Abstract: An integrated fuel management system can include a switching unit coupled to an electric vehicle (EV) charging station, a computer system, a first electronic unit, and a second electronic unit. The first electronic unit can be coupled to the switching unit and operable for providing state information for the EV charging station to the computer system. The second electronic unit can be coupled to a fueling station for types of vehicles that use fuel and operable for providing state information for the fueling station to the computer system. Further, the computer system can be operable for displaying the state information for the EV charging station and for displaying the state information for the fueling station.

Abstract: A central command system may determine a mission plan for resilient execution by a swarm of drones comprising one or more sensors to capture data in accordance with the mission plan. The mission plan may specify requirements for fault tolerance or parallelism and a redundancy structure for the swarm. The mission plan may be transmitted to a remote drone swarm controller device that determines a swarm configuration based on the mission plan and available drones. The controller may transmit instructions regarding the swarm configuration to dispatch a resilient swarm of drones. During execution of the mission plan, drones in the resilient swarm may be monitored by other drones in the swarm, by the remote drone swarm controller, and/or by the central command system. The redundancy structure provides for failover options for one or more drones in the resilient swarm.

Abstract: In a pressure controller for adjusting a pressure in a container connected downstream of the pressure controller and in fluid communication therewith, the pressure controller includes a main fluid duct having a fluid input and a fluid output leading to the container and a control valve for adjusting a fluid pressure at the fluid output, a bypass duct branching off from the main fluid duct downstream of the control valve, configured for venting of the main fluid duct, and a flow cross-section of the bypass duct being smaller than a maximum flow cross-section of the main fluid duct.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include a switching module for a charger includes a support member, a first busbar coupled to the support member, the first busbar being configured to conduct electrical current, and a second busbar coupled to the support member, the second busbar being configured to conduct electrical current. The switching module also includes a first switch coupled to the first busbar and configured to move a first contactor. The switching module further includes a second switch coupled to the second busbar and configured to move a second contactor. The switching module also includes a third switch coupled to the first busbar and configured to move a third contactor. Further, the switching module includes a fourth switch coupled to the second busbar and configured to move a fourth contactor, the third and fourth switches being configured to electrically connect and disconnect the first and second busbar with at least a second power dispenser.

Abstract: A method comprising receiving a plurality of images of a scene captured by at least one drone; identifying features within the plurality of images; identifying similar images of the plurality of images based on the features identified within the plurality of images; comparing the similar images based on the features identified within the similar images to determine a proportion of features shared by the similar images; selecting a subset of the plurality of images that have a proportion of shared features that meets a predetermined range; generating a first 3D model of the scene from the subset of images using a first 3D model building algorithm; generating a second 3D model of the scene from the subset of images using a second 3D model building algorithm; computing errors for the first and second 3D models; and selecting as the model of the scene the first or second 3D model.

Abstract: A method for improving wireless communication for a drone swarm, the method comprising, at a computing system, receiving, from a plurality of drones of a drone swarm, data comprising radio frequency signal characteristics detected by the plurality of drones; generating a model of a radio frequency environment for the drone swarm based on the data received from the plurality of drones; and controlling at least one wireless communication system to improve wireless communication for the drone swarm based on the model of the radio frequency environment.

Abstract: A method for controlling a plurality of drones to survey a location, the method comprising, at a computing system: automatically generating preliminary flight plans for a plurality of drones to survey the location based on a 3D model; receiving survey data from the plurality of drones as the plurality of drones are surveying the location based on the preliminary flight plans; updating the 3D model based on the survey data received from the plurality of drones; and automatically updating at least a portion of the flight plans based on the updated 3D model

Abstract: A wireless downhole information transfer system is presented, which is adapted to operate in wells (well bores), and in particular in wells for the Oil & Natural Gas and Geothermal Industry. The information transfer system comprises an elongated tubing (completion) having several tubing sections comprising a first and a last end tubing section, an information signal generator placed at or near the first tubing section of the elongated tubing. The information signal generator is designed as a torsional wave generator for transmission of a torsional wave information signal along the elongated tubing, and an information signal receiver arranged at or near the last tubing section of the elongated tubing, wherein the elongated tubing between the signal generator and the signal receiver constitutes the carrier for transmission of the information signal between the signal generator and the signal receiver.

Abstract: A valve unit for dosing fluids is specified, which has a fluid housing including a valve seat, a fluid channel, which extends from a fluid inlet to the valve seat and from the latter to a fluid outlet, a movably mounted valve closing body for controlling or regulating a flow through the fluid channel, and a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode is arranged in the fluid channel upstream of the valve seat and the second electrode is arranged in the fluid channel downstream of the valve seat, wherein a distance of the two electrodes from each another is at most 3 mm and/or a maximum distance of the individual electrodes from the valve seat is at most 1.5 mm. Furthermore, a valve assembly and a method of checking a closed state of a valve unit are specified.

Abstract: A centering system comprising a conveyor for receiving a plurality of blanks outputted from a furnace and displacing the blanks along a first horizontal axis and shifting units for each individual blank including two or more adjustable lifting bars, the shifting units configured to move along a second horizontal axis, and the adjustable lifting bars being configured to lift the blanks along a vertical axis, wherein each of the shifting units is independently movable along the second axis, and a plurality of centering pins for centering the blanks, such that the blanks can be centered by moving the individual blanks along the second axis against the centering pins. Also disclosed are conveyor systems and methods for centering and conveying blanks.

Abstract: A downhole tool for investigating an outside fluid flow being adapted to operate in a well bore is presented. The downhole tool comprises a housing surrounded by an outside fluid and at least a first wave generator device. The first wave generator device preferably comprises a directional sound generator, for coupling waves into the surrounding outside fluid. The waves therein are scattered, for example, reflected, at inhomogeneities in the outside fluid, for example particles, scatterers and/or water in oil, thereby generating reflections. Said reflections are measured with a receiver device for receiving said reflections, and are evaluated using an evaluation device for determining first positions of said inhomogeneities in the outside fluid by evaluating said reflections, wherein the evaluation device is adapted to determine the outside fluid flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for quantitive determination of a number and size of particulate components contained in a medium flowing along a flow channel. Ultrasonic waves are coupled into the flowing medium, which are reflected at least partially by the particulate components and reflected ultrasonic wave portions which are detected in a ultrasonic time signals, on which the quantitive determination is based. Amplitude values associated with the individual ultrasonic time signals, are detected which are each greater than an amplitude threshold value established for each ultrasonic time signal: The detected amplitude values are assigned to values describing the size and the number of the particulate components.

Abstract: A centering system comprising a conveyor for receiving a plurality of blanks outputted from a furnace and displacing the blanks along a first horizontal axis and shifting units for each individual blank including two or more adjustable lifting bars, the shifting units configured to move along a second horizontal axis, and the adjustable lifting bars being configured to lift the blanks along a vertical axis, wherein each of the shifting units is independently movable along the second axis, and a plurality of centering pins for centering the blanks, such that the blanks can be centered by moving the individual blanks along the second axis against the centering pins. Also disclosed are conveyor systems and methods for centering and conveying blanks.

Abstract: A valve unit for dosing fluids is specified, which has a fluid housing including a valve seat, a fluid channel, which extends from a fluid inlet to the valve seat and from the latter to a fluid outlet, a movably mounted valve closing body for controlling or regulating a flow through the fluid channel, and a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode is arranged in the fluid channel upstream of the valve seat and the second electrode is arranged in the fluid channel downstream of the valve seat, wherein a distance of the two electrodes from each another is at most 3 mm and/or a maximum distance of the individual electrodes from the valve seat is at most 1.5 mm. Furthermore, a valve assembly and a method of checking a closed state of a valve unit are specified.

Abstract: A crash structure for a vehicle, including a bumper crossmember of which the end portions are each connected to a corresponding longitudinal member via a crash box. End regions of the end portions each project in the vehicle transverse direction beyond the corresponding longitudinal member. In each case a first supporting element which protrudes in the direction of a corresponding wheelhouse is arranged at the end regions and, in an accident situation with slight overlapping of the other party in the accident, impinges on the corresponding longitudinal member. In each case a second supporting element is arranged at the end regions of the end portions and, in the accident situation with slight overlapping of the other party in the accident, impinges on a corresponding connecting region between the crash box and the longitudinal member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an agrochemical composition comprising a pesticide and an alkoxylate of the formula (I) as defined below. The invention further relates to said alkoxylate. The invention further relates to a method of preparing said composition by bringing the alkoxylate and the pesticide into contact. Finally, the invention relates to a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired plant growth and/or undesired insect or mite attack and/or for regulating the growth of plants, wherein said composition is allowed to act on the respective pests, their environment or the crop plants to be protected from the respective pest, on the soil and/or on undesired plants and/or on the crop plants and/or on their environment; and to seed containing said composition.

Abstract: A centering system comprising a conveyor for receiving a plurality of blanks outputted from a furnace and displacing the blanks along a first horizontal axis and shifting units for each individual blank including two or more adjustable lifting bars, the shifting units configured to move along a second horizontal axis, and the adjustable lifting bars being configured to lift the blanks along a vertical axis, wherein each of the shifting units is independently movable along the second axis, and a plurality of centering pins for centering the blanks, such that the blanks can be centered by moving the individual blanks along the second axis against the centering pins. Also disclosed are conveyor systems and methods for centering and conveying blanks.

Abstract: In a pressure controller for adjusting a pressure in a container connected downstream of the pressure controller and in fluid communication therewith, the pressure controller includes a main fluid duct having a fluid input and a fluid output leading to the container and a control valve for adjusting a fluid pressure at the fluid output, a bypass duct branching off from the main fluid duct downstream of the control valve, configured for venting of the main fluid duct, and a flow cross-section of the bypass duct being smaller than a maximum flow cross-section of the main fluid duct.

Abstract: A composition comprising a pesticide and alkoxylated ester is provided, as well as seed including the composition. Use of alkoxylated esters as adjuvants in pesticide-comprising spray mixtures are also described. Methods for controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesirable plant growth and/or undesirable insect or mite infestation and/or for regulating the growth of plants are further provided, wherein the composition is allowed to act on the respective pests, the habitat thereof or the plants to be protected from the respective pest, on the soil and/or on undesirable plants and/or the crop plants and/or the habitat thereof.