Abstract: Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for reading machine readable features of objects. A local terminal generates a temporary object number corresponding to an unreadable object and captures an image of the unreadable object. A message is sent to a number of portable devices requesting that a duplicate of the unreadable object be located and that a machine readable feature on the duplicate object be read. Once a duplicate object is located, one of the portable devices reads a machine readable feature on the duplicate object, and the portable device calls a service offered by a server to retrieve a data value corresponding to the duplicate item from a database. This data value is then sent to the local terminal invoking a service offered by the terminal to replace the temporary object number with the data value corresponding to the duplicate item.

Abstract: An event is detected that impairs a confidence level of the autonomous vehicle in progressing through a current route. In response to detecting the event, the autonomous vehicle communicates information about the event to a remote source of guidance. The autonomous vehicle can receive instructions from the remote source of guidance on how to handle the event. The autonomous vehicle can then implement the instructions to handle the event while it operates.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes an elongated shaft extending distally from a housing and an actuating mechanism operably coupled to a proximal portion of the elongated shaft and configured to move the elongated shaft. First and second jaw members are coupled to a distal portion of the elongated shaft. The first jaw member is pivotable relative to the second jaw member between open and closed positions. An electrically conductive tissue sealing surface is disposed on each of the jaw members and is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. A tissue-dissecting electrode is disposed on a distal end of at least one of the jaw members in spaced relation to the tissue sealing surface and is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. An insulator couples the tissue-dissecting electrode to the jaw member and electrically insulates the tissue-dissecting electrode from the jaw member.

Abstract: Existing currency validation (CVAL) devices, systems, and methods are too slow, costly, intrusive, and/or bulky to be routinely used in common transaction locations (e.g., at checkout, at an automatic teller machine, etc.). Presented herein are devices, systems, and methods to facilitate optical validation of documents, merchandise, or currency at common transaction locations and to do so in an obtrusive and convenient way. More specifically, the present invention embraces a validation device that may be used alone or integrated within a larger system (e.g., point of sale system, kiosk, etc.). The present invention also embraces methods for currency validation using the validation device, as well as methods for improving the quality and consistency of data captured by the validation device for validation.

Abstract: Embodiments include articles, authentication methods and apparatus, and article manufacturing methods. An article includes a substrate with a first luminescent taggant, and an extrinsic feature with a second luminescent taggant, which is positioned proximate a portion of the article surface. The first and second taggants produce emissions in overlapping emission bands as a result of exposure to excitation energy. Above the extrinsic feature, the substrate and extrinsic feature emissions combine in the overlapping emission band to produce “confounded” emissions that are distinguishable from the substrate emissions taken alone. An authentication system determines whether, in a region corresponding to a “substrate-only” region of an authentic article, emissions having first emission characteristics are detected in the overlapping emission band.

Abstract: A system can analyze a live sensor view of a self-driving vehicle (SDV) in accordance with a safety threshold to detect objects of interest along a route and classify each detected object of interest. When the safety threshold is not met, the system can transmit a teleassistance inquiry using LIDAR data to a backend computing system. When a certainty threshold is not met for an object of interest, the system can transmit a different teleassistance inquiry using image data to the backend computing system.

Abstract: A self-driving vehicle can operate by analyzing a live sensor view to autonomously operate acceleration, braking, and steering systems of the SDV along a current route. Based on a detected anomaly associated with the live sensor view, the SDV can transmit a teleassistance inquiry to a backend transport system in accordance with a data prioritization scheme. The SDV can receive a resolution response from the backend transport system based on the teleassistance inquiry, and proceed in accordance with the resolution response.

Abstract: Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for reading machine readable features of objects. A local terminal generates a temporary object number corresponding to an unreadable object and captures an image of the unreadable object. A message is sent to a number of portable devices requesting that a duplicate of the unreadable object be located and that a machine readable feature on the duplicate object be read. Once a duplicate object is located, one of the portable devices reads a machine readable feature on the duplicate object, and the portable device calls a service offered by a server to retrieve a data value corresponding to the duplicate item from a database. This data value is then sent to the local terminal invoking a service offered by the terminal to replace the temporary object number with the data value corresponding to the duplicate item.

Abstract: A communication system for an autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a plurality of antennas, each operable to transmit and receive communications through a communications protocol of a plurality of communications protocols. The system can further include a communications controller to dynamically select one of the plurality of antennas for transmitting and receiving communications based on a current communications bandwidth associated with the AV in order to optimize bandwidth usage by the communication system.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards overprovisioning IP addresses among a plurality of traffic management devices (TMDs). A plurality of IP addresses may be distributed among a plurality of available TMDs. A corresponding mirror TMD may be determined for each IP address. The corresponding mirror TMD for an IP address may be different than the available TMD currently associated with the IP address. In various embodiments, connections associated with each IP address may be mirrored at their corresponding mirror TMDs. The available TMDs may be employed to perform traffic management tasks on received packets based on at least a destination IP address of the received packets and the IP addresses associated with the available TMDs. If a TMD becomes unavailable, the IP addresses associated with the unavailable TMD may be redistributed to at least one remaining available TMD.

Abstract: A perishable product conservation system and related methods for foods and consumable products. One system includes a plurality of perishable products, a perishable product database, and a computing system. The perishable product database includes a plurality of product records for the plurality of perishable products. Each of the plurality of product records includes expiration date information and a current product location. The computing system is communicatively coupled with the perishable product database and includes a customer preference engine, a markdown engine, and a computing device. The customer preference engine is configured to identify a desired perishable product, a desired location for receiving purchases, and a set of customer tolerances for the desired perishable product including a desired expiration date range. The markdown engine is configured to provide dynamic pricing for the desired perishable product, available within the desired expiration date range.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) tracking and updating system tracks locations of AVs traveling throughout a given region. Using a stored network resource map, the system identifies a number of network-limited areas in the given region, and determines when respective AVs will enter one of the network-limited areas. In response, the system transmits a set of configuration commands to a number of proximate AVs to establish a mesh network with the respective AVs.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes an elongated shaft extending distally from a housing and an actuating mechanism operably coupled to a proximal portion of the elongated shaft and configured to move the elongated shaft. First and second jaw members are coupled to a distal portion of the elongated shaft. The first jaw member is pivotable relative to the second jaw member between open and closed positions. An electrically conductive tissue sealing surface is disposed on each of the jaw members and is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. A tissue-dissecting electrode is disposed on a distal end of at least one of the jaw members in spaced relation to the tissue sealing surface and is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. An insulator couples the tissue-dissecting electrode to the jaw member and electrically insulates the tissue-dissecting electrode from the jaw member.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a communication system to communicate with a backend system, a sensor system to collect sensor data representing an operational environment of the AV, and a control system that can processes the sensor data to perform a localization operation to determine a location and an orientation of the AV within a given region, and autonomously operate the AV's acceleration, braking, and steering systems throughout the given region. Based on the localization operation, the AV can implement a set of configuration commands to configure the communication system to transmit and receive data with the backend system using one or more specified network nodes.

Abstract: A nucleic acid purification device includes a housing and an adapter operatively attached to the housing. The adapter is configured to receive at least one well plate which includes a plurality of wells for receiving contents including at least a sample and a plurality of paramagnetic particles. The device also includes a motor disposed within the housing and configured to selectively move at least the adapter to thereby disrupt or shake the contents of the plurality of wells when the at least one well plate is received by the adapter. The device further includes at least one electromagnetic feature configured to selectively receive an electrical signal and thereby magnetize at least a portion of the plurality of paramagnetic particles when the plurality of paramagnetic particles are received by the plurality of wells and the at least one well plate is received by the adapter.

Abstract: Sensor information is collected from human driven vehicles which are driven in a given region. From the sensor information, a road condition is detected on a road segment, where the road condition has a sufficiently high likelihood of impairing autonomous vehicles in safely navigating through the one or more road segments. Information about the one or more road segments is communicated to the one or more autonomous vehicles.

Abstract: A self-driving vehicle (SDV) can analyze a live sensor view to autonomously operate acceleration, braking, and steering systems of the SDV along a current route. The SDV can identify an indeterminate object in the live sensor view, and encoding sensor data identifying the indeterminate object for transmission to a backend transport system over one or more networks. The SDV may then receive a resolution response from the backend transport system to resolve the indeterminate object, and cause the SDV to proceed in accordance with the resolution response.

Abstract: Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for reading machine readable features of objects. A local terminal generates a temporary object number corresponding to an unreadable object and captures an image of the unreadable object. A message is sent to a number of portable devices requesting that a duplicate of the unreadable object be located and that a machine readable feature on the duplicate object be read. Once a duplicate object is located, one of the portable devices reads a machine readable feature on the duplicate object, and the portable device calls a service offered by a server to retrieve a data value corresponding to the duplicate item from a database. This data value is then sent to the local terminal invoking a service offered by the terminal to replace the temporary object number with the data value corresponding to the duplicate item.

Abstract: Systems and methods for authentication of a consumer product are provided herein. An embodiment of a method for authentication of a consumer product includes providing the consumer product, optionally with packaging material associated therewith. Filtered light from an intrinsic portion of the consumer product or packaging material associated therewith is detected using a photodetector of a portable computing device to produce at least one single-color image data set representative of the intrinsic portion for at least one color. The at least one single-color image data set is compared with a stored data set that is representative of authentic information for the intrinsic portion using a microprocessor of the portable computing device, with the comparison conducted independent of and separate from any analysis of non-color data obtained from preconfigured security features. An indication of authenticity of the consumer product is provided based upon the comparison.

Abstract: Systems and methods for authentication of a consumer product are provided herein. An embodiment of a method for authentication of a consumer product includes providing the consumer product, optionally with packaging material associated therewith. Filtered light from an intrinsic portion of the consumer product or packaging material associated therewith is detected using a photodetector of a portable computing device to produce at least one single-color image data set representative of the intrinsic portion for at least one color. The at least one single-color image data set is compared with a stored data set that is representative of authentic information for the intrinsic portion using a microprocessor of the portable computing device, with the comparison conducted independent of and separate from any analysis of non-color data obtained from preconfigured security features. An indication of authenticity of the consumer product is provided based upon the comparison.