Abstract: A winch is disclosed having a drive cylinder, configured to be rotated by an applied force about its longitudinal axis and having at least three drive grooves. The winch also includes an idler with a longitudinal axis spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the drive cylinder. A line is fed onto the winch by passing it over a first of the at least three drive grooves then around the idler and then around a second of the at least three drive grooves. The line is attached to one of a fixed object or the object to be moved. The winch is attached to the other of the fixed object or the object to be moved. As the applied force is applied to the drive cylinder, the line is gripped by the at least three drive grooves and a length of the line between the fixed object and the object to be moved is shortened, whereby the object is moved.

Abstract: There is described a system for producing electrical energy and utilizing associated heat. The system includes a source of fuel, a source of oxygen and a solid oxide fuel cell configured to oxidize the fuel to create electrical energy and heat. The system also includes at least one unit configured to utilize heat generated by the solid oxide fuel cell. This at least one unit is selected from the group consisting of: a solid waste pyrolysis unit; a hydrothermal carbonization unit; a water distillation unit; a water pasteurization unit; a water heating unit; a room heating and cooling unit; and a biomass drying unit. In a second aspect, the invention is a system for providing utilities used in a multi-residence complex.

Abstract: A device to control rotation is disclosed. The device includes a stationary portion having an internal aperture with a frustoconical inner surface. The device also includes a movable portion having a frustoconical outer surface, adapted to engage the frustoconical inner surface, to stop rotation between the movable portion and the stationary portion when engaged. An input sleeve is included, configured to transmit an applied rotational force to the device, also configured so that, as the input sleeve moves in a first axial direction, the moveable portion engages the stationary portion, and as the input sleeve moves in a second and opposite axial direction, the moveable portion is pushed out of engagement with the stationary portion.

Abstract: A winch is disclosed having a drive cylinder, configured to be rotated by an applied force about its longitudinal axis and having at least three drive grooves. The winch also includes an idler with a longitudinal axis spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the drive cylinder. A line is fed onto the winch by passing it over a first of the at least three drive grooves then around the idler and then around a second of the at least three drive grooves. The line is attached to one of a fixed object or the object to be moved. The winch is attached to the other of the fixed object or the object to be moved. As the applied force is applied to the drive cylinder, the line is gripped by the at least three drive grooves and a length of the line between the fixed object and the object to be moved is shortened, whereby the object is moved.

Abstract: A liquid level control system, which may be used with a clarifier in a sewage treatment plant, manages liquid level of an upstream basin by controlling liquid flow in or out of a system that may use a midstream device to equally distribute flow in or out of the basin. This headloss inducing device creates a non-linear relationship between upstream liquid level to be controlled and the lesser downstream liquid level behind the gate or valve. Without the use of electrical controls, the systems of the invention include a gate or valve with counterforces that manage the outflow stream of liquid while accounting for the non-linear head loss created by the midstream device, thus reaching a desired liquid level range for all system flowrates.

Abstract: A liquid level control system, which may be used with a clarifier in a sewage treatment plant, manages liquid level of an upstream basin by controlling liquid flow in or out of a system that may use a midstream device to equally distribute flow in or out of the basin. This headloss inducing device creates a non-linear relationship between upstream liquid level to be controlled and the lesser downstream liquid level behind the gate or valve. Without the use of electrical controls, the systems of the invention include a gate or valve with counterforces that manage the outflow stream of liquid while accounting for the non-linear head loss created by the midstream device, thus reaching a desired liquid level range for all system flowrates.

Abstract: Technology for correcting a misalignment between an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a moving platform is described. A first attitude of the moving platform can be identified based on a truth source. A second attitude of the moving platform can be calculated using IMU measurements. A delta attitude can be calculated from a difference between the first attitude and the second attitude. Natural error can be removed from the delta attitude to produce an angular misalignment value between axes of the IMU and axes of the moving platform. A total misalignment value can be determined by adding the angular misalignment value to a baseline misalignment value. The IMU can incorporate the total misalignment value for subsequent attitude measurements of the moving platform in order to produce substantially accurate attitude measurements of the moving platform when the axes of the IMU are misaligned with the axes of the moving platform.

Abstract: The concepts, systems and methods described herein are directed towards real time carrier phase monitoring and platform attitude solutions on a moving platform. In an embodiment, highly accurate platform attitude and monitored carrier phases can be determined in a single step and use data screening, error bounds inflation and statistical tests to ensure both inputs and outputs of an attitude solution are self-consistent. The method includes determining a carrier phase error level for each of the satellite-receiver tracks, identifying the satellite-receiver tracks having the carrier phase error level greater than or equal to a carrier phase error threshold, generating an attitude correction using the received data from the one or more satellite-receiver tracks having the carrier phase error level less than the carrier phase error threshold and determining a convergence state of the attitude correction. The carrier phase monitoring may be activated or dis-activated based on the convergence level.

Abstract: Technology for surveying sensor locations on a physical platform is described. An estimated baseline vector can be calculated between a temporary navigation sensor and each fixed navigation sensor in a group of fixed navigation sensors. The temporary navigation sensor can be temporarily placed on the physical platform. The fixed navigation sensors can be installed on the physical platform. A refined baseline vector between the temporary navigation sensor and each fixed navigation sensor can be successively calculated by fixing carrier phase integer ambiguities that are variables used in the estimation of the baseline vector. A final survey distance between the temporary navigation sensor and each of the fixed navigation sensors can be generated using the refined baseline vector.

Abstract: The concepts, systems and methods described herein are directed towards real time carrier phase monitoring and platform attitude solutions on a moving platform. In an embodiment, highly accurate platform attitude and monitored carrier phases can be determined in a single step and use data screening, error bounds inflation and statistical tests to ensure both inputs and outputs of an attitude solution are self-consistent. The method includes determining a carrier phase error level for each of the satellite-receiver tracks, identifying the satellite-receiver tracks having the carrier phase error level greater than or equal to a carrier phase error threshold, generating an attitude correction using the received data from the one or more satellite-receiver tracks having the carrier phase error level less than the carrier phase error threshold and determining a convergence state of the attitude correction. The carrier phase monitoring may be activated or dis-activated based on the convergence level.

Abstract: Technology for surveying sensor locations on a physical platform is described. An estimated baseline vector can be calculated between a temporary navigation sensor and each fixed navigation sensor in a group of fixed navigation sensors. The temporary navigation sensor can be temporarily placed on the physical platform. The fixed navigation sensors can be installed on the physical platform. A refined baseline vector between the temporary navigation sensor and each fixed navigation sensor can be successively calculated by fixing carrier phase integer ambiguities that are variables used in the estimation of the baseline vector. A final survey distance between the temporary navigation sensor and each of the fixed navigation sensors can be generated using the refined baseline vector.

Abstract: Technology for correcting a misalignment between an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a moving platform is described. A first attitude of the moving platform can be identified based on a truth source. A second attitude of the moving platform can be calculated using IMU measurements. A delta attitude can be calculated from a difference between the first attitude and the second attitude. Natural error can be removed from the delta attitude to produce an angular misalignment value between axes of the IMU and axes of the moving platform. A total misalignment value can be determined by adding the angular misalignment value to a baseline misalignment value. The IMU can incorporate the total misalignment value for subsequent attitude measurements of the moving platform in order to produce substantially accurate attitude measurements of the moving platform when the axes of the IMU are misaligned with the axes of the moving platform.