Abstract: A vehicle control system determines an upper non-zero limit on deceleration of a vehicle to prevent rollback of the vehicle down a grade being traveled up on by the vehicle. The upper non-zero limit on deceleration is determined by the controller based on a payload carried by the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, and a grade of a route being traveled upon by the vehicle. The controller is configured to monitor the deceleration of the vehicle, and to automatically prevent the deceleration of the vehicle from exceeding the upper non-zero limit by controlling one or more of a brake or a motor of the vehicle. The controller also is configured to one or more of actuate the brake or supply current to the motor of the vehicle to prevent rollback of the vehicle while the vehicle is moving up the grade at a non-zero speed.

Abstract: A system includes a route examining system on a non-propulsion-generating vehicle at a trailing end of a leading vehicle system. The route examining system examines a route on which the leading vehicle system is moving to determine whether the route is damaged. The system also includes an off-board failsafe controller that communicates with the route examining system. The off-board failsafe controller sends a warning signal to the trailing vehicle system responsive to receiving a notification signal from the route examining system indicating detection of damage to the route. The off-board failsafe controller also sends the warning signal to the trailing vehicle system responsive to losing communication with the route examining system. The warning signal directs the trailing vehicle system to automatically change movement of the trailing vehicle system responsive to the detection of damage to the route and/or the off-board failsafe controller losing communication with the route examining system.

Abstract: A system and method obtain first image data of a route at a location of interest from a first optical sensor disposed onboard a vehicle system moving along the route. The first image data depicts the route at the location of interest prior to passage of the vehicle system over the route at the location of interest. Second image data of the route at the location of interest is obtained from a second optical sensor disposed onboard the vehicle system. The second image data depicts the route at the location of interest after passage of the vehicle system over the route at the location of interest. A determination is made as to whether a change in the route has occurred at the location of interest by comparing the first image data with the second image data.

Abstract: A vehicle control system determines an upper non-zero limit on deceleration of a vehicle to prevent rollback of the vehicle down a grade being traveled up on by the vehicle. The upper non-zero limit on deceleration is determined by the controller based on a payload carried by the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, and a grade of a route being traveled upon by the vehicle. The controller is configured to monitor the deceleration of the vehicle, and to automatically prevent the deceleration of the vehicle from exceeding the upper non-zero limit by controlling one or more of a brake or a motor of the vehicle. The controller also is configured to one or more of actuate the brake or supply current to the motor of the vehicle to prevent rollback of the vehicle while the vehicle is moving up the grade at a non-zero speed.

Abstract: A system for casual driver ride sharing includes an interface and processor. The interface is to receive a request for a ride from a user, wherein the request includes GPS information for the user. The processor is to determine compatibility between the typical route information and the request for the ride; determine a ranked list based at least in part on the compatibility; and provide a ride offer to a driver of the one or more casual drivers based at least in part on the ranked list.

Abstract: A label applicator device for use with a printer or combination printer/cutting device for applying a printed label to an object. The device comprises a mounting plate for mechanically connecting the device to the printer or combination printer/cutting device, a positioning arm, an adjusting element, and a tamping plate attached to the adjusting element. The positioning arm movably retains the adjusting element to control the depth that the tamping plate moves when applying a label exiting the printer or combination printer/cutting device to a product. The device further comprises an electronic interface port for electrically communicating with the printer or combination printer/cutting device. Alternatively, a printer or a combination printer/cutting device may be directly integrated into the label applicator device. The label applicator device is adaptable for use with both new and existing printers and cutting devices.

Abstract: A route inspection system includes one or more processors configured to identify a reference location in sensor data provided by one or more sensors onboard a vehicle system. The reference location is identified along a route being traveled by the vehicle system. The one or more processors also are configured to identify a location of interest in subsequent sensor data provided by the one or more sensors. The location of interest identified along the route being traveled by the vehicle system. The one or more processors also are configured to determine a degree of curvature in the route based on a difference between the reference location and the location of interest.

Abstract: A method of method of managing media replenishment at a media terminal, the method comprising: receiving a media event from a media terminal; retrieving a next scheduled media replenishment event for that media terminal; evaluating if the next scheduled media replenishment event is scheduled to occur within an acceptable delay period; and initiating an unscheduled replenishment event only if the next scheduled media replenishment event is scheduled to occur after the acceptable delay period.

Abstract: A method of method of managing media replenishment at a media terminal, the method comprising: receiving a media event from a media terminal; retrieving a next scheduled media replenishment event for that media terminal; evaluating if the next scheduled media replenishment event is scheduled to occur within an acceptable delay period; and initiating an unscheduled replenishment event only if the next scheduled media replenishment event is scheduled to occur after the acceptable delay period.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise a method and apparatus for pixel readout. The method and apparatus may comprise a pixel array capable of reading out one or more non-rectilinear subsets of the pixel array to form a non-rectilinear primary image. The one or more non-rectilinear subsets may be selected according to a desired rectilinear output image, wherein the rectilinear output image is formed using only the one or more subsets. The primary image may then be transformed to form the rectilinear output image.

Abstract: A nozzle segment for a gas turbine engine has a turbine airfoil bound on a first side by an arcuate inner endwall having an inner platform and on a second side by an arcuate outer endwall having an outer platform. The airfoil extends outwardly from the inner platform toward the outer platform. The airfoil body includes opposed pressure and suction sidewalls extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the airfoil body. The airfoil body includes a first trailing edge fillet blending into the inner platform at a trailing edge of the airfoil body.

Abstract: A braking system for a vehicle includes an electric drive system associated with a first set of wheels. The electric drive system is configured to selectively provide electric motive power to the first set of wheels of the vehicle to propel the vehicle and electric retarding to slow the vehicle. The system further includes a friction brake system associated with a second set of wheels of the vehicle, and a controller for selectively actuating the electric drive system to operate in an electric retarding mode and for selectively actuating the friction brake system. The controller is configured to transfer retarding force from the first set of wheels to the second set of wheels, and/or to determine wheel speed signal accuracies, in either case to mitigate vehicle/wheel sliding or slipping.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for stabilizing a sugar beet product against frost damage. The invention further provides a sugar beet product that is stabilized against frost damage.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise a method and apparatus for pixel readout. The method and apparatus may comprise a pixel array capable of reading out one or more non-rectilinear subsets of the pixel array to form a non-rectilinear primary image. The one or more non-rectilinear subsets may be selected according to a desired rectilinear output image, wherein the rectilinear output image is formed using only the one or more subsets. The primary image may then be transformed to form the rectilinear output image.

Abstract: A system for casual driver ride sharing includes an interface and processor. The interface is to receive a request for a ride from a user, wherein the request includes GPS information for the user. The processor is to determine compatibility between the typical route information and the request for the ride; determine a ranked list based at least in part on the compatibility; and provide a ride offer to a driver of the one or more casual drivers based at least in part on the ranked list.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes an electric drive system associated with a first set of wheels (e.g., rear wheels) of a vehicle and a drive system control unit configured to control the electric drive system to selectively provide electric motive power to the first set of wheels to propel the vehicle and electric retarding to slow the vehicle. The system further includes a friction brake system having a first friction brake unit associated with the first set of wheels and a second friction brake unit associated with a second set of wheels (e.g., front wheels) of the vehicle. The drive system control unit is further configured, in at least one mode of operation, to independently control the first and second friction brake units to concurrently apply different levels of friction braking to the first and second sets of wheels, to reduce wear unevenness.