One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for accurately determining the volume of liquid in a container, such as after or prior to a fluid transfer into/from the container. The volume of liquid flowing through a flow meter can be measured at multiple data intervals by a flow meter. Further, the height of a liquid inside the container can be measured by a liquid level sensor at the multiple data intervals. A register can receive data indicative of the respective measurements, and the volume of liquid in the container can be determined based on the relationship between data indicative of the measurement of the volume of liquid flowing through a flow meter at the multiple data intervals and the measurement of the height of a liquid inside the container at the multiple data intervals.

An intake arrangement (1) for a roller mill which includes a storage container (2), a force transducer (6) arranged on the storage container (2), a level sensor (7) arranged on the storage container (2) for determining when a ground material level (B) is reached in the storage container (2), and a control unit (8). The control unit (8) is designed to determine a first fill level (A) of the storage container (2), from a weight force (EG) determined by the force transducer (6), and to determine a characteristic fill level curve (K), based on the determined first fill level (A) and the fill level (B) determined by the level sensor (7).

In order to calibrate a flow rate instrument, the following is provided: introducing a fluid controlled by a flow rate control instrument to a certain set flow rate into a container via a piping member and calculating a first time rate of change in pressure in the container; introducing a fluid controlled by the flow rate control instrument to the set flow rate into a container via a piping member while making any of a capacity of the container into which the fluid is introduced, a number of containers into which the fluid is introduced, a temperature of the fluid, and a type of the fluid different, and calculating a second time rate of change in pressure in the container; and calculating a capacity of the piping member based on the first time rate of change in pressure and the second time rate of change in pressure.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for profiling a surface. In some embodiments, the systems and methods perform profiling using a robotic vehicle. The vehicle can include a drive system, one or more wheel encoders, and one or more distance sensors and/or inertial measurement units for capturing measurement data, such as the slope of the surface or the angle of the robotic vehicle relative to the surface or the gravity vector. A control computing system is included having one or more processors that execute instructions stored in software modules to process movement data. In some embodiments, the processed movement data determines a plurality of snapshots of the surface at different times and positions as the robotic vehicle traverses the surface. These snapshots are combined to generate a profile of the surface.

A self-calibrating system, apparatus, and method for accurately measuring a volumetric capacity of a tank. The system, apparatus and method comprise: a mechanism that adjusts a level of a platform; a light-emitting device with beam-like optics (laser, diode, etc.) mounted to the platform; mechanism for adjusting alignment of the light-emitting device with respect to the platform; a mechanism for rotating the platform by variable angles, including by 180-degrees; one or more level sensors (such as, for example, spirit levels, tilt sensors, or other devices) that provide feedback on the alignment of the platform normal to the gravity vector.

A method and apparatus are provided for use with a pump. The method includes, (a) placing liquid in a tube coupled to the pump, (b) injecting an air bubble into the tube in a manner that does not increase pressure within the tube, and such that there is a predetermined volume of liquid between the air bubble and the pump, (c) using the pump to advance the air bubble along the tube to the bubble detector of the pump, (d) using the pump, assessing accuracy of the pump by automatically measuring the volume of liquid pumped to advance the air bubble to the bubble detector, and (e) using the pump to continue advancing the air bubble along the tube, past the bubble detector, and using the pump to measure a volume of the air bubble. Other applications are also described.

In a method of calibrating a flow rate control device in which a flow rate is calibrated based on comparison with a flow rate measured by a flow rate reference gauge, a predetermined permissible error range is set for a plurality of flow rate settings, and the permissible error range of at least one specific flow rate setting among the plurality of flow rate settings is set to be smaller than the predetermined permissible error range.

Improvements in acoustically dispensed samples that are injected into an open port probe (OPP) are described. Apparatus and method are described that calibrate the volume dispensing determination and mechanisms in the acoustic dispenser to produce accurate and precise volumetric delivery.

Tank volume monitoring using pressure of fluid in the tank includes determining a correlation scale that relates sensed fluid pressure to volume of fluid within the tank. Inputs utilized to determine the correlation scale include, for example, various combinations of sensed pressure for a provided volume, a volume corresponding to a pressure sensor location, a threshold tank volume, a height of fluid above a base of the tank, and reference heights and corresponding volumes of the tank. The correlation scale is determined without requiring the input of linear dimensions of the tank.

A cartridge for evaluating the volume of an aliquot of liquid is described. The cartridge can have one or more well tabs that pivot into a position in which liquid dispensed into a corresponding well is placed in contact with a capillary and surface tension draws the liquid from the well into the capillary. Comparison of the liquid-air interface with markings on or near the capillary, can reveal the volume of liquid dispensed. One or more additional features, such as well tabs that are stable in a substantially vertical orientation and/or a groove for protecting and/or self-aligning the capillary can ensure that the device operates properly.