Abstract: A propelling system with variable aerodynamic controls is a system used to generate and control the flight forces of an aircraft. The system includes a stator, a rotor, a plurality of propelling units, and a control system. The stator serves as the stationary connection to the aircraft. The rotor revolves the propelling units about a central rotation axis. The control system enables the control of the propelling units. The propelling units generate the flight forces for the aircraft in the desired direction. In addition, each of the propelling units include a blade body, a shaft channel, a spar shaft, and at least one aileron assembly. The shaft channel receives the spar shaft within the blade body. The spar shaft connects the blade body to the rotor. The blade body passively corrects its angle of attack and supports the aileron assembly. The aileron assembly adjusts the pitch of the blade body.

Abstract: An augmented reality display unit for use in an augmented reality headset or the like comprising front and rear variable focusing power compression liquid lens assemblies (220, 230) in mutual optical alignment on an optical axis (O), a transparent waveguide display (240) interposed between the front and rear liquid lens assemblies (220, 230) and a selectively operable adjustment mechanism for adjusting the focusing powers of the front and rear compression liquid lens assemblies (220, 230); wherein each of the front and rear compression liquid lens assemblies (220, 230) comprises a fluid-filled envelope (225, 235) having a first wall formed by a distensible elastic membrane (226, 236) that is held under tension around its edge by a peripheral support ring, a second substantially rigid wall (223, 233) formed by or supported on an inner surface of a transparent plate or a hard lens of fixed focusing power, and a collapsible side wall (227, 237), the membrane forming an optical surface of variable optical power,

Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to functional microbial consortia and particularly, but not exclusively, to methods and systems for producing a microbial consortium possessing a desired function and microbial consortia produced according to such methods. The microbial consortia may be used to improve soil, e.g., for agricultural uses.

Abstract: Examples include a device including a fluid lens having a membrane, a substrate, and a fluid at least partially enclosed between the membrane and the substrate. One or more support structures may be configured to provide a guide path for an edge portion of the membrane, which may be an elastic membrane in tension. In some examples, a membrane includes a membrane polymer, such as a thermoplastic urethane polymer, and a polymer additive, such as an acrylate polymer. The polymer additive may reduce or substantially eliminate diffusion of the fluid into the membrane, which may increase the stability and performance of the fluid lens.

Abstract: Methods of filling an envelope (16) of a compression-type adjustable optical device (10), such as a liquid lens or mirror, which is formed in part by a distensible membrane (11) having an exterior optical surface, with a substantially incompressible fluid (15) to a predetermined optical power or radius of curvature; the methods comprising pumping fluid into the envelope (16) under vacuum through a fluid supply conduit (23) in fluid communication with an interior of the envelope (16) while allowing air to escape from the envelope through a fluid overflow conduit (26) in fluid communication with the interior of the envelope (16); continuing to pump fluid (15) into the envelope (16) to cause the membrane (11) to distend to an optical power of the optical device (10) that is greater than the predetermined optical power while allowing excess fluid (15) to escape from the envelope through the overflow device (26); slowing or stopping the supply of fluid to the envelope (16), thereby to allow the membrane (11) progr

Abstract: A propelling system with variable aerodynamic controls is a system used to generate and control the flight forces of an aircraft. The system includes a stator, a rotor, a plurality of propelling units, and a control system. The stator serves as the stationary connection to the aircraft. The rotor revolves the propelling units about a central rotation axis. The control system enables the control of the propelling units. The propelling units generate the flight forces for the aircraft in the desired direction. In addition, each of the propelling units include a blade body, a shaft channel, a spar shaft, and at least one aileron assembly. The shaft channel receives the spar shaft within the blade body. The spar shaft connects the blade body to the rotor. The blade body passively corrects its angle of attack and supports the aileron assembly. The aileron assembly adjusts the pitch of the blade body.

Abstract: Examples include a device including a fluid lens having a membrane, a substrate, and a fluid at least partially enclosed between the membrane and the substrate. The membrane may have a spatial variation in at least one membrane parameter along a particular direction, that may compensate for gravity sag in the membrane of the fluid lens when the device is worn by a user. Examples also include related methods and systems.

Abstract: An example device includes a fluid lens, where the fluid lens includes a membrane, a substrate, and a fluid located within an enclosure formed at least in part by the membrane and the substrate. The membrane may be an elastic membrane. The fluid may include an amount of an additive that is effective to appreciably reduce bubble formation within the fluid, such as when a negative pressure is applied to the fluid. In some examples, the additive may include particles, such as nanoparticles. The additive may include a thixotropic agent that helps to impart an appreciable thixotropic property to the fluid. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Examples include a device including a fluid lens having a membrane (that may be in elastic tension), a substrate, a fluid at least partially enclosed between the membrane and the substrate, and a support structure configured to provide a guide path for an edge portion of the membrane, such as a membrane attachment at a periphery of the membrane. The guide path may be configured to greatly reduce (or substantially eliminate) changes in the elastic energy of the membrane as the membrane profile is adjusted. The guide path may be configured so that the elastic force exerted by the membrane is generally normal to the guide path for each location on the guide path. Adjustment of the membrane profile may include applying an actuation force that is normal to the elastic force exerted by the membrane. Various other methods and apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: An example device may include a fluid lens having a membrane assembly including a membrane and one or more membrane attachments, a substrate, a fluid located within an enclosure formed at least in part by the membrane and the substrate, and a support structure, attached to the substrate, including an actuation guide. The device may include an actuator mechanically coupled to the actuation guide and configured to change an orientation of the actuation guide relative to another device component, such as a substrate or frame. An example actuation guide may engage with the membrane attachment, and the movement of the membrane attachment along the actuation guide in response to the change in the orientation of the actuation guide may adjust an optical property, such as a focal length, of the fluid lens.

Abstract: A membrane assembly 150 for a variable focusing power optical assembly 100 is disclosed. The membrane assembly 150 comprises a distensible membrane 155 that is held under tension around its periphery (boundary B) by at least one bendable support ring 159 and one or more bending actuators 170, each comprising a selectively operable self-bending strip, which are attached contiguously to respective discrete sections of the support ring 159 for actively controlling the curvature of those sections of the support ring 159. Also disclosed is a variable focusing power optical assembly 100 comprising such a membrane assembly 150. Further disclosed is an article of eyewear 80 comprising at least one such variable focusing power optical assembly 801.

Abstract: Examples include a device including a fluid lens having a membrane (that may be in elastic tension), a substrate, a fluid at least partially enclosed between the membrane and the substrate, and a support structure configured to provide a guide path for an edge portion of the membrane, such as a membrane attachment at a periphery of the membrane. The guide path may be configured to greatly reduce (or substantially eliminate) changes in the elastic energy of the membrane as the membrane profile is adjusted. The guide path may be configured so that the elastic force exerted by the membrane is generally normal to the guide path for each location on the guide path. Adjustment of the membrane profile may include applying an actuation force that is normal to the elastic force exerted by the membrane. Various other methods and apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides tools and methods for the systematic analysis of genetic interactions, including higher order interactions. The present invention provides tools and methods for combinatorial probing of cellular circuits, for dissecting cellular circuitry, for delineating molecular pathways, and/or for identifying relevant targets for therapeutics development.

Abstract: A membrane assembly 150 for a variable focusing power optical assembly 100 comprising a distensible membrane 155 that is held under tension around its periphery by at least one bendable support ring 159 and one or more curvature controllers 170 that are mounted to respective discrete sections of the support ring 159 for actively controlling the curvature of those sections of the ring in a plane (Btz) that is parallel to a z-axis normal to an (x,y) plane which is defined by the un-deformed support ring and tangential (t) to the periphery (boundary B) of the membrane.

Abstract: A membrane assembly (150) for a variable focusing power optical assembly (100) comprising a distensible membrane (155) that is held under tension around its periphery by at least one bendable support ring (159) and one or more curvature controllers (170) that are mounted to respective discrete sections of the support ring (159) for actively controlling the curvature of those sections of the ring in a plane (Btz) that is parallel to a z-axis normal to an (x,y) plane which is defined by the un-deformed support ring and tangential (t) to the periphery (boundary B) of the membrane.

Abstract: An augmented reality display unit for use in an augmented reality headset or the like comprising front and rear variable focusing power compression liquid lens assemblies (220, 230) in mutual optical alignment on an optical axis (O), a transparent waveguide display (240) interposed between the front and rear liquid lens assemblies (220, 230) and a selectively operable adjustment mechanism for adjusting the focusing powers of the front and rear compression liquid lens assemblies (220, 230); wherein each of the front and rear compression liquid lens assemblies (220, 230) comprises a fluid-filled envelope (225, 235) having a first wall formed by a distensible elastic membrane (226, 236) that is held under tension around its edge by a peripheral support ring, a second substantially rigid wall (223, 233) formed by or supported on an inner surface of a transparent plate or a hard lens of fixed focusing power, and a collapsible side wall (227, 237), the membrane forming an optical surface of variable optical power,

Abstract: An example device includes a fluid lens, where the fluid lens includes a membrane, a substrate, and a fluid located within an enclosure formed at least in part by the membrane and the substrate. The membrane may be an elastic membrane. The fluid may include an amount of an additive that is effective to appreciably reduce bubble formation within the fluid, such as when a negative pressure is applied to the fluid. In some examples, the additive may include particles, such as nanoparticles. The additive may include a thixotropic agent that helps to impart an appreciable thixotropic property to the fluid. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: In some examples, a device, such as an augmented reality or virtual reality device, may include one or more waveguide displays and one or more adjustable lenses, such as adjustable fluid lenses. In some examples, a device includes a waveguide display and a rear lens assembly that together provide a negative optical power for augmented reality light. A front lens assembly, the waveguide display, and the rear lens assembly may together provide an approximately zero optical power for real-world light. In some examples, an eye-side optical element having a negative optical power may defocus light from the waveguide display. Example devices may allow the adjustable lens (or lenses) to have a reduced mass and/or a faster response time.

Abstract: Disclosed devices may include a fluid lens that includes a membrane, optionally a substrate, and a fluid located within an enclosure that may be at least partially defined by the substrate and the membrane. A coating may be disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the enclosure. The coating may have a coating surface in contact with the fluid. The coating may significantly reduce bubble formation within the fluid (e.g., compared with an uncoated surface). Example devices include adjustable fluid lenses that may be adjusted to a plano-concave configuration. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.