In an example implementation, a method includes receiving, at a processor, historical pole data records representing utility poles and having one or more pole attributes. Likewise, a method includes generating one or more pole subpopulations of historical pole data records having at least one common pole attribute. Further, the method includes performing a predictive algorithm on each pole subpopulation. Finally, the method includes determining, based on a predictive algorithm, the number of poles in the particular subpopulation that are likely to meet a rejection condition within a specified time frame. In another example implementation, a method includes receiving a sample pole data record representing a particular sample data pole and determining the likelihood of the particular sample utility pole meeting a rejection condition within a specified time frame.

A phased ultrasonic transducer and method for transmitting sound or ultrasound through a gaseous medium into a solid spectrum with ultrasound beam steering and focusing.

A phased ultrasonic transducer and method for transmitting sound or ultrasound through a gaseous medium into a solid spectrum with ultrasound beam steering and focusing.

A method for obstacle detection and recognition for an intelligent snow sweeping robot is disclosed, comprising: 1) disposing ultrasonic sensors at a front end of the snow sweeping robot to detect distance information from an obstacle ahead; and disposing radar sensors at the front and rear of the snow sweeping robot to detect whether a creature suddenly approaches; 2) processing signals detected by each of the ultrasonic sensors and radar sensors, and calculating a forward distance of the snow sweeping robot; and 3) determining a snow cover extent of a working road, detecting a change of the distance from the obstacles, and recognizing the obstacles for conditions of an ultrasonic ranging variation ratio and a variation of the forward distance of the snow sweeping robot, a change of the signal detected by radar sensors, and a descriptive statistic of the snow cover extent within a specific time period.

A method for obstacle detection and recognition for an intelligent snow sweeping robot is disclosed, comprising: 1) disposing ultrasonic sensors at a front end of the snow sweeping robot to detect distance information from an obstacle ahead; and disposing radar sensors at the front and rear of the snow sweeping robot to detect whether a creature suddenly approaches; 2) processing signals detected by each of the ultrasonic sensors and radar sensors, and calculating a forward distance of the snow sweeping robot; and 3) determining a snow cover extent of a working road, detecting a change of the distance from the obstacles, and recognizing the obstacles for conditions of an ultrasonic ranging variation ratio and a variation of the forward distance of the snow sweeping robot, a change of the signal detected by radar sensors, and a descriptive statistic of the snow cover extent within a specific time period.

A system including an inspection robot having a plurality of sensors, a further sensor, and a controller. The controller having circuitry to receive inspection data with a first resolution from the plurality of sensors, determine a characteristic on the inspection surface based on the inspection data, and provide an inspection operation adjustment in response to the characteristic, wherein the inspection operation adjustment includes a change from the first resolution to a second resolution. The change from the first resolution to the second resolution includes enabling the further sensor where the further sensor is at least one of: horizontally distributed with or vertically displaced from the plurality of sensors relative to a travel path of the plurality of sensors, and at least one of: offset in alignment from the travel path of the plurality of sensors, or operated out of phase with the plurality of sensors.

A system including an inspection robot having a plurality of sensors, a further sensor, and a controller. The controller having circuitry to receive inspection data with a first resolution from the plurality of sensors, determine a characteristic on the inspection surface based on the inspection data, and provide an inspection operation adjustment in response to the characteristic, wherein the inspection operation adjustment includes a change from the first resolution to a second resolution. The change from the first resolution to the second resolution includes enabling the further sensor where the further sensor is at least one of: horizontally distributed with or vertically displaced from the plurality of sensors relative to a travel path of the plurality of sensors, and at least one of: offset in alignment from the travel path of the plurality of sensors, or operated out of phase with the plurality of sensors.

A micromachined ultrasonic transducer (MUT). The MUT includes: a substrate; a membrane suspending from the substrate; a bottom electrode disposed on the membrane; a piezoelectric layer disposed on the bottom electrode and an asymmetric top electrode is disposed on the piezoelectric layer. The areal density distribution of the asymmetric electrode along an axis has a plurality of local maxima, wherein locations of the plurality of local maxima coincide with locations where a plurality of anti-nodal points at a vibrational resonance frequency is located.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor structure. The apparatus includes a stage, an optical transceiver over the stage, configured to obtain a first profile of a first surface of a substrate, an acoustic transceiver over the stage, configured to obtain a second profile of a top surface of a photo-sensitive layer over the substrate, wherein the stage is adapted to be displaced based on the first profile and the second profile.

An elevator system includes a car door and a sensor module. The car door is movable relative to an elevator car by a drive mechanism. The sensor module includes a first acoustic sensor arranged to provide a first acoustic signal, a second acoustic sensor arranged to provide a second acoustic signal, and a processor arranged to receive the first acoustic signal and the second acoustic signal. The processor is programmed to, responsive to an input provided to the first acoustic sensor and the second acoustic sensor, identify a direction of an elevator system noise source based on a first time delay based on the first acoustic signal and the second acoustic signal.