Abstract: A transport arrangement system operates to receive a transport request from a user, and to make a selection of a vehicle type for the user based at least in part on a set of criteria associated with the transport request or user information. For example, the determination of whether an autonomous vehicle is to be provided can be based at least in part on the destination specified with the transport request.

Abstract: A transport arrangement system operates to receive a transport request from a user, and to make a selection of a vehicle type for the user based at least in part on a set of criteria associated with the transport request or user information. For example, the determination of whether an autonomous vehicle is to be provided can be based at least in part on the destination specified with the transport request.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for automating a point of sale within a physical location, such as a merchant or store. The point of sale system may automate a purchase transaction through a series of interactions between the customer's mobile communication device or other computer system and a store's computer network of camera systems, RFID devices and/or sensor devices monitoring product shelves. The store may use a computer system linked to the camera systems of the store to verify the identity of the customer, identify the customer's account with the particular store and verify items selected by the customer. The customer's computer system and the store's computer system may negotiate the sale based on the video data and RFID data to identify the products selected, calculate the total cost and finalize the transaction without performing employee assisted checkout or customer-based self-checkout.

Abstract: Examples described herein include an autonomous vehicle that receives guide assistance from a human driven vehicle in response to a determination that the autonomous vehicle cannot progress safely on its route.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for tracking amounts consumable products, generating reminders, and reordering depleted products. The systems include a sensor device comprising a wireless transceiver and an elastic retention member affixing the sensor device to the exterior of the consumable product. The sensor device electronically communicates with a computer system and a product management network. The height of the sensor device on the product container may determine the point of product depletion, signaling the computer system when the amount of consumable product is below the desired level resulting in the performance of a pre-set action. The sensor device calibrates to the density of the product and stores the measurements as sensor data. Alterations to the sensor data are indicative of depletion of the consumable product and initiate the performance of a pre-set action to remind the user to replace the product or automate the replacement of the consumable product.

Abstract: A system is described which aids a customer in finding the correct part for a product. The customer will take a picture of the product (e.g., lawnmower) on a mobile device running an App which is forwarded to a parts identification system. The parts identification system will use analyze the picture and provide several close matches to the user's mobile device. The user will select the closest image which identifies a specific product. The model number, brand, etc. associated with the product, is provided to a parts database which provides a representation of the parts relating to the selected product. The parts identification system may categorize the parts for the customer to narrow down to the desired matching part. The system will then store the selected products and parts for this customer for quicker matches in the future. The system also searched e-Commerce sites for availability.

Abstract: A fireplace assembly having a firebox, an igniter assembly coupled to the firebox and containing a heating element, a first portion of the igniter assembly extending through an aperture in a firebox wall, the igniter assembly having a first connector coupled to the heating element and coupleable to power source, and having a second connector coupleable to an air source and positioned to provide air flow through the igniter assembly over the heating element and into the firebox. A controller is operatively coupled to the igniter assembly and a temperature sensor. The controller controls operation of the heating element, the temperature sensor, and the air flow through the igniter assembly, and can activate and deactivate the igniter assembly based upon the temperature within the firebox.

Abstract: A backboard includes a body that has length that is sufficient for extending under a person. The body further has an upper side for supporting a person thereon and a lower side for resting on a generally flat surface, with the body forming multiple pivot points between the upper side and the lower side. The body supports a movable contact surface to provide lateral support to and increase the contact area between the backboard and the person supported thereon.

Abstract: An actuator for use in effecting movement of a movable member with respect to a first member of a patient support apparatus. A motor is provided for generating rotational torque. A carrier is adapted to be secured to the first member. An input member is coupled to the motor for concurrent rotation. An output member is adapted to be coupled to the movable member. A reduction geartrain is supported between the input member and the output member. A clutch assembly is disposed in torque-translating relationship between the reduction geartrain and the output member and moves between: an engaged configuration wherein torque from the motor is translated across the reduction geartrain to move the movable member with respect to the first member, and a disengaged configuration wherein torque is at least partially interrupted across the reduction geartrain to allow movement of the movable member independent of rotation of the motor.

Abstract: A patient support system comprises a patient support apparatus for patients. The patient support apparatus comprises a support structure and a patient support surface supported by the support structure. The patient support apparatus also comprises movable members. One or more rotary actuators are coupled to the movable members. The rotary actuator comprises a gear assembly with a cycloidal drive arranged to drive movement of the movable member. The gear assembly also restricts back drive torque from backdriving the movable member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for visually verifying the exact item a customer will be receiving through the online grocery pick up of a retail store. The system allows for customers to order a fresh item, such as apples, and view images of the exact fresh item online before finalizing purchase for retail store pickup. The exact fresh item is scanned using three dimensional scanning. The customer views the images and approves or rejects the exact fresh item before finalizing purchase.

Abstract: A doctor blade holder and adjustment mechanism that may be utilized with a flexographic printing system. The doctor blade holder and adjustment mechanism may utilize a constant displacement of the doctor blade against an anilox roller, rather than a constant force, to reduce ink build up on the back side of the doctor blade, and subsequently, intermittent dropping of the accumulated ink onto the post-shearing side of the anilox roller (“spitting”). The doctor blade holder and adjustment mechanism may provide adjustability of a combination of doctor blade pressure, angle and displacement.

Abstract: Embodiments include luminescent phosphor compounds that include one or more emitting ions and one or more disturbing ions, and methods for their production. An emitting ion in the compound may be characterized by a first decay time constant when the emitting ion is undisturbed. However, a corresponding disturbing ion in the compound, which is different from the emitting ion, causes the emitting ion to have a pre-defined, target disturbed decay time constant that is greater than zero and less than the first decay time constant. An embodiment of an authentication system is configured to measure the decay time constant of a phosphor compound applied to an article, and to determine whether the decay time constant corresponds to a phosphor compound that includes a particular disturbing ion (e.g., in order to determine whether or not the article is authentic).

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 system that is primarily designed to help customers find products in a store is described. It supplements existing systems that provide a shelf location for a requested product. The current system employs high resolution cameras, such as the security cameras, and creates an image database indexed by product location. A customer uses software on a phone or home computer to interface with a server of the system. Once a product is selected, the server finds the product location for the selected product, then also retrieves the image corresponding to the product location and provides these to the customer to visually determine if there are any of these products at their product location on the shelf at the time of the image. Since all of the images are time stamped, the customer knows how long ago the image was taken. In an alternative embodiment, the customer can request a current image for older images.

Abstract: A system and method for providing shoppers with product freshness notifications, comprise a beacon that determines that a fresh perishable item of interest has been added to a store shelf; an updater that updates the system with information about the fresh perishable item added to the store shelf; and a notification generator that sends a notification to a mobile electronic device of the shopper regarding the addition of the fresh perishable item to the store shelf.

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 (i) perform a localization operation to determine a location and an orientation of the AV within a given region, and (ii) autonomously operate the AV's acceleration, braking, and steering system 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 a number of specified network nodes.

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: 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: System and method for sensor alignment. In one example, a reimaging optical system includes reimaging foreoptics positioned to receive and reimage incident electromagnetic radiation to produce an intermediate image plane and output an optical beam of the received incident electromagnetic radiation, an imaging optical apparatus positioned to receive the optical beam and focus the electromagnetic radiation of the optical beam onto a first focal plane, a first imaging sensor positioned at the first focal plane and configured to produce a first image responsive to receiving the electromagnetic radiation of the optical beam, an alignment object selectively positioned at the intermediate image plane and configured to superimpose an alignment tool upon the first image, and a controller coupled to the first imaging sensor and configured to perform an alignment process for the first imaging sensor based on at least a position of the alignment tool in the first image.