公开(公告)号：US11666258B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-06

申请号：US16523147

申请日：2019-07-26

Applicant: WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE

Inventor： Mina Shojaeizadeh ,  Soussan Djamasbi ,  Randy C. Paffenroth ,  Andrew C. Trapp

IPC: A61B5/16 ,  A61B3/113 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F9/54 ,  G06T7/20 ,  G06N20/00 ,  G06F18/214 ,  G06V40/19

CPC classification number: A61B5/163 ,  A61B3/113 ,  G06F3/013 ,  G06F3/017 ,  G06F9/542 ,  G06F18/214 ,  G06N20/00 ,  G06T7/20 ,  G06V40/19

Abstract: A visual tracking system, comprises an eye-tracking device and a cognitive load detection device disposed in electrical communication with the eye-tracking device, the cognitive load detection device comprising a controller having a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to receive eye-movement data from the eye-tracking device, the eye-movement data comprising pupil dilation event data and at least one of saccade event data and fixation event data, apply a classification function to the eye-movement data to detect a cognitive load associated with the eye-movement data and corresponding to a visual location of a field of view of the user, and output a notification regarding the cognitive load associated with the eye-movement data.

公开(公告)号：US11590406B2

公开(公告)日：2023-02-28

申请号：US15952451

申请日：2018-04-13

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Jacob J. Billington ,  Jonathan D. Comden ,  Sean J. Regan ,  Thomas C. Roberti ,  Christopher A. Brown

IPC: A63C5/075 ,  A63C9/084 ,  A63C9/00

Abstract: A ski binding reduces a likelihood of injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the tibia is accomplished by absorption in the binding to limit loads transmitted through the boot-binding interface. Release based on an injury threshold includes a binding response tower attached to the ski and adapted for selective engagement with the ski, such that the binding response tower permits biased vertical and lateral horizontal displacement, prior to a release threshold. The binding is in communication with the boot heel and is adapted for slideable engagement in response to vertical and lateral forces exerted from the boot heel. The binding response tower adapted to disengage, or release upon reaching at least one a predetermined lateral displacement or a predetermined vertical displacement, such as when the boot heel is forced sufficiently sideways or upwards due to skier movement that would tend to cause an ACL injury.

公开(公告)号：US11566186B2

公开(公告)日：2023-01-31

申请号：US17055014

申请日：2019-05-15

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Michael T. Timko ,  Geoffrey A. Tompsett ,  Azadeh Zaker

IPC: C10G45/26 ,  C10G45/12 ,  B01J29/40

Abstract: A petroleum refining method for upgrading petroleum products improves the efficiency and reduces the costs of upgrading oils, such as lipids, bitumen, crude oil, fracking oils, synthetic oils, and other feeds, to produce useful fuels and chemical precursor streams. Usage of a specific type of zeolite (ZSM-5) catalyst, supercritical water to control coke formation, and a specific response to phase behavior and other catalytic effects optimize the process. A prescribed set of reactor conditions employing supercritical water increases activity of the catalyst in industrial reactions.

公开(公告)号：US20220332003A1

公开(公告)日：2022-10-20

申请号：US17721553

申请日：2022-04-15

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Berk Calli

IPC: B26D3/10

Abstract: A robotic cutting device includes a cutting tool responsive to a mobile actuator adapted to apply a cutting force in a 3-dimensional (3D) space, and scanning logic configured to identify a cutting path denoted on an article for cutting. Using the cutting path, a mobile actuator is responsive to positioning logic for disposing the cutting tool along the cutting path for performing a prescribed cut on the article. The mobile actuator is a robotic arm responsive to an independent coordinate frame based on a position and orientation of a mobility vehicle supporting the mobile actuator. The mobility vehicle is typically a tracked or all-terrain capable chassis adapted to be disposed adjacent to the article such that the article is within range of the actuator. The mobility vehicle transports the robotic cutting device adjacent to the article to be cut, such that the cutting path is within reach.

公开(公告)号：US20220325378A1

公开(公告)日：2022-10-13

申请号：US17719080

申请日：2022-04-12

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Yan Wang ,  Jiahui Hou ,  Xiaotu MA ,  Jinzhao Fu

IPC: C22B26/12 ,  C22B3/06 ,  H01M10/54 ,  C01D15/08

Abstract: Lithium recycling from expended Li-Ion batteries occurs thought selective recovery of lithium charge materials from a recycling stream including transition metals used for the charge material. Li recovery includes dissolving the lithium based charge material in an organic acid having a resistance or lack of affinity to dissolution of transition metals, and distilling a leach solution formed from the dissolved charge material for generating a powder including lithium and trace impurities of the transition metals. Sintering of the generated powder forms lithium carbonate and carbonates of the trace impurities that eluded the selective leach, however, since the trace impurities are insoluble in water, the lithium carbonate is recoverable by water washing.

公开(公告)号：US20220325184A1

公开(公告)日：2022-10-13

申请号：US17713818

申请日：2022-04-05

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Michael T. Timko ,  Geoffrey A. Tompsett ,  Azadeh Zaker

IPC: C10G1/08 ,  C10G1/06

Abstract: Methods are described herein for upgrading ad refining hydrocarbons, and producing at least one petrochemical product, the method including: preparing a reaction mixture by adding at least two of: a quantity of bioethanol, a quantity of hydrocarbon, and a quantity of water to a reactor containment; combining the reaction mixture with a quantity of catalyst in the reactor containment; applying reaction conditions to the reactor containment thereby generating supercritical conditions for the reaction mixture and obtaining a product mixture; and extracting at least one petrochemical product from the product mixture.

公开(公告)号：US20220311068A1

公开(公告)日：2022-09-29

申请号：US17841152

申请日：2022-06-15

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Yan Wang ,  Eric Gratz ,  Qina Sa ,  Zhangfeng Zheng ,  Joseph Heelan ,  Kee-Chan Kim

IPC: H01M10/54 ,  C22B3/00 ,  C22B26/22 ,  C22B1/24 ,  C22B7/00

Abstract: Cathode material from exhausted lithium ion batteries are dissolved in a solution for extracting the useful elements Co (cobalt), Ni (nickel), Al (Aluminum) and Mn (manganese) to produce active cathode materials for new batteries. The solution includes compounds of desirable materials such as cobalt, nickel, aluminum and manganese dissolved as compounds from the exhausted cathode material of spent cells. Depending on a desired proportion, or ratio, of the desired materials, raw materials are added to the solution to achieve the desired ratio of the commingled compounds for the recycled cathode material for new cells. The desired materials precipitate out of solution without extensive heating or separation of the desired materials into individual compounds or elements. The resulting active cathode material has the predetermined ratio for use in new cells, and avoids high heat typically required to separate the useful elements because the desired materials remain commingled in solution.

公开(公告)号：US20220280755A1

公开(公告)日：2022-09-08

申请号：US17562785

申请日：2021-12-27

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Gregory S. Fischer ,  Hao Su

IPC: A61M25/01 ,  A61M5/32 ,  A61M5/46 ,  A61B34/30 ,  A61B34/37

Abstract: A needle steering system and apparatus provides active, semi-autonomous control of needle insertion paths while still enabling a clinician ultimate control over needle insertion. A method and system controls the needle path as the needle is inserted by precisely controlling the rotation of the needle as it continuously rotates during insertion. This enables underactuated 2 degree-of-freedom (DOF) control of the direction and the curvature of the needle from a single rotary actuator. Control of the rotary motion is therefore decoupled from the needle insertion. The rotary motion controls steering effort and direction, while the insertion controls needle depth or insertion speed. In one implementation, the proposed method does not require constant velocity insertion, interleaved insertion and rotation, or known insertion position or speed. The insertion may be provided by a robot or other automated method, may be a manual insertion, or may be a teleoperated insertion.

公开(公告)号：US20220252388A1

公开(公告)日：2022-08-11

申请号：US17669042

申请日：2022-02-10

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Yuxiang Liu ,  Hamed Jafarishad ,  Mucheng Li

IPC: G01B11/16

Abstract: A strain gauge device employs a reflective base adapted to reflect a divergent optical signal, and a glass tube attached to the reflective base for optical communication therewith, the glass tube having a working length into which an optical fiber is inserted. The optical fiber is configured for transporting an optic signal indicative of the detected strain. The optic fiber has an outside diameter slightly smaller than an inside diameter of the glass tube for providing a slight tolerance. A distal end is disposed in slidable communication with an interior of the glass tube and accommodated by the tolerance, and a sensing circuit at the proximate end receives an optical signal indicative of strain or displacement. A resilient buffer layer made of soft silicone is disposed outside the glass tube to allow for large deformation measurements and reduce the distortion of the deformation by the introduction of the sensor.

公开(公告)号：US20220238893A1

公开(公告)日：2022-07-28

申请号：US17586165

申请日：2022-01-27

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Adam C. Powell ,  Boyd Davis ,  Uday Bhanu Pal ,  Yu Zhong ,  Christian Faria ,  Naoki Ono ,  Takeshi Inozume ,  Chiaki Endo ,  Tomoya Miyauchi

IPC: H01M8/0234 ,  H01M4/96 ,  H01M8/14

Abstract: Devices and methods for generating electricity in a direct carbon fuel cell are provided herein. The method includes heating and melting an alloy to obtain a liquid alloy anode; circulating the liquid alloy anode through a porous ceramic cathode, the cathode being a tubular structure and in communication with oxygen; reducing the oxygen at the porous cathode to obtain oxygen ions for diffusing through an electrolyte to the liquid alloy anode; and oxidizing the oxygen ions at the liquid alloy anode thereby generating electricity. The direct carbon fuel cells have high electronic conductivity, high carbon solubility with fast carbon diffusion, lower viscosity and eutectic temperatures, and rapid fuel dissolution kinetics.