Aerovironment, Inc.

University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.

City of Hope

Apium Inc.

Department of Water and Power City of Los Angeles

Thomas Zambrano

Tyler MacCready

Danny S Parker

Bart Dean Hibbs

Phillip T Tokumaru

Larry Hayashigawa

Taras Kiceniuk, Jr

Tim Conver

Kent Steven West

Stel N Walker

Scott C Newbern

Ronald Vandenbrink

Sankaran Ramakrishnan

Tyler Maccready

A system and method for generating an artificial topography in a distributed array of robotic agents. Each robotic agent stores, and periodically updates a parameter value or 'A-value' in accordance with a process including, e.g., averaging neighboring A-values, received from close neighbor robotic agents, biasing the A-value based on external commands or measured environmental parameters, and decreasing the A-value by a cooling rate factor. Averaging among neighboring robotic agents results eventually in a globally smoothed distribution of A-values. A gradient may be estimated for the distribution of A-values, and the robotic agents may be programmed to move in the direction of the gradient, toward increasing A-values. This behavior may be employed to cause the robotic agents to follow a robotic agent with a fixed, relatively large, A-value, or, if the A-values are biased by features (e.g., gradients or steps) in environmental parameters, to converge on such features.

Swarm autopilot

A charging system detachably drawing from a power source comprising: (a) an electrical output configuration; (b) an electrical input configuration; and (c) an energy store configuration; and methods of provisioning the energy store, the charging system, and electric vehicle charger devices.

Stored energy and charging appliance

Wind turbine assembly, and related method, is provided that exploits an aerodynamically enhanced wind region of a building in proximity to a parapet of the building. A wind turbine assembly includes a support assembly configured to couple to a building in proximity to a parapet of the building and a rotor assembly coupled to the support assembly such that its rotor is oriented relative to the enhanced wind region to optimize electrical generation.

Wind turbine assembly and related method

High efficiency twisted leaf ceiling fan

Ceiling fan blade

Twisted leaf shaped ceiling fan blades for low, medium and high speed operation of less than approximately 250 rpm. The novel blades twisted blades can be configured for 52&#x2033;, 54&#x2033;, 56&#x2033;, 60&#x2033; and 64&#x2033; diameter fans, and have less blades (3 for example) than conventional flat type bladed fans having 4, 5 blades and have greater air flow and less power draw results than the conventional flat 54 inch fans. Any of the novel twisted blades of 48&#x2033;, 52&#x2033;, 54&#x2033;, 56&#x2033;, 60&#x2033; and 64&#x2033; can be run at reduced speeds, drawing less Watts than conventional fans and still perform better with more air flow and less problems than conventional flat type conventional leaf shaped blades.

High efficiency twisted leaf blade ceiling fan

Wind turbine system, and related method, is provided that exploits an aerodynamically enhanced wind zone of a structure by aligning a wind turbine generator, and preferably a plurality thereof, along a wall thereof. Each generator includes a structural support, a wind turbine rotor and a generator set. The system includes a mounting assembly that attaches the generators to the upper edge of a wall of the building and that allows for easy retrofit attachment to existing structures. The system includes a busway extending along the mounting assembly and configured to provide electrical contact between the generator assembly and the electrical infrastructure of the building. Preferably, the generator assembly is mounted such that the rotor's axis of rotation is in a generally horizontal orientation. The system may further include a fairing attached to the mounting assembly and configured to extend outward from a front side of the wall. The fairing can be provided with a downwardly curved planar shape to facilitate airflow towards the rotors.

Building incorporating a wind turbine system

Wind turbine system

An improved cane to assist walking, comprising a shaft, a base and an articulated connection allowing the base to pivot relative to the shaft, depending upon the slope of the surface below the base, the connection characterized in that articulation capability decreases as downward loading on the shaft is increased, and articulation capability increases as downward loading on the shaft is decreased. Articulation capacity may have a path of resistance that guides the user into selected patterns of therapeutic motion.

Articulated cane

A method of and apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves by utilizing a float with excessive buoyancy. The basic arrangement and principle utilizes a float with excess buoyancy which exerts a primarily upward buoyant force on the float along a direction perpendicular to the isobaric surfaces of the ocean waves which changes as the ocean waves propagating through the water body. A holding device is used to hold the float under the ocean surface, which exerts a primarily downward holding force on the float while allowing the float to move back and forth in a substantially horizontal direction as a result of a substantially horizontal force which is a combination of the holding force and the buoyant force. A turbine is attached to the float or the holding device for generating electricity as the float moves back and forth in the liquid body.

Method of and apparatus for wave energy conversion using a float with excess buoyancy

Leaf blower

An improved portable electrically powered leaf blower is disclosed that can provide levels of air flow and velocity comparable to those of gasoline-powered blowers, yet that generates substantially reduced noise, eliminates exhaust emissions and emissions from spilled fuel, and is lightweight and convenient to operate. The leaf blower incorporates a sound-insulated duct that encloses an electric motor and fan assembly, and a handle projects above the duct's inlet end. Electrical power is provided by a battery pack carried in a backpack worn by the operator. Positioning the primary noise sources within a duct that in use is positioned close to the ground minimizes noise levels both at the operator's ears and at a distance.

Growing community of inventors

Long Beach, CA, United States of America

Thomas Zambrano