments wherein moveable components are used within a chamber that obscures them from being viewed from outside the chamber. The system comprises: a capacitance sensor configured to monitor the capacitance between a first component and a second component of the instrument, and a proximity module configured to: derive a capacitance parameter from the monitored capacitance between the first component and the second component; and output a proximity alert signal in accordance with a comparison between the derived capacitance parameter and a predetermined capacitance parameter threshold value.