Disclosed are methods, materials and devices for approximation of blood volume in a fluid, such as in a biological fluid collected during a surgical procedure. The method and devices may include a RBC flocculant, such as polyDADMAC, and provide for an approximate blood hematocrit for a selected type of animal, as well as provide for a calculated RBC packing ratio corresponding to the collection device receiving the fluid. Also provided is a Blood Indicator Panel (BIP), comprising a series of markings calculated from an observed red blood cell sedimentation volume, the average animal type hematocrit, and a calculated RBC packing ratio “η” value for the collection device. Pediatric (about 200 ml or 250 ml size container), adult human (about 1,000 ml-1,500 ml) and veterinary (about 500 ml-2,500 ml) collection containers are also disclosed, that may include a RBC flocculant, for use in approximating blood volume in a fluid. Methods of detecting blood in a sample, such as a fluid sample, and kits for performing the methods, are also provided.

An example autonomous or remotely piloted aircraft includes a virtual aperture radar system including a plurality of antennas relationally positioned on one or more surfaces of the aircraft such that individual beams from each of the plurality of antennas scan respective volumes around the aircraft and the respective volumes together substantially form an ellipsoidal field of regard around the aircraft, and a computing device having one or more processors configured to execute instructions stored in memory for performing functions of: combining the respective volumes together to form an image representative of the ellipsoidal field of regard around the aircraft, and identifying one or more objects within the image.

A computer-implemented method of enabling optimisation of trajectory for a vehicle, the method comprising: determining a trajectory for the vehicle using: an algorithm; a vehicle model defining path constraints for the vehicle through space; a propulsion system model defining parameters of a propulsion system of the vehicle; an objective function defining one or more objectives; and controlling output of the determined trajectory.

Deployed drones are managed. For instance, a first drone detects whether the first drone is in communication with a command center via a first communication network to determine a configuration parameter of a first message to broadcast discovery information associated with the first drone. In response to the first drone being in communication with the command center via the first communication network, the first drone broadcasts the first message configured with a first value for the configuration parameter. Or, in response to the first drone not being in communication with the command center via the first communication network, the first drone broadcasts the first message configured with a second value for the configuration parameter different from the first value.

Systems and methods for geofence information delivery are disclosed. A multiplicity of devices constructed and configured in network communication in a region of interest via a peer-to-peer network. The multiplicity of devices store cached geofence information for the region of interest. The multiplicity of devices on the peer-to-peer network are operable to convert between an IP address and a geographic location. Each of the multiplicity of devices is operable to query peer devices on the peer-to-peer network for geofences associated with an IP address or a geographic location. At least one peer device is operable to deliver one or more geofences associated with the IP address to the querying device via zero-configuration networking or web service.

A multi-dimensional flight release efficiency evaluation method. The method comprises: obtaining air flow control production and operation data which mainly comprises airspace capacity information, flight scheduling basic information, flight four-dimensional trajectory information and the like through a business information comprehensive processing platform, identifying a flight object affected by flow control and a flight object restricted by flow control through processing the operation data, analyzing a flight release time-hopping degree, calculating flight release delay distribution, evaluating controlled flight release fairness, predicting a controlled flight release normal rate, comparing airspace flow capacity matching situations, establishing a multi-dimensional flight release efficiency evaluation index set, and visually displaying evaluation indexes in modes of list, histogram, line chart, radar chart and the like.

An aircraft landing assist apparatus includes an image obtaining unit, a shape obtaining unit, a measuring unit, and a calculating unit. The image obtaining unit is configured to obtain an image of a surrounding region of a landing point on which an aircraft is to land. The shape obtaining unit is configured to obtain a shape of the surrounding region of the landing point on the basis of the obtained image. The measuring unit is configured to measure an above-air wind direction and an above-air wind velocity. The calculating unit is configured to calculate a landing-point wind direction and a landing-point wind velocity on the basis of the obtained shape of the surrounding region of the landing point, the measured above-air wind direction, and the measured above-air wind velocity.

Improved mechanisms for collecting information from a diverse suite of sensors and systems, calculating the current precipitation, atmospheric water vapor, atmospheric liquid water content, or precipitable water and other atmospheric-based phenomena, for example presence and intensity of fog, based upon these sensor readings, predicting future precipitation and atmospheric-based phenomena, and estimating effects of the atmospheric-based phenomena on visibility, for example by calculating runway visible range (RVR) estimates and forecasts based on the atmospheric-based phenomena.

Methods and apparatus for performing repair operations using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The methods are enabled by equipping the UAV with tools for rapidly repairing a large structure or object (e.g., an aircraft or a wind turbine blade) that is not easily accessible to maintenance personnel. A plurality of tools are available for robotic selection and placement at the repair site. The tools are designed to perform respective repair operations in sequence in accordance with a specified repair plan, which plan may take into account the results of a previously performed UAV-enabled inspection.

A method for supporting aerial operation over a surface includes obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the surface; converting the 3D representation of the surface to a two-dimensional (2D) representation of the surface; obtaining a 2D flight path of the aircraft based on the 2D representation of the surface; converting the 2D flight path to a 3D flight path including location coordinates; and controlling the aircraft to conduct a flight mission following the 3D flight path.