The present invention provides liquid crystal (LC)-infused materials and methods for detecting compounds or impurities in liquid samples using such materials. These slippery materials comprise a lubricating liquid, preferably a thermotropic liquid crystal, and a solid substrate able to immobilize or host the lubricating liquid. The portion of the substrate coated by the lubricating fluid forms a slippery surface able to allow droplets of various materials to slide off the slippery surface in a manner dependent on the chemical composition of the droplet, which can be used to detect the presence of analytes, impurities and other molecules within the droplet.

The present invention provides liquid crystal (LC)-infused materials and methods for detecting compounds or impurities in liquid samples using such materials. These slippery materials comprise a lubricating liquid, preferably a thermotropic liquid crystal, and a solid substrate able to immobilize or host the lubricating liquid. The portion of the substrate coated by the lubricating fluid forms a slippery surface able to allow droplets of various materials to slide off the slippery surface in a manner dependent on the chemical composition of the droplet, which can be used to detect the presence of analytes, impurities and other molecules within the droplet.

An apparatus for determining the identity and/or quantity of a liquid fuel contained in a fuel transporting tank of a fuel transporting vehicle can comprise: a longitudinally extensive member having a first end and a second end, an internal volume from which liquid fuel in the tank is excluded, and a mounting arrangement configured for mounting in use of the longitudinally extensive member within and in fixed relation to the tank, said second end configured in use to be immersed in the liquid fuel in the tank. The longitudinally extensive member can further comprise: first and second pressure sensors spaced apart by a fixed distance, each said pressure sensor having a face exposed in use to the local hydrostatic pressure of the liquid fuel in the tank; and a colour sensing device comprising a light emitter and a light detector configured to detect light from the emitter, said emitter and detector being arranged such that in use light from the emitter incident on the detector passes through said liquid fuel in the tank. The apparatus can further comprise a data processing device configured to determine the identity of the liquid fuel based on said pressure measurements from said first and second pressure sensors and colour data from said colour sensing device.

An apparatus for determining the identity and/or quantity of a liquid fuel contained in a fuel transporting tank of a fuel transporting vehicle can comprise: a longitudinally extensive member having a first end and a second end, an internal volume from which liquid fuel in the tank is excluded, and a mounting arrangement configured for mounting in use of the longitudinally extensive member within and in fixed relation to the tank, said second end configured in use to be immersed in the liquid fuel in the tank. The longitudinally extensive member can further comprise: first and second pressure sensors spaced apart by a fixed distance, each said pressure sensor having a face exposed in use to the local hydrostatic pressure of the liquid fuel in the tank; and a colour sensing device comprising a light emitter and a light detector configured to detect light from the emitter, said emitter and detector being arranged such that in use light from the emitter incident on the detector passes through said liquid fuel in the tank. The apparatus can further comprise a data processing device configured to determine the identity of the liquid fuel based on said pressure measurements from said first and second pressure sensors and colour data from said colour sensing device.

In a data generation apparatus, an acquisition unit acquires original data which are odor data measured in a specific environment. A generation unit performs a linear transformation with respect to the original data, and generates augmented data which are odor data in an environment where temperature and humidity are different from those in the specific environment.

A testing device characterizes a damper/valve in situ in a HVAC system. It comprises a controller including a processor and a memory and circuitry. The testing device is mounted on a damper assembly having a control shaft and a damper rotatably coupled to the control shaft such that the control shaft is activated by the circuitry of the testing device. The testing device further comprises computer-readable logic code to: open and close the damper by actuating the control shaft, detect a rotational position of the damper and a torque required to move the damper to the rotational position, characterize a plurality of torques required to drive the damper to a plurality of pre-determined rotational positions of the damper when subjected to a fluid flow to generate damper rotational position data vs. torque data, and store the damper rotational position data vs. torque data to produce damper characteristic graphs.

A testing device characterizes a damper/valve in situ in a HVAC system. It comprises a controller including a processor and a memory and circuitry. The testing device is mounted on a damper assembly having a control shaft and a damper rotatably coupled to the control shaft such that the control shaft is activated by the circuitry of the testing device. The testing device further comprises computer-readable logic code to: open and close the damper by actuating the control shaft, detect a rotational position of the damper and a torque required to move the damper to the rotational position, characterize a plurality of torques required to drive the damper to a plurality of pre-determined rotational positions of the damper when subjected to a fluid flow to generate damper rotational position data vs. torque data, and store the damper rotational position data vs. torque data to produce damper characteristic graphs.

In a noise removing apparatus, a data acquisition unit acquires sets of odor data measured using a sensor with respect to a plurality of objects, each set of odor data representing features of an odor of an object by respective rates of a plurality of odor molecules. A noise component extraction unit extract a noise component using a set of odor data. A noise removing unit removes the noise component from each set of odor data to be processed.

A method and an assembly for testing a shipping package are described. The assembly includes a scuff test sub-assembly, a belt burn test sub-assembly, and multiple conveyors positioned between to the sub-assemblies to convey a shipping package through the assembly. The scuff test sub-assembly includes an inclined plane and multiple objects which extend outward from the inclined plane. The belt burn test sub-assembly includes a plate that moves over a portion of one of the conveyors. The plate moves between a first position which obstructs movement of the shipping package but permits movement of the one of the conveyors relative to the shipping package and a second position where movement of the shipping package along the conveyor is not obstructed. At least two of the conveyors meet at a junction to change an orientation of the shipping package as the shipping package is conveyed across the junction.

A method and an assembly for testing a shipping package are described. The assembly includes a scuff test sub-assembly, a belt burn test sub-assembly, and multiple conveyors positioned between to the sub-assemblies to convey a shipping package through the assembly. The scuff test sub-assembly includes an inclined plane and multiple objects which extend outward from the inclined plane. The belt burn test sub-assembly includes a plate that moves over a portion of one of the conveyors. The plate moves between a first position which obstructs movement of the shipping package but permits movement of the one of the conveyors relative to the shipping package and a second position where movement of the shipping package along the conveyor is not obstructed. At least two of the conveyors meet at a junction to change an orientation of the shipping package as the shipping package is conveyed across the junction.