Abstract: Systems, methods and software merge a Virtual World, Live Event and Entertainment Channel, thus creating “The Perfect Storm” of gaming and entertainment whereby the characters of a social network game (e.g., an online fantasy sports league) are represented by human beings who register to be avatars of characters supported by a “Character Service Center,” while players compete to bring avatars to life in a Real World event (e.g., a Real World sports league), where the human beings behind the avatars compete for prizes while staying in character, as these competitors and players are incentivized by a “Collaboration Incentive Platform.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein enable routine autonomous execution of at least some major phases of aerostat operation in response to commands from human or automated external operators, a built-in decision-making capacity, or both. Various embodiments combine one or more actively controlled tethers, aerodynamic aerostat control surfaces, mechanical assistive devices (e.g., jointed arms attached to a ground station), and/or active propulsors attached to the aerostat to govern aerostat behavior during launch, flight, and landing phases of operation. Some embodiments enable automatic autonomous performance of all phases of routine post-commissioning aerostat operation, including launch, flight, and landing, without any routine need for availability of a human crew.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein enable routine autonomous execution of at least some major phases of aerostat operation in response to commands from human or automated external operators, a built-in decision-making capacity, or both. Various embodiments combine one or more actively controlled tethers, aerodynamic aerostat control surfaces, mechanical assistive devices (e.g., jointed arms attached to a ground station), and/or active propulsors attached to the aerostat to govern aerostat behavior during launch, flight, and landing phases of operation. Some embodiments enable automatic autonomous performance of all phases of routine post-commissioning aerostat operation, including launch, flight, and landing, without any routine need for availability of a human crew.

Abstract: A control system for a tethered aerostat is provided, where at least one rotational and at least one translational degree of freedom are controlled to setpoints through the variation of tether lengths by an actuator system. The term tether includes a single tether, a tether group or a sub section of tether controlled by an individual actuator. Accurate rotational and translational control is essential for the successful operation of an aerostat under several applications, including surveillance, weather monitoring, communications, and power generation. For a given use case, the controller can be constructed and arranged to manage the tradeoff between several key performance characteristics, such as transient performance, steady-state pointing accuracy, tether tension regulation, and power generation.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein enable routine autonomous execution of at least some major phases of aerostat operation in response to commands from human or automated external operators, a built-in decision-making capacity, or both. Various embodiments combine one or more actively controlled tethers, aerodynamic aerostat control surfaces, mechanical assistive devices (e.g., jointed arms attached to a ground station), and/or active propulsors attached to the aerostat to govern aerostat behavior during launch, flight, and landing phases of operation. Some embodiments enable automatic autonomous performance of all phases of routine post-commissioning aerostat operation, including launch, flight, and landing, without any routine need for availability of a human crew.

Abstract: A control system for a tethered aerostat is provided, where at least one rotational and at least one translational degree of freedom are controlled to setpoints through the variation of tether lengths by an actuator system. The term tether includes a single tether, a tether group or a sub section of tether controlled by an individual actuator. Accurate rotational and translational control is essential for the successful operation of an aerostat under several applications, including surveillance, weather monitoring, communications, and power generation. For a given use case, the controller can be constructed and arranged to manage the tradeoff between several key performance characteristics, such as transient performance, steady-state pointing accuracy, tether tension regulation, and power generation.

Abstract: According to at least one aspect, a large area wireless communication station is provided. The wireless communication station may provide mobile communication signals at distances up to 100 kilometers from the location of the station. The wireless communication station may include a plurality of antennas that are co-located and configured to each provide coverage to a portion of a coverage area and in sum to provide coverage to the entirety of the coverage area, a plurality of transmitters communicatively coupled to the plurality of antennas and configured to communicate with an external system, and a signal routing system configured to dynamically direct a radio frequency signal from any one or more of the plurality of transmitters to any one or more of the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: An item sharing machine is configured to receive share requests submitted by requesters and specifying numerical values accorded to the shareable item by the requesters. The item sharing machine determines a distribution of the numerical values and generates an allocation plan based on the distribution of the numerical values, which include a first numerical value accorded by a first requester. The item sharing machine determines an allocated percentage at which the shareable item is allocated to the first requester and selects an alternative percentage at which the shareable item is allocable to the first requester. The item sharing machine calculates an alternative numerical value accordable to the shareable item and causes presentation of a notification that the shareable item is allocable to the first requester at the alternative percentage, conditioned upon a future share request indicating that the alternative numerical value is accorded to the shareable item.

Abstract: An item sharing machine is configured to receive share requests in the example form of allocation requests submitted by requesters for an allocable region of a graphical user interface. The allocation requests specify numerical values accorded to the allocable region by the requesters. The item sharing machine determines a distribution of the numerical values and, based on the distribution, generates an allocation plan defined by configuration parameters for the allocable region. The item sharing machine is configured to repeatedly update the allocable region based on the allocation plan by cyclically and selectively linking the allocable region to different computers of different requesters based on the allocation plan. The allocable region accordingly becomes linked to computers of different requesters at different times, and the item sharing machine is configured to cause one or more user devices to present the allocable region linked to such computers at different times.

Abstract: According to at least one aspect, a large area wireless communication station is provided. The wireless communication station may provide mobile communication signals at distances up to 100 kilometers from the location of the station. The wireless communication station may include a plurality of antennas that are co-located and configured to each provide coverage to a portion of a coverage area and in sum to provide coverage to the entirety of the coverage area, a plurality of transmitters communicatively coupled to the plurality of antennas and configured to communicate with an external system, and a signal routing system configured to dynamically direct a radio frequency signal from any one or more of the plurality of transmitters to any one or more of the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: A supplemental bumper apparatus for covering the bumper of a personal water craft and providing enhanced shock absorption and blemish resistance. The supplemental bumper apparatus comprises a synthetic rubber body and a fastener system. The synthetic rubber body provides a barrier which can absorb shock and block blemishes from an impact. The synthetic rubber body is attached to the bumper fastener system defined by a plurality of snap fasteners on its upper section and a hook and loop fabric fastener is on its lower section. A plurality of snap fastener base members are permanently attached to the bumper and a corresponding hook and loop fastener material is permanently attached to the bumper, each providing a corresponding engaging member to enable the snap fasteners and the hook and loop fastener surface to attach the synthetic rubber body to the surface of the bumper.

Abstract: An item sharing machine is configured to receive share requests in the example form of allocation requests submitted by requesters for an allocable region of a graphical user interface. The allocation requests specify numerical values accorded to the allocable region by the requesters. The item sharing machine determines a distribution of the numerical values and, based on the distribution, generates an allocation plan defined by configuration parameters for the allocable region. The item sharing machine is configured to repeatedly update the allocable region based on the allocation plan by cyclically and selectively linking the allocable region to different computers of different requesters based on the allocation plan. The allocable region accordingly becomes linked to computers of different requesters at different times, and the item sharing machine is configured to cause one or more user devices to present the allocable region linked to such computers at different times.

Abstract: An item sharing machine is configured to receive share requests submitted by requesters and specifying numerical values accorded to the shareable item by the requesters. The item sharing machine determines a distribution of the numerical values and generates an allocation plan based on the distribution of the numerical values, which include a first numerical value accorded by a first requester. The item sharing machine determines an allocated percentage at which the shareable item is allocated to the first requester and selects an alternative percentage at which the shareable item is allocable to the first requester. The item sharing machine calculates an alternative numerical value accordable to the shareable item and causes presentation of a notification that the shareable item is allocable to the first requester at the alternative percentage, conditioned upon a future share request indicating that the alternative numerical value is accorded to the shareable item.

Abstract: A supplemental bumper apparatus for covering the bumper of a personal water craft and providing enhanced shock absorption and blemish resistance. The supplemental bumper apparatus comprises a synthetic rubber body and a fastener system. The synthetic rubber body provides a barrier which can absorb shock and block blemishes from an impact. The synthetic rubber body is attached to the bumper fastener system defined by a plurality of snap fasteners on its upper section and a hook and loop fabric fastener is on its lower section. A plurality of snap fastener base members are permanently attached to the bumper and a corresponding hook and loop fastener material is permanently attached to the bumper, each providing a corresponding engaging member to enable the snap fasteners and the hook and loop fastener surface to attach the synthetic rubber body to the surface of the bumper.

Abstract: A supplemental bumper apparatus for covering the bumper of a personal water craft and providing enhanced shock absorption and blemish resistance. The supplemental bumper apparatus comprises a synthetic rubber body and a fastener system. The synthetic rubber body provides a barrier which can absorb shock and block blemishes from an impact. The synthetic rubber body is attached to the bumper fastener system defined by a plurality of snap fasteners on its upper section and a hook and loop fabric fastener is on its lower section. A plurality of snap fastener base members are permanently attached to the bumper and a corresponding hook and loop fastener material is permanently attached to the bumper, each providing a corresponding engaging member to enable the snap fasteners and the hook and loop fastener surface to attach the synthetic rubber body to the surface of the bumper.

Abstract: A low profile stepper robot is described and claimed herein. The robot includes a plurality of foot assemblies. Each foot assembly includes a suction cup, a vacuum generator, and a valve, with the vacuum generator being operationally connected to the suction cup. A conduit connects a source of operational fluid flow to the vacuum generators, and the valves allow or prevent fluid flow to the vacuum generators. Actuators are positioned between the foot assemblies and the robot base. The actuators provide for linear and rotational displacement of the foot assemblies, allowing the robot to walk and turn along an inspection surface.

Abstract: This invention applies optical sensing technology with an ultrasound inspection system to associate encoded position data with the inspection data. The compact electronics of the optical system can be attached to the inspection assembly to allow fully encoded position information to be associated with the ultrasonic, eddy current, or other nondestructive examination data without substantially impacting the overall envelope of the NDE inspection equipment. Moreover, because of the small size, the optical system can be used in tandem to monitor skew or twist of the inspection equipment with respect to the normal rectilinear transducer orientation. The inspection equipment position information is then coupled to the inspection data to provide data outputs equivalent to fully encoded multi-axis manipulator automated scans, but with less setup burden and equipment expense.

Abstract: This invention applies optical tracking technology with an ultrasound inspection system to associate recorded position data with the inspection data. The reference targets of the optical tracking system can be attached to the inspection assembly to allow fully recorded position information to be associated with the ultrasonic, eddy current, or other nondestructive examination data without substantially impacting the overall envelope of the NDE inspection equipment. Moreover, the optical tracking system can be used to monitor skew or twist of the inspection equipment with respect to the normal rectilinear transducer orientation. The inspection equipment position information is then coupled to the inspection data to provide outputs equivalent to fully encoded multi-axis manipulator automated scans, but with less setup burden and equipment expense.

Abstract: A muffler providing a compact and low-profile form factor for small two-stroke engines is described, particularly useful for aerodynamic radio controlled aircraft. The muffler comprises a tuned internal header eliminating the need for an external header to mount the inventive muffler to the exhaust port of a two-stroke engine while maintaining enhanced engine performance, obviating the need for a conventional tuned-pipe exhaust.