Abstract:
A robotic system (100) includes a robot (200) with one or more end-effectors (211) that combine at least one physical object (22), e.g. piles or tiles (42), etc., and a physical structure (20), e.g. a bridge or a wall (47) at a production site (26), e.g. a river site or a building, according to a production process. Sensors (212), e.g. force, speed, position, shape, optical/camera, etc. generate measurements relating to the production process. For example, a model of the production site (26) may provide a civil engineer's conception of how the concrete piles and other construction materials can be combined to build the desired bridge. A control system (218) stores specifications for the production process based on a model of the production site and/or the at least one object. The control system receives the measurements from the sensors, determines a difference based on the measurements and the specifications, determines adjustments to the production process based on the determined difference, and sends instructions for the end-effectors based on the specifications and the adjustments. The end-effectors combine a second object with the first object and the one or more objects based on the specifications and the one or more adjustments. By allowing the robot to adjust the production process on its own, the production process can continue without interruption and/or intervention by operators.
Abstract:
Example implementations may relate to a mobile robotic device that is operable to reorient a distance sensor using an adjustable leveler. According to these implementations, the robotic device may determine a height map indicating surface elevation data for a ground surface on which the robotic device is travelling within an environment. Then, the robotic device may determine a current location of the robotic device relative to the height map. Based on the current location, the robotic device may determine a current spatial orientation of the distance sensor relative to the ground surface. Further, the robotic device may (i) determine an adjusted position of the leveler to which the leveler is movable to cause the distance sensor to spatially reorient from the current spatial orientation to a target spatial orientation and (ii) cause the distance sensor to reorient to the target spatial orientation by moving the leveler to the adjusted position.
Abstract:
A method of chemical extraction from an aqueous solution includes receiving an aqueous solution including dissolved inorganic carbon. The method also includes increasing a pH of a first portion of the aqueous solution to form a basic solution. The basic solution is then combined with a second portion of the aqueous solution to precipitate calcium salts. The calcium salts are then collected.
Abstract:
A method of making building materials from an aqueous solution includes receiving the aqueous solution with dissolved ions and increasing a pH of the aqueous solution so the dissolved ions precipitate from the aqueous solution as salt. The method also includes collecting the salt precipitated from the aqueous solution and forming the building materials from the salt.
Abstract:
A photovoltaic ("PV") macro-module for solar power generation includes a plurality of solar cell strings disposed within a laminated support structure. The solar cell strings generate solar power in response to light incident upon a frontside of the solar cell strings. Each of the solar cell strings includes a plurality of solar cells electrically connected in series. The laminated support includes a substrate layer to provide physical environmental protection to a back side of the solar cell strings, a backside encapsulant layer disposed between the substrate layer and the solar cell strings, and a frontside encapsulant layer. The backside encapsulant layer conforms to and molds around the back side of the solar cell strings while the frontside encapsulant layer conforms to and molds around the frontside of the solar cell strings. The laminated support structure is compliant to rolling or folding.
Abstract:
The present application describes a method including transmitting at least two radar signals by a radar unit of a vehicle, where a first signal is transmitted from a first location and a second signal is transmitted from a second location. The method also includes receiving a respective reflection signal associated with each of the transmitted signals. Additionally, the method includes determining, by a processor, at least one stationary object that caused a reflection, Further, the method includes, based on the determined stationary object, determining, by the processor, an offset for the radar unit The method yet further includes operating the radar unit based on the determined offset. Furthermore, the method includes controlling an autonomous vehicle based on the radar unit being operated with the determined offset.
Abstract:
An energy kite may be coupled to a tether and ground station via an electro-mechanical bridle. The energy kite may generate a significant amount of lift during power generation and may need to transfer this load to a tether that is anchored at the ground. Transferring the load at a single point would place a substantial bending moment on the energy kite. To mitigate this bending moment, the load may be divided between multiple locations with a bridle system. The bridle system may have a plurality of electrical conductors to conduct electrical power and signals.
Abstract:
Embodiments described herein may relate to a system, comprising a power source configured to provide a signal at an oscillation frequency; a transmitter coupled to the power source, wherein the transmitter comprises at least one transmit resonator; one or more receivers, wherein the at least one receive resonator is operable to be coupled to the transmit resonator via a wireless resonant coupling link; one or more loads, wherein each of the one or more loads is switchably coupled to one or more respective receive resonators. The system includes a controller configured to determine an operational state of the system, wherein the operational state comprises at least one of three coupling modes (common mode, differential mode, and inductive mode), and is configured to cause the transmitter to provide electrical power to each of the one or more loads via the wireless resonant coupling link according to the determined operational state.
Abstract:
An example tote package is disclosed for carrying a load external to a UAV. The tote package may be generated by folding a sheet of material. The sheet may include a middle section, a first side section, and a second side section. When the sheet is folded, the middle section may create a bottom portion of the tote package. Additionally, the first side section may create a first side portion tapering up from the edge of the bottom portion to the middle of the top portion of the tote package. Furthermore, the second side section may create a second side portion tapering up from the opposite edge to the middle of the top portion. At the top portion, the first and second sections may connect to create a handle. The first side, second side, and middle sections may be folded to create front and back portions of the tote package.
Abstract:
Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for generating a spatio-temporal object inventory based on object observations from mobile robots and determining, based on the spatio-temporal object inventory, monitoring parameters for the mobile robots for one or more future time periods. Some implementations relate to using the spatio-temporal object inventory to determine a quantity of movements of objects that occur in one or more areas of the environment when one or more particular criteria are satisfied - and using that determination to determine monitoring parameters that can be utilized to provide commands to one or more of the mobile robots that influence one or more aspects of movements of the mobile robots at future time periods when the one or more particular criteria are also satisfied.