Abstract:
The present disclosure provides an apparatus for removing coatings from objects' surface using laser. One exemplary apparatus includes a mobile manipulator carrying an optical device to apply laser to an object for removing the coatings on its surface. One aspect of this disclosure provides methods for sensing the geometry of the surface and the status of the coatings and controlling the motion of the manipulator and the laser settings according to the sensed information.
Abstract:
A modular and scalable Matrix-type Fault Current Limiter (MFCL) that functions as a “variable impedance” device in an electric power network, using components made of superconducting and non-superconducting electrically conductive materials. An inductor is connected in series with the trigger superconductor in the trigger matrix and physically surrounds the superconductor. The current surge during a fault will generate a trigger magnetic field in the series inductor to cause fast and uniform quenching of the trigger superconductor to significantly reduce burnout risk due to superconductor material non-uniformity.
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides an apparatus for delivering a laser beam from a stationary end to a movable end. One exemplary apparatus comprises multiple segments of articulated tubes with mirrors encapsulated inside the tubes for deflecting the laser beams and a self-balancing suspension system to support this beam delivery system to allow at least one of its ends to be movable.
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a method for simultaneously performing a robot's kinematic calibration and hand-eye calibration. One exemplary method comprises acquiring a plurality of point clouds of a calibration fixture and formulating this simultaneous calibration problem as an optimization problem based on the collection of point clouds of the same fixture.
Abstract:
An isolation transformer is introduced into a matrix fault current limiter (MFCL) and is used to couple elements in trigger matrices and current limiting matrices. The isolation transformer can either be a voltage step-up or step-down configuration. In step-up configurations, the increased voltage supplied to the current limiting elements improves the quenching of the superconductor. In step-down configurations, current limiting elements are subject to lower voltage potentials thereby reducing the electrical insulation requirement between the trigger matrix and the current limiting matrix. In addition, the voltage amplification coefficient of each isolation transformer can vary for different columns of the current limiting matrix to maximize the current limiting performance.
Abstract:
A modular and scaleable Matrix Fault Current Limiter (MFCL) that functions as a “variable impedance” device in an electric power network, using components made of superconducting and non-superconducting electrically conductive materials. The matrix fault current limiter comprises a fault current limiter module that includes a superconductor which is electrically coupled in parallel with a trigger coil, wherein the trigger coil is magnetically coupled to the superconductor. The current surge doing a fault within the electrical power network will cause the superconductor to transition to its resistive state and also generate a uniform magnetic field in the trigger coil and simultaneously limit the voltage developed across the superconductor. This results in fast and uniform quenching of the superconductors, significantly reduces the burnout risk associated with non-uniformity often exitsting within the volume of superconductor materials. The fault current limiter modules may be electrically coupled together to form various “n” (rows)דm” (columns) matrix configurations.
Abstract:
A modular and scalable Matrix-type Fault Current Limiter (MFCL) that functions as a “variable impedance” device in an electric power network, using components made of superconducting and non-superconducting electrically conductive materials. An inductor is connected in series with the trigger superconductor in the trigger matrix and physically surrounds the superconductor. The current surge during a fault will generate a trigger magnetic field in the series inductor to cause fast and uniform quenching of the trigger superconductor to significantly reduce burnout risk due to superconductor material non-uniformity.
Abstract:
A modular and scalable Matrix-type Fault Current Limiter (MFCL) that functions as a “variable impedance” device in an electric power network, using components made of superconducting and non-superconducting electrically conductive materials. An inductor is connected in series with the trigger superconductor in the trigger matrix and physically surrounds the superconductor. The current surge during a fault will generate a trigger magnetic field in the series inductor to cause fast and uniform quenching of the trigger superconductor to significantly reduce burnout risk due to superconductor material non-uniformity.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for magnetically triggering a superconductor in a superconducting fault current limiter to transition from a superconducting state to a resistive state. The triggering is achieved by employing current-carrying trigger coil or foil on either or both the inner diameter and outer diameter of a superconductor. The current-carrying coil or foil generates a magnetic field with sufficient strength and the superconductor is disposed within essentially uniform magnetic field region. For superconductor in a tubular-configured form, an additional magnetic field can be generated by placing current-carrying wire or foil inside the tube and along the center axial line.
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides an apparatus for automatically programming a robot to follow the contour of an object. One exemplary apparatus includes a 3D perception module for reconstructing a 3D digital model of the surface of objects and a planning software module for generating a path using said 3D digital model for a robot to follow. One aspect of this disclosure provides methods for sensing the geometry of a surface, reconstructing its 3D model, and creating paths for a robot to traverse along the surface.