Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reduced friction torsion component system that makes use of a first frame portion adapted to be coupled to, or integrally formed with, a first object, and forming a first bore, and a second frame portion adapted to be coupled to, or integrally formed with, a second object, and forming a second bore. The two bores are axially aligned and receive at least one elongated hinge component. The elongated hinge component operates to both couple the first and second frame portions together for pivoting movement relative to one another, and also provides a torsional biasing force to enable pivotal deployment from a first position to a second position of one of the first or second frame portions.

Abstract: Secure communications can be established in which a request is received from a client computing device to instantiate a virtual key store (VKS) node. In response to the request, a cryptographically calculated uniform resource locator (URL) is generated. In addition, a crytopgraphic identity certificate is received from a certification authority server. Subsequently, a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) instance is instantiated and configured with the cryptographic identity certificate. Communications are then established between the client computing device and the VDI instance using the generated cryptographically calculated URL such that the VDI instance acts as a cryptographic proxy with at least one remote computing device.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a heater assembly for a nicotine pod assembly includes a base, a wick feed, a slide, and a holder. The wick feed extends toward the base and defines a channel configured to receive a wick structured to draw a nicotine pre-vapor formulation via capillary action. The slide is configured to move along a plane on a top face of the base. The holder is disposed on the top face of the base.

Abstract: A gearcase seal assembly includes an inboard seal body and an outboard seal body both extending about and along a center axis between respective interior and exterior portions. The inboard and outboard seal bodies include respective inboard and outboard pockets configured to receive first and second surfaces of a gearcase of an axle assembly, respectively. The interior portions of the inboard and outboard seal bodies include respective gutters configured to direct fluid away from the first and second surfaces of the gearcase, respectively. The exterior portion of the inboard seal body includes plural fingers disposed outside of the inboard pocket and extending in one or more directions away from the inboard pocket. The exterior portion of the outboard seal body includes plural other fingers disposed outside of the outboard pocket and extending in one or more directions away from the outboard pocket.

Abstract: An apparatus, a system and methods are disclosed in relation to the configuration and compatibility of a removable delivery section of the apparatus, and delivering a substance via the apparatus to an animal. In an aspect, a hand held apparatus for delivering a substance to an animal includes a removable delivery section including a delivery arrangement adapted to deliver the substance to the animal; and a drive section including a drive arrangement adapted to actuate the delivery arrangement in a coupled condition in which the removable delivery section is coupled to the drive section. The delivery section includes an electronic device adapted to communicate with a control system associated with at least the drive section in the coupled condition, the electronic device being configurable so to be readable by the control system such that the control system is able to identify and operate the removable delivery section.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to assign respondents to geographic locations for audience measurement are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein are to determine a set of constraints based on aggregate values of demographic features associated with respective ones of the geographic locations. Disclosed example apparatus are also to construct a model to return probabilities that respective ones the respondents are associated with the respective ones of the geographic locations, the model to have a set of parameters, respective ones of the parameters to be associated with respective ones of the constraints. Disclosed example apparatus are further to evaluate the model based on values of the set of parameters and values of the demographic features for a first one of the respondents to determine a set of probabilities that the first respondent is to be assigned to respective ones of the geographic locations.

Abstract: Drivetrain systems and methods are provided. In one example, the drivetrain system includes an interaxle differential (IAD) configured to receive power from a prime mover, a motor configured to drive a planetary gearset, and a ball ramp actuator configured to selectively engage a plurality of plates in a clutch pack of a friction clutch in response to receiving rotational input from the planetary gearset. In an engaged configuration, the friction clutch prevents speed differentiation between a first IAD output and a second IAD output.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval system including a storage structure having storage shelves, each storage shelf having slats for supporting stored items where the slats are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, an autonomous transport vehicle including at least one sensor configured to sense each of the slats and output a signal indicating when a slat is sensed, and a controller for verifying a location of the autonomous transport vehicle within the storage structure based on at least the output signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a mobile liquid dispensing system adaptable to be implemented on an arm-bed truck. The disclosure includes an apparatus comprising a spray rig capable of engaging arms of an arm-bed truck, and a carrier operable to be hoisted by an arm-bed truck. A method of mobile liquid dispersion is also presented that be performed from an arm-bed truck. The disclosure offers many advantages in the art, including novel uses of an arm-bed truck and a spray rig that is resistant to damage from impacts.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a method of fabricating a covalently reinforced carbon nanotube (CNT) assembly. The method includes producing a CNT assembly by pulling entangled CNTs from a CNT array fabricated on a substrate, the CNT assembly including a plurality of CNTs that are aligned; and creating covalent bonding between the CNTs of the CNT assembly by applying a high energy ion irradiation to the CNT assembly.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an electric drive train of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include operating a first motor of a set of motors in a torque control mode at a first speed while operating a second motor of the set of motors in a speed control mode at a second speed. The second speed may be determined based on the first speed and torque may be summed at an output node of a planetary gear set coupled to each of the set of motors.

Abstract: An audio playback system that provides intuitive audio playback of textual content responsive to user input actions, such as scrolling portions of textual content on a display. Playback of audio (e.g., text-to-speech audio) that includes textual content can begin based on a portion of textual content being positioned by a user input at a certain position on a device display. As one example, a user can simply scroll through a webpage or other content item to cause a text-to-speech system to perform audio playback of textual content displayed in one or more playback section(s) of the device's viewport (e.g., rather than requiring the user to perform additional tapping or gesturing to specifically select a certain portion of textual content).

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first facial framework and a first captured image of a face. The first facial framework corresponds to the face at a first frame and includes a first facial mesh of facial information. The method also includes projecting the first captured image onto the first facial framework and determining a facial texture corresponding to the face based on the projected first captured image. The method also includes receiving a second facial framework at a second frame that includes a second facial mesh of facial information and updating the facial texture based on the received second facial framework. The method also includes displaying the updated facial texture as a three-dimensional avatar. The three-dimensional avatar corresponds to a virtual representation of the face.

Abstract: A communal computing device, such as an interactive digital whiteboard, can become unlocked if a user is near the device. The communal computing device may use a sensor such as a camera to capture images of a person and obtain an identifier from a personal device such as a smartphone. A cloud-based provider that is trusted by both the communal computing device and the personal device may associate both the image and the identifier of the personal device with the same user identity. Obtaining the user identity from multiple, different sources provides a secure technique for the communal computing device to recognize a user without the user directly interacting with the communal computing device. If the sensor no longer detects the user or the personal device is no longer detected, then the communal computing device may log off the user. The personal device may be used to confirm log off.

Abstract: Systems and methods associated with providing an automated portal to migrate one or more relationships with one entity to another entity are disclosed.