Ut-battelle, Inc.

Other

Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation

Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Energy

Jansen Laboratories, LLC

John Francis Jansen

Randall F Lind

Lonnie J Love

Reid Leonard Kress

Doni Joe Nastasi

Bradley S Richardson

Douglas Stewart Dorr

Barry L Burks

Fred W DePiero

Gary A Armstrong

Richard C Muller

Neal Fredrick Lightle

Timothy F Gee

A sensor-enabled aerial vehicle carries spatial electric and magnetic field detection sensors and a processing system that employs algorithmic methods to process sensor data. The sensors effectively detect electric and magnetic fields that emanate from energized objects, and the algorithmic methodology analyzes the sensor data to distinguish whether the energized object is unintentionally energized. The aerial propulsion system is enclosed within two electrically conducting hemispheres that are electrically insulated from each other. Alternatively, the hemispheres may be suspended below the aerial vehicle. The hemispheres function as a large area electric-field collection surface, wherein a small alternating current (AC) developed between the two hemispheres is proportional to the collected AC electric fields.

Method and apparatus for aerial scanning and detection of contact voltages and distinguishing between normal and abnormal sources of electric fields

A method for determining the health of a transformer through vibration measurement is disclosed. A vibratory signal, in the form of a physical mechanical vibration or auditory signal, is received at a sensor. The vibratory signal is converted into a frequency representation of the signal to derive its harmonics. Based on the power level for the harmonics in the vibratory signal, the harmonic current ratios in the transformer are calculated. The harmonic current ratios are summed together to quantify the health of the transformer. This value is called a K-factor, and is a quantification of the health of the transformer.

System and method for remotely monitoring the health of a transformer

A mesofluidic scale digital valve system includes a first mesofluidic scale valve having a valve body including a bore, wherein the valve body is configured to cooperate with a solenoid disposed substantially adjacent to the valve body to translate a poppet carried within the bore. The mesofluidic scale digital valve system also includes a second mesofluidic scale valve disposed substantially perpendicular to the first mesofluidic scale valve. The mesofluidic scale digital valve system further includes a control element in communication with the solenoid, wherein the control element is configured to maintain the solenoid in an energized state for a fixed period of time to provide a desired flow rate through an orifice of the second mesofluidic valve.

Mesofluidic two stage digital valve

A mesofluidic powered robotic and/or prosthetic finger joint includes a first finger section having at least one mesofluidic actuator in fluid communication with a first actuator, a second mesofluidic actuator in fluid communication with a second actuator and a second prosthetic finger section pivotally connected to the first finger section by a joint pivot, wherein the first actuator pivotally cooperates with the second finger to provide a first mechanical advantage relative to the joint point and wherein the second actuator pivotally cooperates with the second finger section to provide a second mechanical advantage relative to the joint point.

Mesofluidic controlled robotic or prosthetic finger

A repairable high-payload six-axis load sensor includes a table, a base, and at least three shear-pin load transducers removably mounted between the table and the base. Removable mounting permits easy replacement of damaged shear pins. Preferably, the shear-pin load transducers are responsive to shear forces imparted along the two axes perpendicular to an axis of minimum sensitivity characteristic of the transducer. Responsive to an applied shear force, each shear-pin load transducer can produce an electrical signal proportional to the reaction force. The load sensor can further include a structure for receiving the proportional electrical signals and computing the applied load corresponding to the proportional electrical signals. The computed load can be expressed in terms of a three-dimensional XYZ Cartesian coordinate system.

High payload six-axis load sensor

A human extender controller for interface between a human operator and a physical object through a physical plant. The human extender controller uses an inner-feedback loop to increase the equivalent damping of the operating system to stabilize the system when it contacts with the environment and reduces the impact of the environment variation by utilizing a high feedback gain, determined by a root locus sketch. Because the stability of the human extender controller of the present invention is greatly enhanced over that of the prior art, the present invention is able to achieve a force reflection ratio 500 to 1 and capable of handling loads above the two (2) ton range.

Apparatus and methods for a human extender

Wall-less animal containment system

A human de-amplifier system for interfacing a human operator and a physical object through a physical plant, wherein the physical object has dimensions in the range of 1 micrometer to 1 mm. The human de-amplifier system uses an inner-feedback loop to increases the equivalent damping of the operating system to stabilize the system when it contacts with the environment and reduces the impact of the environment variation by utilizing a high feedback gain, determined by a root locus sketch. Because the stability of the human de-amplifier system of the present invention is greatly enhanced over that of the prior art, the de-amplifier system is able to manipulate the physical object has dimensions in the range of 1 micrometer to 1 mm with high stability and accuracy. The system also has a monitoring device to monitor the motion of the physical object under manipulation.

Apparatus and methods for a human de-amplifier system

An enclosure which defines an extension located both immediately above and rearward of an aquarium with a front wall, a rear wall, opposing side walls, a bottom wall, an open top. The enclosure comprising a fame that includes a plurality of support members. Located about the frame members is a screen material or other material which defines the top, front, sides and rear walls of said enclosure. An opening is defined in the enclosure by the support members and the screen material. The opening is horizontally oriented, generally adjacent to the front wall and spaced below the top wall of the enclosure. The frame is adapted to be mounted relative to the aquarium such that the opening is generally coincidental with the open top of the aquarium. A portion of said enclosure is thus located above the aquarium with another portion of the enclosure located above and rearward of the rear wall of the aquarium. In this manner, the enclosure provides an enclosed space that extends both above and rearward of an aquarium so as to enable the healthy confinement of additional, principally land-based animals in a varied environment.

Aquarium extension

A position and orientation tracking system presents a laser scanning appaus having two measurement pods, a control station, and a detector array. The measurement pods can be mounted in the dome of a radioactive waste storage silo. Each measurement pod includes dual orthogonal laser scanner subsystems. The first laser scanner subsystem is oriented to emit a first line laser in the pan direction. The second laser scanner is oriented to emit a second line laser in the tilt direction. Both emitted line lasers scan planes across the radioactive waste surface to encounter the detector array mounted on a target robotic vehicle. The angles of incidence of the planes with the detector array are recorded by the control station. Combining measurements describing each of the four planes provides data for a closed form solution of the algebraic transform describing the position and orientation of the target robotic vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Knoxville, TN, United States of America

John Francis Jansen