Abstract: A system is provide that is configured to execute a contest that includes displaying an image of a face of a model, among a plurality of models, to a user; receive inputs from the user to adjust a color of a blended cosmetic product to be applied to the face of the model; display the model with the adjusted color selected by the user; receive the image of the face of the model with the adjusted color as an entry of the user; display the entry of the user to a plurality of users and provide the plurality of users an option submit a vote on the entry of the users and entries of other users; output a result of a contest based on one or more receiving a highest number of votes. The system further transmits an instruction to a manufacturing facility of cartridges of s dispensing device to create a grouped package of cartridges for the determined plurality of color ingredients.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an additive manufacturing method that includes monitoring a temperature of a portion of a build plane during an additive manufacturing operation using a temperature sensor as a heat source passes through the portion of the build plane; detecting a peak temperature associated with one or more passes of the heat source through the portion of the build plane; determining a threshold temperature by reducing the peak temperature by a predetermined amount; identifying a time interval during which the monitored temperature exceeds the threshold temperature; identifying, using the time interval, a change in manufacturing conditions likely to result in a manufacturing defect; and changing a process parameter of the heat source in response to the change in manufacturing conditions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses that utilize machine learning techniques to dynamically adjust the placement of secondary content that is displayed across numerous user devices over time are described. The user devices may comprise electronic computing devices, such as a mobile phones and digital televisions. The secondary content may be displayed within open slots of webpages or display screens in response to being selected for display during a real-time bidding process for the open slots. In some cases, in response to a bid request for an open slot within a webpage or display screen, a computer-implemented bid generation system for determining the selection and placement of secondary content may identify the secondary content to be displayed within the open slot, determine a bid amount for the identified secondary content, and transmit a bid response that includes the bid amount and the identified secondary content.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation (1) for the three-dimensional printing of a medical device directly at a location where the medical device is to be used. According to the invention, the installation comprises a container (2) comprising inside it: a production module (3) comprising a 3D printer (6); a clean room (4) comprising means (12) for washing and disinfection of the printed medical device, and a machine (13) for packaging the washed and disinfected medical device.

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a resin molded article includes: an injection molding part configured to inject resin into an injection mold and injection-mold the resin molded article; a control unit configured to control the injection by the injection molding part; a calculation unit configured to calculate a pressure reduction curve for reducing a pressure generated by the injection; and an input unit via which a user inputs a condition of the pressure reduction curve, in which the control unit is configured to control the injection based on the pressure reduction curve.

Abstract: An active suspension control system for a vehicle includes a mathematical model based on a modal expansion of the vehicle. Model parameters of the vehicle can be extracted from the modal expansion using sensor data generated on the vehicle, e.g., on demand and/or in real time. The model parameters and the modal expansion can be used to determine a vehicle state, predict future vehicle states, and control aspects of an active suspension system based on the predicted future vehicle states. The model parameters may also be used to update the mathematical model, e.g., to account for component wear over time, and/or to detect anomalies or defects in the active suspension system.

Abstract: A 3D modeled CAD object is flattened to a two dimensional 2D representation while maintaining a user selected wiring component represented in 3D. A user selected 3D component has a connector and a route segment with at least one stored sketch segment. A 3D and 2D tangent are calculated at a junction point of the route segment. A translation and rotation transformation is calculated to align the 2D and 3D tangents at the junction point. A calculated transformation matrix based on the translation and rotation transformation is used to display a flattened unconnected route segment aligned with the user selected 3D component.

Abstract: Provided is an artificial intelligence-based object identification and monitoring system using IoT sensors, the system including: an IoT sensing device configured to acquire sensor data and IR image data of a target space or a target object by using a plurality of the sensors; integrated IOT middleware; an IoT control server configured to use the integrated IoT middleware to process the data acquired by the IOT sensing device, and perform an AI analysis of the processed data; and an IoT monitoring server configured to monitor the IoT sensing device according to a result of the AI analysis, and perform control such that an external electronic device outputs a result of monitoring. Various other embodiments may be possible.

Abstract: A method of predicting sequence for a manufacturing process to assemble a product includes obtaining a target plan for the manufacturing process. The target plan defines a process segment to be performed during the manufacturing process. The method includes retrieving a plurality of surrogate process segments based on the target plan, determining, for each surrogate process segment from the plurality of surrogate process segments, a segment similarity value based on at least one of a textual similarity and a sequence similarity between the surrogate process segment and the process segment of the target plan, and generating a target process defining a process sequence for performing the manufacturing process based on the segment similarity values of the plurality of surrogate process segments and a sequence inference model.

Abstract: Detection and prevention of resource drain from unauthorized wireless device connections is provided. Responsive to receiving of a connection request from a connecting device, a pre-authentication message is sent to the connecting device, the pre-authentication message including a challenge value. A vehicle hash result is computed using a hash function taking the challenge value and the unique identifier of the vehicle as inputs. A device hash result is received from the connecting device. Responsive to a match of the vehicle hash result and the device hash result, additional hardware of the vehicle is activated to perform a secondary authentication of the connecting device. Responsive to a mismatch, authentication of the connecting device is rejected without activation of the additional hardware, thereby avoiding key-off load from the additional hardware in instances where pre-authentication of the connecting device fails.

Abstract: Logic mechanisms operate to define the position of at least one mechanical output based on the position of two or more mechanical inputs, and employ at least one control element that functions to determine (at least in part) whether an output is moved, and which provides the same function in more than one position. Some mechanisms are configured to determine, based on the input positions, whether a path to transmit motion to an output exists or does not exist. Some mechanisms are configured to determine, based on the input positions, whether or not motion of a driven element can be accommodated without moving an output.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for generating a recipe for a concrete mixture, comprising: obtaining an optical characterization of a set of particles; determining, based on the optical characterization, physical characteristics of the set of particles; generating a multispherical approximation of the set of particles; selecting, based on the physical characteristics of the set of particles and from a database of performance rules, performance rules applicable to the set of particles; predicting performance of a proposed recipe for a concrete mixture formed from the set of particles by: determining a wet flowability rating of the proposed recipe based on the selected performance rules; and determining a dry packing rating of the proposed recipe based on the multispherical approximation; iteratively altering the proposed recipe and predicting performance of the altered proposed recipe until the predicted performance satisfies performance criteria to obtain a final recipe; and outputting the final recipe.

Abstract: A method of controlling a manufacturing process in which directed energy selectively melts material, forming a melt pool. The method includes: generating an image having an array of individual image elements, the image including measurement, for each image element, of two or more physical properties from the group including: color, emission frequency, and sheen, the measurements collectively indicating presence of: liquid phase, melting, or incipient melting; from the measurements, mapping a boundary of the melt pool, wherein for each of the measurements that indicate liquid phase, melting, or incipient melting, corresponding image elements are defined to be inside the boundary, and wherein for each of the measurements that do not indicate liquid phase, melting, or incipient melting, the corresponding image elements are defined to be outside of the boundary; and controlling at least one aspect of the additive manufacturing process with reference to the boundary.

Abstract: Apparatuses for dynamically sensing infrared (IR) radiation in an electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) printer are provided. A radiation collector receives radiation from a surface of the powder bed. An IR-transparent material rejects one or more non-IR wavelengths, and a lens focuses the IR radiation onto an optical fiber. The IR radiation is carried from the vacuum chamber of the printer to a sensor, where IR information is determined based on the received IR radiation. The IR information may be received from the sensor and used by the print controller to modify one or more parameters, such as beam intensity or scanning rate, on the fly or during the next print cycle. An occlusion member can be used to selectively block or expose the radiation collector to protect the radiation collector from condensation of vapor from vaporization of particles at high temperatures.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a system that includes a three-dimensional fabricator. An image processing module acquires an image of a rock sample having a network of pores, a transformation module transforms the image into a binary matrix and determine a set of statistical moments of the binary matrix, a layer generation module generates a first representation of a first stochastic layer based on the set and emulative of the rock sample and generates a second representation of a second stochastic layer based on the set and emulative of the rock sample. An arrangement module arranges the first representation and the second representation as adjacent layers of a three-dimensional model emulative of the rock sample, and provides the first representation and the second representation to the 3D fabricator for fabrication as a physical three-dimensional fluid micromodel emulative of the rock sample.

Abstract: A welding system includes a first sensor associated with a welding helmet and configured to sense a parameter indicative of a position of a welding torch relative to the welding helmet. The travel speed sensing system also includes a processing system communicatively coupled to the first sensor and configured to determine a position of the welding torch relative to a workpiece based on the sensed first parameter.

Abstract: A system and method include performing digital block-out of one or more digital preparation teeth.

Abstract: A mounting device comprises: a mounting head having multiple pickup members configured to pick up components; a mounting control section configured to cause a second component to be picked up later when a first component, held by the mounting head at a predetermined height, and the second component, held by the mounting head at a lowered position lower than the predetermined height, are picked up with the mounting head; the mounting control section being configured to cause the second component to be released earlier when the mounting head, having picked up the first component and the second component, releases a component.

Abstract: Irradiation device (5) for an apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, which Irradiation device (5) comprises at least one irradiation unit (6-8), preferably an optical unit, arranged in a housing (9) of the Irradiation device (5), wherein a stream generating device (10) is provided that is adapted to guide a gas stream (11) that is adapted to be charged with residues present inside the housing (9) through the housing (9) of the Irradiation device (5) along a streaming path in which the gas stream (11) at least partially streams alongside or through the at least one irradiation unit (6-8) for removing residues from the housing (9).

Abstract: Estimation algorithms, methods, and systems are provided that estimate the internal temperatures inside of a part being built using powder bed fusion (PBF). Closed-loop state estimation is applied to the problem of monitoring temperature fields within parts during the PBF build process. A simplified linear time-invariant (LTI) model of PBF thermal physics with the properties of stability, controllability and observability is presented. In some aspects, an Ensemble Kalman Filter is applied to the model. Linear time-varying (LTV) systems are also contemplated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a build chamber (1) for an additive manufacturing apparatus (100) for forming a three-dimensional article layer by layer from a powder. The build chamber (1) comprising a build chamber base body (2) and the build chamber base body (2) is formed by at least two segments (4) telescopically coupled together. Associated with the telescopically coupled segments are one or more bellows assemblies, further coupled to support structure configured to raise and/or lower the build table. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A cutting system includes a material removal tool having a fluid nozzle with an adjustable diameter, a workpiece including a target shape for removal, and a controller operable to adjust the diameter of the nozzle to vary fluid flow and control an amount of material removed by the material removal tool. The controller is adapted to adjust the nozzle to vary the fluid flow based on a position of the nozzle and workpiece data preoperatively obtained from the workpiece via a continuous feedback loop. A method of cutting a bone is also provided.

Abstract: Method for operating an apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy source, wherein irradiation data define at least two regions (8, 9) of object data relating to a three-dimensional object (2), which regions (8, 9) are irradiated based on at least two different irradiation parameters.

Abstract: Method for operating an apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam (4), wherein at least one energy beam (4) is guided along at least one track segment (13, 16-18) in the build plane based on irradiation data generated based on a space-filling curve.

Abstract: Provided is a block device that mounts a lens shape processing lens holder to a convex surface of a spectacle lens with two alignment reference marks for identifying a distance portion design reference point on a concave surface. The block device includes an imaging unit that images the alignment reference marks of the spectacle lens supported by a support unit from a convex surface side of the spectacle lens, an information processing unit that obtains expected imaged positions of the alignment reference marks imaged by the imaging unit, using information regarding the spectacle lens, when a posture of the spectacle lens supported by the support unit becomes a reference posture suitable for mounting the lens holder, and a display control unit that displays images of index marks indicating the expected imaged positions obtained in the information processing unit and images of the alignment reference marks.

Abstract: Operational events associated with a target physical device can be detected for mitigation by implementing some aspects described herein. For example, a system can apply a sliding window to received sensor measurements at successive time intervals to generate a set of data windows. The system can determine a set of eigenvectors associated with the set of data windows by performing principal component analysis on a set of data points in the set of data windows. The system can determine a set of angle changes between pairs of eigenvectors. The system can generate a measurement profile by executing an integral transform on the set of angle changes. One or more trained machine-learning models are configured to detect an operational event associated with the target physical device based on the measurement profile and generate an output indicating the operational event.

Abstract: Disclosed are a warehousing management method and a warehousing system, wherein the warehousing management method includes: determining whether any of the current warehousing cabinets in the warehousing system could satisfy a balance mechanism trigger condition, wherein the warehousing system includes a plurality of warehousing cabinets, each of the warehousing cabinets includes a plurality of warehousing positions for storing the cartridges; selecting a candidate cartridge for the work in process from the current storage cabinets that does not belong to the machine on the current warehousing cabinet if the current warehousing cabinet could satisfy the balance mechanism trigger condition; controlling the transmission device to convey at least one of the candidate cartridges to the target warehousing cabinet.

Abstract: A micro robot that is moveable in a body includes first quantum dots.

Abstract: A three-dimensional forming system includes a three-dimensional forming apparatus and a control device. The three-dimensional forming apparatus includes a nozzle that discharges a forming material, an opening/closing mechanism that opens or closes a flow path connected to the nozzle, a moving mechanism that changes a relative position between the forming table and the nozzle, and a control unit that perform a control based on forming data. The control device includes a forming data generating unit that analyzes path data including a path indicating a movement direction and a movement distance of the nozzle and a discharge parameter indicating discharging of the forming material, generates the forming data by adding an opening/closing command for driving the opening/closing mechanism to the path data, and transmits the forming data to the three-dimensional forming apparatus.

Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein are used to estimate the insertion loss of an anticipated optical connection between a first optical connector having least one first optical fiber and a second optical connector having at least one second optical fiber. The method includes extracting first connector information stored on the first optical connector to obtain extracted first connector information and extracting second connector information stored on the second optical connector to obtain extracted second connector information. The estimated insertion loss of the anticipated optical connection between the first optical connector and the second optical connector is calculated using the extracted first connector information and the extracted second connector information. The total estimated insertion loss of a fiber link that includes one or more such optical connections can be used to qualify the fiber link without having to directly measure the fiber link insertion loss.

Abstract: Plant for additively manufacturing at least one three-dimensional object, comprising at least one process station being configured to perform an additive manufacturing process and/or at least one preprocessing process for an additive manufacturing process and/or at least one postprocessing process for an additive manufacturing process; at least one conveying device configured to convey an item between at least two positions (P1, P2) of the plant, the conveying device comprising at least one conveying element, the at least one conveying element being at least partially bound to ground, and at least one conveying carriage being connectable or connected with the conveying element so as to be moveable between at least two positions (P1, P2) of the plant, the at least one conveying carriage comprising at least one supporting interface for supporting at least one item.

Abstract: Provided is a method for operating an electronic component mounting system including component storages including a keeping rack, a dry box and a dryer. The method includes, after a reel of a moisture sensitive device is dispatched from a component keeping area and setup to a tape feeder is performed in an external setup area, measuring a exposure time for which the moisture sensitive device is in an atmospheric exposure state is in a reel unit, and comparing the exposure time with an exposure limit time set for the moisture sensitive device and stored in a storage. The method includes stopping using the reel of the moisture sensitive device whose exposure time exceeds the exposure limit time.

Abstract: A method of detecting a malfunction event in an additive manufacturing system includes building a workpiece with the additive manufacturing system. The additive manufacturing system includes a housing, a build chamber disposed within the housing, a recoater disposed within the build chamber, a build platform configured to receive the workpiece, a shaft mounted to the build platform, a sensor in operable communication with the additive manufacturing system, and an actuating mechanism engaged with the shaft such that the actuating mechanism is configured to move the shaft relative to the actuating mechanism. The undesirable event is sensed with the sensor.

Abstract: A modular vehicle assembly system and methods for increased flexibility and adaptability of a high-volume assembly facility which builds several vehicle models. In one example, the invention includes modular assembly equipment (AE) support pallets which are shipped to vendors for installation of selected AE equipment devices that are specific to a predetermined assembly operation and then validation tested prior to shipment to the assembly facility. The validated modular AE pallets and AE devices are then shipped to the assembly facility and quickly installed to support manufacturing, assembly or other operations.

Abstract: A system and method for data collection and frequency analysis with self-organization functionality includes analyzing with a processor a plurality of sensor inputs, sampling with the processor data received from at least one of the plurality of sensor inputs at a first frequency, and self-organizing with the processor a selection operation of the plurality of sensor inputs.

Abstract: A method of controlling an additive manufacturing process in which a directed energy source is used to selectively melt material to form a workpiece, forming a melt pool in the process of melting, the method including: using an imaging apparatus to generate an image of the melt pool comprising an array of individual image elements, the image including a measurement of at least one physical property for each of the individual image elements; from the measurements, mapping a melt pool boundary of the melt pool; and controlling at least one aspect of the additive manufacturing process with reference to the melt pool boundary.

Abstract: A method of controlling an additive manufacturing process in which a directed energy source is used to selectively melt material to form a workpiece, forming a melt pool in the process of melting, the method comprising: using an imaging apparatus to generate an image of the melt pool comprising an array of individual image elements, the image including a measurement of at least one physical property for each of the individual image elements; from the measurements, mapping a melt pool boundary of the melt pool; computing a algebraic connectivity of the melt pool; and controlling at least one aspect of the additive manufacturing process with reference to the algebraic connectivity.

Abstract: Provided is a method for processing containers, wherein the containers are processed by. a first processing device in a first predetermined manner and are transported by. a transport device to a second processing device and are processed by this second processing device in a second predetermined manner, and wherein the processing devices are in each case controlled by at least control devices, wherein for the control parameters are used which are characteristic of the containers and/or the processing of the containers. According to the embodiment, predetermination parameters are output on at least one and preferably on several control devices, and said output predetermination parameters are compared with parameters required by at least one processing device, and it is checked whether the parameters required by the at least one processing device can be derived at least from the predetermination parameters.

Abstract: A setup support device that improves the efficiency of setup of a component mounter by guiding supplying of feeders to a component supply device as preparation for setting of the feeders. The support setup device includes: a preparation cart on which are loaded multiple of the feeders used to perform multiple production jobs; and a feeder identifying section configured to identify multiple of the feeders to be set on a component supply device among the multiple feeders loaded on the preparation cart. The preparation cart includes a guidance section configured to issue guidance all at once for the identified multiple feeders to an operator performing the setup so as to supply the identified multiple feeders to the component supply device as preparation for setting the identified multiple feeders on the component supply device.

Abstract: A modular loading and unloading system wherein modular units can be simply added to a base unit, or main unit, in a desired configuration that fulfill capacity and footprint needs of a manufacturer at any moment, for example when the manufacturer's business expands, thus considerably reducing the time and cost of modifying existing manufacturing systems, such as a laser-based parts cutting system.

Abstract: Methods and processes for moving towards optimizing one or more parameters in a parallel train comprising two hydrocarbon cracking facilities where the two facilities either have non-identical process unit configurations or are operating under non-identical process conditions are disclosed. These methods and processes use models to simulate the impact of interconnecting the facilities by partially withdrawing an intermediate stream from within one cracking facility and adding the partially withdrawn stream to the second cracking facility in order to better optimize the overall operation of the parallel train.

Abstract: A welding system includes a first sensor associated with a welding helmet and configured to sense a parameter indicative of a position of a welding torch relative to the welding helmet. The travel speed sensing system also includes a processing system communicatively coupled to the first sensor and configured to determine a position of the welding torch relative to a workpiece based on the sensed first parameter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for establishing compatibility between a field device or an interface device for a field device and a diagnostic system pertaining to a control system, to the output of which the interface device or field device can be connected. The diagnostic system is adapted to send, via the output of the control system, a test signal to the interface device or field device and to emit an error signal when an electrical response at the output of the control system lies outside an expectancy range. The circuit arrangement comprises voltage influencing means for influencing a voltage at the output of the control system.

Abstract: Provided is a block device that mounts a lens shape processing lens holder to a convex surface of a spectacle lens with two alignment reference marks for identifying a distance portion design reference point on a concave surface. The block device includes an imaging unit that images the alignment reference marks of the spectacle lens supported by a support unit from a convex surface side of the spectacle lens, an information processing unit that obtains expected imaged positions of the alignment reference marks imaged by the imaging unit, using information regarding the spectacle lens, when a posture of the spectacle lens supported by the support unit becomes a reference posture suitable for mounting the lens holder, and a display control unit that displays images of index marks indicating the expected imaged positions obtained in the information processing unit and images of the alignment reference marks.

Abstract: A method is provided for the creation of an addendum for use in the design and production of sheet metal formed components, which method uses a sectionless approach. In a preferred approach, elevation curve (EC) lines are established relating to the component (ECc) and binder (ECb), and it is these lines which are used to design the addendum. Additional EC lines (EC1, EC2, EC3, etc.) can be added to modify or optimize the addendum design. The spaces between the EC lines are filled using various parameterized filling techniques so as to provide the addendum design. Optimization of the addendum can be achieved by modification of the various EC lines, so as to modify or control the various design parameters, in accordance with various quality or design criteria. A more rapid, and less complicated approach to addendum design is provided.

Abstract: A key-duplicating system comprises a network that includes a multiplicity of kiosks at a multiplicity of different locations, each of the kiosks having a customer interface and a processor coupled to the customer interface. A remote central server coupled to the kiosks is adapted to receive, from the kiosks, information identifying master keys to be duplicated. A key analysis module uses the information identifying master keys to be duplicated to derive information required to produce duplicates of the identified master keys, and a key duplicating module uses that information to produce duplicates of said identified master keys.

Abstract: A system for providing access to delivery locations with added security. The system can include a database of images (or other data) of keys associated with a plurality of delivery addresses, or secure delivery locations. When a special handling item—i.e., one that cannot safely be left outside the delivery location—is ordered, the system creates a key to provide access to the secure delivery location. The key can be a one-time use, disposable, shreddable, or otherwise temporary key. The system can also utilize one or more video cameras to record some or all of the delivery process to ensure the delivery driver delivers the item(s), destroys or leaves the key, and leaves the secure delivery location locked, among other things. The manufacturing of a key and/or the choice to use secure delivery can be based on the delivery location, product, delivery value, perishability, or other factors.

Abstract: An example technique for generating slice data from the tree data structure representation of a three dimensional (3-D) object can include obtaining a shape specification of the 3-D object and obtaining a material specification of the 3-D object. The example technique for generating slice data from the tree data structure representation of a 3-D object can also include merging the shape specification and the material specification to create a tree data structure representation of the 3-D object. The example technique for generating slice data from the tree data structure representation of a 3-D object can also include generating slice data from the tree data structure.

Abstract: A medical fluid suspension generating apparatus for performing medical procedures includes a Venturi-agitating tip assembly composed of a multi-channel arrangement at a proximal first end thereof and a tip at a distal second end thereof. The apparatus also includes a compressed medical fluid unit fluidly connected to the multi-channel arrangement at a proximal first end of the Venturi-agitating tip assembly and a medical solution fluidly connected to the multi-channel arrangement at a proximal first end of the Venturi-agitating tip assembly. Pressurized gas, from the compressed medical fluid unit, and the medical solution are combined within the Venturi-agitating tip assembly in a manner generating an enriched medical suspension that is ultimately dispensed from the suspension delivery apparatus.

Abstract: A medical fluid suspension generating apparatus for performing medical procedures includes a Venturi-agitating tip assembly composed of a multi-channel arrangement at a proximal first end thereof and a tip at a distal second end thereof. The apparatus also includes a compressed medical fluid unit fluidly connected to the multi-channel arrangement at a proximal first end of the Venturi-agitating tip assembly and a medical solution fluidly connected to the multi-channel arrangement at a proximal first end of the Venturi-agitating tip assembly. Pressurized sclerosant or other chemical medical solution, from the compressed medical fluid unit, and the medical solution of sclerosant or other chemical medical solution are combined within the Venturi-agitating tip assembly in a manner generating an enriched medical suspension that is ultimately dispensed from the suspension delivery apparatus to spray or wash the inner wall of a lumen.