Abstract: Described embodiments include a system and a method. The system includes a sensor device configured to measure a combustion product in an exhaust stream generated by a fossil-fueled combustion apparatus. The system includes a combustion analysis circuit configured to generate air pollution information responsive to (i) the measured combustion product and (ii) an emission target for the measured combustion product. The system includes a user interface configured to display the air pollution information in a human perceivable format. In an embodiment, the system includes a combustion controller configured to regulate an aspect of the combustion of the fossil fuel in response to the air quality management selection entered by the human user.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system and a method. The system includes a sensor device configured to measure a combustion product in an exhaust stream from a fossil-fueled combustion apparatus. The system includes a compliance circuit configured to generate an air quality management signal responsive to (i) the measured combustion product and (ii) an emission target for the measured combustion product. The system includes a combustion controller circuit configured to regulate an aspect of the combustion of the fossil fuel in response to the air quality management signal. In an embodiment, the system includes a receiver circuit configured to receive a current or forecasted air quality status or condition. In an embodiment, the system includes a combustion analysis circuit configured to generate air pollution information responsive to the measured combustion product. In an embodiment, the system includes a user interface configured to display the air pollution information.

Abstract: A soil detection and planting apparatus. The apparatus includes a vehicle and a controller coupled to the vehicle. The apparatus further includes a planting device coupled to the vehicle, the planting device configured to plant seeds or plants into a soil material. The apparatus includes a ground penetrating radar sensor coupled to the vehicle. The ground penetrating radar soil sensor is configured to scan the soil material up to a designated depth beneath a surface of the soil material, wherein the ground penetrating radar soil sensor is further configured to provide a sensor feedback signal to the controller with respect to an intrinsic characteristic of the soil material. The controller is configured to instruct placement of a seed or a plant into the soil material based on the feedback signal.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be used to deliver a package. The UAV may include a communication interface configured to receive a request to transport a package from a customer and a navigation unit configured to direct the UAV to the package. The UAV may also include a sensor configured to determine at least one of a weight and a plurality of dimensions of the package and a schedule unit configured to adjust a pick up schedule for a one or more other packages based on at least one of the weight and the plurality of dimensions of the package.

Abstract: Graphene grids are configured for applications in vacuum electronic devices. A multilayer graphene grid is configured as a filter for electrons in a specific energy range, in a field emission device or other vacuum electronic device. A graphene grid can be deformable responsive to an input to vary electric fields proximate to the grid. A mesh can be configured to support a graphene grid.

Abstract: A system and method for management of airspace for unmanned aircraft is disclosed. The system and method comprises administration of the airspace including designation of flyways and zones with reference to features in the region. The system and method comprises administration of aircraft including registration of aircraft and mission. A monitoring system tracks conditions and aircraft traffic in the airspace. Aircraft may be configured to transact with the management system including to obtain rights/priority by license and to operate in the airspace under direction of the system. The system and aircraft may be configured for dynamic transactions (e.g. licensing/routing). The system will set rates for licenses and use/access to the airspace and aircraft will be billed/pay for use/access of the airspace at rates using data from data sources.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be used to deliver a package. The UAV may include a communication interface configured to receive a request to transport a package from a customer and a navigation unit configured to direct the UAV to the package. The UAV may also include a sensor configured to determine one or more physical characteristics of the package and a calculation unit configured to calculate adjusted freight charges by comparing anticipated freight charges based on one or more physical characteristics of the package specified in the request to the one or more physical characteristics of the package determined by the sensor. The UAV may further include an acceptance unit configured to accept the package for transport based on the acceptance of the adjusted freight charges by the customer.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. A system includes a package management system for operating a robotic vehicle configured to transport consumer items selected by a human shopper from a consumer shopping environment and placed in the robotic vehicle. The package management system includes circuitry for recognizing an individual human shopper. The system includes circuitry for receiving data indicative of a location of the individual human shopper in the consumer shopping environment. The system includes circuitry for routing the robotic vehicle to the location of the individual human shopper in the consumer shopping environment. In an embodiment, the package management system includes circuitry for issuing an alarm upon detection of an unauthorized removal or attempted unauthorized removal of a consumer item from the secure portion of the robotic vehicle.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. A system includes a package management system for operating a robotic vehicle configured to transport consumer items selected by a human shopper from a consumer shopping environment and placed in the robotic vehicle. The package management system includes circuitry for recognizing an individual human shopper placing a consumer item in the robotic vehicle. The package management system includes circuitry for routing the robotic vehicle along a path following the recognized individual human shopper through the consumer shopping environment. The package management system includes circuitry for suspending the shopper-following movement of the robotic vehicle in response to suspension criteria. The package management system includes circuitry for resuming the shopper-following movement of the robotic vehicle in response to resumption criteria.

Abstract: A system for enhancing a facial expression includes a processing circuit configured to receive video of a user, generate facial data corresponding to a face of the user, analyze the facial data to identify a facial expression, enhance the facial data based on the facial expression, and output modified video including the enhanced facial data.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be used to deliver a package. The UAV may include a communication interface configured to receive a request to transport a package. The UAV may also include a navigation unit configured to direct the UAV to the package. The UAV may further include a sensor configured to determine one or more physical characteristics of the package. The UAV may also include an acceptance unit configured to accept the package for transport in response to the one or more physical characteristics satisfying a set of criteria.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a wind turbine system. In this embodiment, the system includes a rotor blade attached to a rotor hub drivingly coupled to an electric generator. The system includes a controllable feature configured to decrease a noise generated by the rotor blade if activated. The system includes a sensor configured to detect an atmospheric variation approaching the rotor blade. The system includes a noise manager circuit configured to authorize a noise mitigation measure responsive to the detected atmospheric variation. The system includes a control circuit configured to activate the controllable feature in response to the authorized noise mitigation measure. In an embodiment, the system includes a support structure positioning the rotor hub a sufficient distance above the ground to allow rotation of the rotor blade about the rotor hub without contacting the ground.

Abstract: A system and method for management of airspace for unmanned aircraft is disclosed. The system and method comprises administration of the airspace including designation of flyways and zones with reference to features in the region. The system and method comprises administration of aircraft including registration of aircraft and mission. A monitoring system tracks conditions and aircraft traffic in the airspace. Aircraft may be configured to transact with the management system including to obtain rights/priority by license and to operate in the airspace under direction of the system. The system and aircraft may be configured for dynamic transactions (e.g. licensing/routing). The system will set rates for licenses and use/access to the airspace and aircraft will be billed/pay for use/access of the airspace at rates using data from data sources.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. A system includes package management system for operating a robotic vehicle configured to transport consumer items selected by a human shopper from a consumer shopping environment and placed in the robotic vehicle. The package management system includes circuitry for receiving data indicative of a transportation departure point accommodating a transfer of a consumer item from the robotic vehicle to a conveyance configured to transport the consumer item away from the consumer shopping environment. The package management system includes circuitry for routing the robotic vehicle to the departure point. In an embodiment, the package management system includes circuitry for managing a transfer of a consumer item acquired by the individual human shopper in the consumer shopping environment from the robotic vehicle to the conveyance at the departure point.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. A system includes a package management system for operating a robotic vehicle configured to transport consumer items selected by a human shopper from a consumer shopping environment and placed in the robotic vehicle. The package management system includes circuitry for recognizing an individual human shopper placing a consumer item in the robotic vehicle. The package management system includes circuitry for routing the robotic vehicle along a path following the recognized individual human shopper through the consumer shopping environment. The package management system includes circuitry for suspending the shopper-following movement of the robotic vehicle in response to suspension criteria. The package management system includes circuitry for resuming the shopper-following movement of the robotic vehicle in response to resumption criteria.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. A system includes a package management system for operating a robotic vehicle configured to transport consumer items selected by a human shopper from a consumer shopping environment and placed in the robotic vehicle. The package management system includes circuitry for recognizing an individual human shopper. The system includes circuitry for receiving data indicative of a location of the individual human shopper in the consumer shopping environment. The system includes circuitry for routing the robotic vehicle to the location of the individual human shopper in the consumer shopping environment. In an embodiment, the package management system includes circuitry for issuing an alarm upon detection of an unauthorized removal or attempted unauthorized removal of a consumer item from the secure portion of the robotic vehicle.

Abstract: Embodiments include wearable haptic feedback devices and methods of fabricating wearable haptic feedback devices. In an illustrative embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, a wearable haptic feedback device includes: a wearable headgear cap; a web disposed within the cap; a plurality of haptic elements disposed about the web and configured to provide haptic feedback to a user; and an interface circuit configured to operatively couple the plurality of haptic elements to an electronic system.

Abstract: Inter-substrate coupling and alignment using liquid droplets can include electrical and plasmon modalities. For example, a set of droplets can be placed on a bottom substrate. A top substrate can be placed upon the droplets, which uses the droplets to align the substrates. Using the droplets in a capacitive or plasmon coupling modality, information or power can be transferred between the substrates using the droplets.

Abstract: Devices and systems are described including a walking aid including a linear rod, a hand grip disposed in proximity to a first end of the linear rod, two or more extendable and retractable load-bearing feet at a second end of the linear rod, at least one first sensor configured to detect a parameter of a walking surface, at least one second sensor configured to detect a parameter of the walking aid, a controller including input circuitry configured to receive information regarding the detected parameter of the walking surface from the at least one first sensor and actuation circuitry configured to actuate at least one of the two or more extendable and retractable load-bearing feet in response to the information regarding the detected parameter of the walking surface, and a transmission unit including circuitry configured to transmit the second sensor output to a computing device.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal device and methods of manufacturing said gastrointestinal device are described and include a flexible tubular structure including an inner surface and an outer surface, a plurality of at least one type of commensal microbe associated with at least a portion of at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface, and a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end and the distal end forming a flow conduit through the flexible tubular structure; and at least one anchor structure including one or more gastric wall-engaging components configured to engage a wall of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject.