Abstract: The exemplary system and method for the characterization procedures for complex permittivity of a dielectric material at radio frequencies, including microwave and millimeter-wave wavelengths. The exemplary system and method employ a highly resonant periodic array affixed or placed in proximity thereto to provide a frequency response that varies based on the constituent electromagnetic properties of a sample of dielectric material.

Abstract: A backerplate for a portable drywall sander hub assembly includes a mounting portion and a backerplate body. The mounting portion includes a threaded bore adapted to couple the backerplate to a sander hub. The backerplate body is connected to the mounting portion. The backerplate body forms a plurality of apertures therein positioned radially between an outer circumference of the backerplate body and the mounting portion. The plurality of apertures are adapted for dust to pass therethrough during operation of a drywall sander with the backerplate mounted thereto.

Abstract: Provided herein are water harvesting systems, as well as methods using such systems, for capturing water from surrounding air. The systems and methods use water capture materials to adsorb water from the air. For example, the water capture materials may be metal-organic-frameworks. The systems and methods desorb this water in the form of water vapor, and the water vapor is condensed into liquid water and collected. The liquid water is suitable for use as drinking water.

Abstract: A payment card security system includes a payment card provider account system communicatively coupled to a payment card transaction device and a mobile device. The payment card transaction device sends an indication that a payment card is being used to perform a transaction. The payment card provider account system includes processors that receive the indication that the payment card is being used to perform the transaction from the payment card transaction device. The processors also send a notification indicating that the payment card is being used to perform the transaction. The processors further enable authorization of the transaction via the mobile device. In this manner, the payment card security system may prevent or reduce the occurrence of suspicious transactions as they are occurring, rather than waiting until after they have occurred.

Abstract: A sound-based method and system of performing an authentication of a person in order to permit access to a secured resource is disclosed. The system and method are configured to collect audio data from an end-user in real-time that corresponds to ambient sounds for their alleged location. The audio data is compared to verified audio data for the actual location. The system can determine whether there is a match between the user audio data and audio data previously collected and stored in a database or obtained from an audio service provider. If there is a match, the system verifies an identity of the person and can further be configured to automatically grant the person access to one or more services, features, or information for which he or she is authorized.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed that control vehicle steering. An example apparatus includes: a path acquisition interface configured to obtain, via a user interface a sampling interval; and a controller configured to, during acquisition mode: determine a steering angle of a wheel of the vehicle based on a trigonometric function including a distance associated with a turn radius of the front wheel; and cause, utilizing the steering angle, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver to travel from a first position to a second position, the GNSS receiver located at the first position at a first sampling time and the second position at a second sampling time, the first sampling time and the second sampling time differing by the sampling interval.

Abstract: Robotic systems and methods for collecting trash are provided. The robotic system includes a vehicle, a camera, a trash collection unit, an actuator, and a controller. The vehicle includes a drive. The camera moves with the vehicle to capture images of the trash while the vehicle moves along ground. The trash collection unit is carried by the vehicle to collect the trash. The trash collection unit includes a vacuum pump and a collection conduit. The actuator is operatively coupled to the collection conduit to adjust a position of the collection conduit relative to the vehicle to position the collection conduit adjacent to the trash to collect the trash. The controller is coupled to the drive, the camera, the trash collection unit, and the actuator to coordinate movement of the vehicle, positioning of the collection conduit, and operation of the vacuum pump to collect the trash.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes vehicle sensors that detect driving conditions and a communication interface communicatively coupled with a driving condition database via a communication network. The driving condition database stores vehicle sensor information indicative of first driving conditions and mobile device sensor information indicative of second driving conditions. Additionally, in response to a connection rating determination logic determining that a connection rating between the communication interface and the communication network below a threshold, a controller of the autonomous vehicle gathers, processes, and stores the vehicle sensor information and the mobile device sensor information for subsequent communication to the driving condition database and operates the autonomous vehicle based on the vehicle sensor information and the mobile device sensor information.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a detector configured to output a signal associated with one or more interactions with subatomic particles. The detector comprises a sensor comprising a first diode comprising first semiconductor material abutting a first metal and forming a first junction, wherein the sensor is configured to be exposed to subatomic particles and a voltage reference member configured to generate a reference measurement. The sensor and the voltage reference member form a bandgap reference circuit. The present disclosure also provides methods for detecting subatomic particles from a solid-state detector comprising a first Schottky diode in electrical communication with a reference voltage member comprising a parallel circuit of two or more second Schottky diodes, wherein the first Schottky diode is configured to be exposed to subatomic particles and the second Schottky diodes of the reference voltage member are configured to generate a reference measurement.

Abstract: Implementations are disclosed to automatically evaluate, detect, or predict an event, and provide customized virtual assistance to a user based on the event. The implementations include a system capable of pulling data from a client device, detecting an event based on the pulled data, and pushing customized digital resources to the client device based on the detected event.

Abstract: A probe for measuring a cathodic protection condition of a buried steel structure includes: a body; a reference electrode accommodated in an interior of the body; and a volume of backfill accommodated in the interior of the body and at least partially surrounding the reference electrode. The backfill includes at least one of: zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) and lithium acetate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, there is provided a tree feeding system for use with tree handling equipment, the tree feeding system including: a housing having a frame and at least one arm; a plurality of tree feeding wheels arranged with at least one wheel on the frame and at least one wheel on the at least one arm; and a hydraulic circuit for driving the tree feeding wheels, wherein the hydraulic circuit is configured such that wheels on the frame are driven in series and wheels on the arm are driven in series. In another embodiment, the hydraulic circuit is configured such that wheels on one side (e.g. left hand side) of the housing are driven in series and wheels on an opposite side (e.g. right hand side) of the housing are driven in series but wheels on the frame are mechanically connected by a universal joint.

Abstract: A system may include sensors that may acquire health data related to an individual. The system may also include a processor that may receive trip data associated with a current location of the individual and a destination location for the individual, traffic condition data associated with routes between the current location and the destination location, and weather related data associated with the routes. The processor may also receive the health data from the sensors and determine whether the individual is associated with a driver assessment score above a threshold based on the trip data, the traffic condition data, the weather data, the health data, or any combination thereof. The processor may then send an activation signal to a vehicle control system in response to the driver assessment score being above the threshold, such that the activation signal may enable the vehicle control system to control operations of a vehicle.

Abstract: An automated transaction machine includes a plurality of cassettes of at least two different configurations. A first cassette may include multiple cavities with an internal transport, while a second cassette includes a single cavity. A first cassette may include lid access from both a top and bottom, while a second cassette only includes lid access from a top.

Abstract: A data correlation and presentation system is provided herein. Machine learning is used to identify correlations in data received from disparate electronic services. Corelated data objects are generated based upon the identified correlations and the corelated data objects are provided in a combined characteristics output, enabling downstream reporting systems to report the correlations with very little processing resource utilization.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus can be configured to detect an edge of a paper that is received by an automated transaction machine (ATM). The paper can move along a path located inside the ATM, the path having opposite first and second sides. The sensing apparatus can include a light emitter and a light detector on the first side of the path, with the light emitter positioned so that it can emit light across the path to the second side. The light detector can be configured to detect light from the light emitter and can emit a signal corresponding to an amount of detected light. The sensing apparatus can also include a control circuit that can control a flow of power to the light emitter, and the control circuit can also receive the signal emitted by the sensor.

Abstract: In general terms, this disclosure is directed to methods and systems for generating and verifying digital asset agreements. One aspect is a method for publishing a digital asset with an agreement, the method comprising receiving a digital asset, receiving inputs selecting terms for the agreement of the digital asset, the terms being in a natural language, translating the selected terms for the digital asset into a transaction protocol written in a transaction protocol language, compiling the transaction protocol into bytecode which can be published on a blockchain, publishing the bytecode on the blockchain.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein that implement and utilize temporal state machines and other temporal computational/memory circuits. For example, a temporal state machine is provided that comprises a temporal computational unit comprising at least one circuit to perform a time-domain operation, and a temporal memory unit. Both the temporal computational unit and temporal memory unit can operate using solely, or partially, time-encoded wavefronts. The computation unit accesses time-encoded wavefronts from the memory and can output and write time-encoded wavefronts back to the memory.

Abstract: An enrollment data management system includes one or more processors and memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to receive sensor data from one or more sensors located at a property, wherein the sensor data indicates a plurality of individual detection events that each indicate presence of an individual at the property. The instructions are executable by the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to analyze the sensor data to determine that the property qualifies as a residence of the individual, access information relevant to the property from one or more databases, utilize the information relevant to the property as enrollment information for an enrollment process for the individual.