Abstract: An Improved Roadway Guidance System provides guidance elements in a roadway as means to guide a vehicle along the roadway, as well as supply important information to the vehicle to enhance the autonomous operation of the vehicle in a safe and efficient manner. The system comprises at least three parts: (1) the use of overlaid roadway “emitter strips” that provide an extended excitation/emission field simultaneous with direct guidance instructions to passing vehicles; (2) the use of a linearly-arranged antenna array system provided on the vehicle and adapted for interaction with the emitter strips for positionally locating the vehicle within a travel lane and providing additional informative data for operation of the vehicle; and (3) the use of a multi-port Receiver Unit that works with the antenna array and the host vehicle's guidance system to optimize autonomous operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of modifying a speech signal generated by a text-to-speech synthesiser, the method comprising: receiving a text signal; generating a speech signal from the text signal; deriving a control feature vector, wherein the control feature vector represents modifications to the speech signal; inputting the control feature vector in the text-to-speech synthesiser, wherein the text-to-speech synthesiser is configured to generate a modified speech signal using the control feature vector; and outputting the modified speech signal.

Abstract: A computing system, method, and computer-readable medium includes a fatigue tracking service that assists with monitoring fatigue damage in a subsea wellhead system. The fatigue tracking service uses historical environmental data to determine a fatigue damage rate. The fatigue tracking service determines a fatigue allowance based upon the fatigue damage rate, a number of days assigned to a well operation, and a total allowable fatigue damage. The fatigue tracking service compares the fatigue allowance to measurements providing an accumulated fatigue damage to facilitate the monitoring of fatigue damage in the subsea wellhead system.

Abstract: Aspects include a system that allows a microwave oven to intelligently self-choose the optimal cooking time for various items to prevent over/under cooking as well as overcoming cooking inconsistencies that are inherent in non-intelligent microwave ovens. Cooking time optimizations can be performed by controlling radio-frequency emission, cooking time, and/or rotation or movement of a turntable or platter within a microwave cavity of a microwave oven to more evenly heat the contents therein. A deflector system can be used to alter an angle of microwave energy directed with respect to a target object within the microwave cavity.

Abstract: Aspects include a system that allows a microwave oven to intelligently self-choose the optimal cooking time for various items to prevent over/under cooking as well as overcoming cooking inconsistencies that are inherent in non-intelligent microwave ovens. Cooking time optimizations can be performed by controlling radio-frequency emission, cooking time, and/or rotation or movement of a turntable or platter within a microwave cavity of a microwave oven to more evenly heat the contents therein.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is equipped with a beacon, preferably including a transmitter and receiver, or a transceiver, for bi-directional communication, which is programmed to interact with other beacons for the exchange of contextual travel information to assist in autonomous operation of the vehicle. Beacons may be stationary and positioned along a roadway such that a signal transmitted by such a stationary beacon can be received by a passing beacon-equipped vehicle, the operation of which can be adjusted depending on instructions received from the stationary beacon. The vehicle can also transmit information to the stationary beacon, which information can be used to assess traffic conditions to thereafter adjust information and alerts sent to other beacon-equipped vehicles. Beacons located within multiple vehicles may also interact to share information that may be used by individual vehicles to adjust or maintain the autonomous operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A bleeding control device for mitigating bleeding includes a housing, inflation means, an inflatable balloon and a gas supply line. The bleeding control device may be used to deliver variable contents to a wound at the site of injury to control the bleeding of a victim as temporary solution for mitigating the bleeding until more advanced medical care can be provided. A bleeding control device includes a canister housing, a compressed gas canister arranged within the canister housing, a tube connected to the canister housing, an inflatable balloon disposed on the tube, the inflatable balloon being fluidly connected to the compressed gas canister, and a control element configured to activate the compressed gas canister to inflate the inflatable balloon.

Abstract: A method for synthesising speech from text includes receiving text and encoding, by way of an encoder module, the received text. The method further includes determining, by way of an attention module, a context vector from the encoding of the received text, wherein determining the context vector comprises at least one of: applying a threshold function to an attention vector and accumulating the thresholded attention vector, or applying an activation function to the attention vector and accumulating the activated attention vector. The method further includes determining speech data from the context vector.

Abstract: An intelligent vehicle charging system for charging a fleet of autonomous vehicles throughout a network of charging stations dispersed throughout a geographic area. The intelligent vehicle charging system includes a remote control system that is in operative communication with each of the autonomous vehicles in the fleet and each of the charging stations in the network. When an autonomous vehicle is in need of a power charge, or as directed by the remote control system, the remote control system will identify an available charging station, guide the autonomous vehicle to the charging station, verify that the autonomous vehicle has arrived at the charging station, initiate the power charging process, account and bill appropriate fees for the charging process, and log all associated activity. The remote control system is also capable of remotely and instantaneously terminating the power charging process to dynamically return a vehicle back to service.

Abstract: A bleeding control device for mitigating bleeding includes an outer storage container housing, a compressed gas canister, wound blocking contents and a control element. The bleeding control device may be used to deliver variable contents to a wound at the site of injury to control the bleeding of a victim as temporary solution for mitigating the bleeding until more advanced medical care can be provided. A bleeding control device includes a canister housing, a compressed gas canister arranged within the canister housing, a tube connected to the canister housing, an inflatable balloon disposed on the tube, the inflatable balloon being fluidly connected to the compressed gas canister, and a control element configured to activate the compressed gas canister to inflate the inflatable balloon.

Abstract: A bleeding control device for mitigating bleeding includes an outer storage container housing, a compressed gas canister, wound blocking contents and a control element. The bleeding control device may be used to deliver variable contents to a wound at the site of injury to control the bleeding of a victim as temporary solution for mitigating the bleeding until more advanced medical care can be provided. A bleeding control device includes a canister housing, a compressed gas canister arranged within the canister housing, a tube connected to the canister housing, an inflatable balloon disposed on the tube, the inflatable balloon being fluidly connected to the compressed gas canister, and a control element configured to activate the compressed gas canister to inflate the inflatable balloon.

Abstract: Aspects include a system that allows a microwave oven to intelligently self-choose the optimal cooking time for various items to prevent over/under cooking as well as overcoming cooking inconsistencies that are inherent in non-intelligent microwave ovens. Cooking time optimizations can be performed by controlling radio-frequency emission, cooking time, and/or rotation or movement of a turntable or platter within a microwave cavity of a microwave oven to more evenly heat the contents therein.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an Autonomous Vehicle Enhancement System (AVES) and method for monitoring and managing a virtual or existing fleet of autonomous vehicles in a transportation network and dispatching the autonomous vehicles to users. The AVES includes an AVES Central Operations Center (COC) that communicates with AVES vehicle equipment installed in the autonomous vehicles and AVES applications installed on computing devices accessible by the users. The AVES improves the operating efficiency of a transportation network by monitoring the condition of autonomous vehicles, optimizing the geographical distribution of the autonomous vehicles and optimizing assignment of the autonomous vehicles to users requesting services. The AVES COC monitors and controls the autonomous vehicles via the AVES vehicle equipment. The AVES COC communicates with the users via the AVES applications to provide services to the users.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is equipped with a beacon, preferably including a transmitter and receiver, or a transceiver, for bi-directional communication, which is programmed to interact with other beacons for the exchange of contextual travel information to assist in autonomous operation of the vehicle. Beacons may be stationary and positioned along a roadway such that a signal transmitted by such a stationary beacon can be received by a passing beacon-equipped vehicle, the operation of which can be adjusted depending on instructions received from the stationary beacon. The vehicle can also transmit information to the stationary beacon, which information can be used to assess traffic conditions to thereafter adjust information and alerts sent to other beacon-equipped vehicles. Beacons located within multiple vehicles may also interact to share information that may be used by individual vehicles to adjust or maintain the autonomous operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an Autonomous Vehicle Enhancement System (AVES) and method for monitoring and managing a virtual or existing fleet of autonomous vehicles in a transportation network and dispatching the autonomous vehicles to users. The AVES includes an AVES Central Operations Center (COC) that communicates with AVES vehicle equipment installed in the autonomous vehicles and AVES applications installed on computing devices accessible by the users. The AVES improves the operating efficiency of a transportation network by monitoring the condition of autonomous vehicles, optimizing the geographical distribution of the autonomous vehicles and optimizing assignment of the autonomous vehicles to users requesting services. The AVES COC monitors and controls the autonomous vehicles via the AVES vehicle equipment. The AVES vehicle equipment and the AVES applications installed on the computing devices communicate with each other to fulfill user request for services.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is equipped with a beacon, preferably including a transmitter and receiver, or a transceiver, for bi-directional communication, which is programmed to interact with other beacons for the exchange of contextual travel information to assist in autonomous operation of the vehicle. Beacons may be stationary and positioned along a roadway such that a signal transmitted by such a stationary beacon can be received by a passing beacon-equipped vehicle, the operation of which can be adjusted depending on instructions received from the stationary beacon. The vehicle can also transmit information to the stationary beacon, which information can be used to assess traffic conditions to thereafter adjust information and alerts sent to other beacon-equipped vehicles. Beacons located within multiple vehicles may also interact to share information that may be used by individual vehicles to adjust or maintain the autonomous operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle mode regulator system and method comprise transmitting authorization signals from autonomous driving infrastructure on a roadway to a controller module to authorize or inhibit operation of a vehicle in different levels of automation. The controller module controls the level of automation under which the autonomous driving system of the vehicle operates based on the signals received from the autonomous driving infrastructure. In this regard, the controller module can prevent the autonomous driving system of the vehicle from operating in certain levels of automation unless appropriate authorizations signals are received. Similarly, the controller module can permit or even require operation of the vehicle in certain levels of automation upon receipt of certain authorization signals.

Abstract: A bleeding control device for mitigating bleeding includes an outer storage container housing, a compressed gas canister, wound blocking contents and a control element. The bleeding control device may be used to deliver variable contents to a wound at the site of injury to control the bleeding of a victim as temporary solution for mitigating the bleeding until more advanced medical care can be provided. A bleeding control device includes a canister housing, a compressed gas canister arranged within the canister housing, a tube connected to the canister housing, an inflatable balloon disposed on the tube, the inflatable balloon being fluidly connected to the compressed gas canister, and a control element configured to activate the compressed gas canister to inflate the inflatable balloon.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle mode regulator system and method comprise transmitting authorization signals from autonomous driving infrastructure on a roadway to a controller module to authorize or inhibit operation of a vehicle in different levels of automation. The controller module controls the level of automation under which the autonomous driving system of the vehicle operates based on the signals received from the autonomous driving infrastructure. In this regard, the controller module can prevent the autonomous driving system of the vehicle from operating in certain levels of automation unless appropriate authorizations signals are received. Similarly, the controller module can permit or even require operation of the vehicle in certain levels of automation upon receipt of certain authorization signals.