An apparatus and a method for testing a fuel injector nozzle with a tip having at least one fuel outlet are provided. The apparatus comprises a test chamber, a holder for holding the fuel injector nozzle such that the outlet is within the test chamber, a fuel supply arrangement for supplying fuel to the fuel injector nozzle, a sensor having a sensor surface for sensing an atomized fuel spray supplied by the fuel injector nozzle through the fuel outlet and movement module for moving the sensor. The movement module is configured to position the sensor surface of the sensor at a plurality of positions corresponding to a surface of a sphere having a radius R and a center point C adjustable to match a center point c.sub.t of the tip of the fuel injector nozzle or a center point c.sub.f of an orifice of the fuel outlet.

An impact sensor for a vehicle. The impact sensor includes at least one strain-sensitive sensor element which comprises a sensor material, and at least two terminals, between which the sensor material is electrically connected. The sensor material is a metal-containing carbon material.

A system for measuring cellular forces exerted on a surface comprising: a deformable sensor that has a deformable surface adapted to deform on application of a cellular force, and an optical detector for optically detecting deformation of the surface.

An apparatus and method for inflicting brain injury on a laboratory animal that employs a platform for supporting the laboratory animal. The platform defines an opening for positioning the head of the laboratory animal over the opening. A projectile is launched from a projectile launching device orientated below the opening of the platform. The projectile launching device has a means for propelling the projectile directly at and/or through the opening of said platform, thereby inflicting brain injury on the animal via either a pressure wave or concussive impact of the projectile. Without helmet, direct impact of the projectile results in severe traumatic brain injury. Use of helmet protects animals from skull fracture, subdural hematoma, intracerebral hemorrhage and contusion yet produces mild concussion-like pathology.

In exemplary implementations of this invention, a basketball net or flat net measures the translational kinetic energy of a ball that passes through an aperture in the net or impacts the net. The net includes one or more electrically conductive cords, which have a resistance that varies depending on the degree to which the cord is stretched. From sensor measurements, a processor determines: (a) instantaneous rate of change of resistance, and (b) duration of a time period that begins when resistance exceeds a baseline (with hysteresis). In the case of a basketball net, a processor may calculate the translational kinetic energy of the ball as equal to a sum of two terms. The first term is inversely proportional to the square of the duration; the second is proportional to the square of the integral of the instantaneous rate of change of resistance over the time period.

A robotic vehicle may include control circuitry configured to execute stored instructions to direct operation of the robotic vehicle on a defined area, and an electrical resistance sensor in communication with the control circuitry. The electrical resistance sensor may be configured to detect motion indicative of a lift event and a collision event using a single sensor.

A sensor system includes a sensor including a sensor window; a nozzle aimed at the sensor window; a supply line to supply fluid to the nozzle; a primary reservoir to supply fluid to the supply line; a first valve actuatable to inject fluid from a first reservoir into the supply line; a second valve actuatable to inject fluid from a second reservoir into the supply line; a third valve actuatable to inject fluid from a third reservoir into the supply line; and a computer communicatively coupled to the sensor and the valves. The computer is programmed to actuate the first valve in response to determining a first condition based on data from the sensor, actuate the second valve in response to determining a second condition based on data from the sensor, and actuate the third valve in response to determining a third condition based on data from the sensor.

An acoustic disdrometer is provided for measuring precipitation. The acoustic disdrometer has an acoustic transducer positioned within an acoustic chamber defined by an acoustic shell. Precipitation impacting the acoustic shell generates sound waves that are collected by the acoustic transducer for processing.

A protective garment contains a projectile detection device, in addition to impact and breach resistant materials for protecting the wearer. An arrangement of force sensitive regions defines a grid arrangement responsive to an incoming projectile. The force sensitive regions include pressure sensitive or piezoelectric characteristics such that an impact varies the electrical response of each region. A detection circuit connects to each region for sampling. A sampling of the regions computes a high velocity impact by a sudden change in the sensed electrical characteristics, such as a sudden drop in resistance between two planer sheets. The grid arrangement identifies the impact placement on the garment, and can be mapped to anatomical regions to evaluate a severity. Placement and impact force, along with GPS coordinates of the wearer, are transmitted by the detection circuit and/or in conjunction with an app on a mobile device of the wearer for alerting first responders.

An Internet of Thing (IoT) device includes a sensor coupled to a processor; and a transceiver coupled to the processor. Blockchain smart contracts can be used with the device to facilitate secure operation.