Abstract: A bi-directional pneumatic impactor for imparting impact forces to an object. The impactor includes a support structure having at least one grip member and a piston reciprocally moveable along a piston axis. A pressure control system coupled with the support structure and adapted to be connected to a supply of pressurized air. The pressure control system reciprocatingly moves the piston along the piston axis to generate forceful impacts at one or both ends of the reciprocal movement. An impact transfer assembly disposed on the support structure is adapted to be coupled with the object whereby the impact transfer assembly transfers impact forces to the object in the driving and/or the retracting directions. A control spool may be used to control the supply of pressurized air to the piston cylinder. The impact transfer assembly may include a hammer pin extending axially through the piston.

Abstract: An apparatus controls release of a parking brake of a parking brake system of an associated vehicle. A processor of an electronic control system of the apparatus executes parking brake control logic stored in a non-transient memory device to selectively generate a parking brake release (PBR) signal based on receiving a set of predetermined PBR interlock override signals in an absence of receiving fully all of a set of predetermined PBR interlock standard satisfaction signals, wherein receiving fully all of the set of predetermined PBR interlock standard satisfaction signals causes the processor executing the parking brake control logic to generate the PBR signal. The sets of predetermined PBR interlock override and interlock standard satisfaction signals are mutually different, and the PBR signal is deliverable for use by the associated vehicle to effect the release of the parking brake of the parking brake system of the associated vehicle.

Abstract: An automatic descent control device includes a line configured to be attached to a load. A line system retracts slack from the line when the line is not loaded and extends the line when the line is loaded. At least one braking system provides a braking force when the line is loaded so as to control extension of the line and a descent rate of the load. The at least one braking system is operable in at least two configurations, a first configuration that the at least one braking system lowers the load at a first descent rate, and a second configuration that the at least one braking system lowers or locks the load at a second descent rate. The load being a constant and the first descent rate is greater than the second descent rate.

Abstract: A system for modular dynamically adjustable capacity storage for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells, a negative terminal including a chassis ground connection, and a plurality of positive battery pack terminals. The negative terminal and the plurality of positive battery pack terminals are useful for connecting at least one electrical circuit through the battery pack. The system further includes a battery cell switching system, including a plurality of solid-state switches connected to each of the battery cells. The plurality of solid-state switches is operable to selectively connect a portion of the battery cells in parallel, selectively connect the portion of the battery cells in series, and selectively connect one of the plurality of battery cells to one of the plurality of positive battery pack terminals.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are directed to controlling lifting gas in a volume defined by an inflatable structure of an aircraft. For example, controlling lifting gas in the volume of the inflatable structure may account for variations in ambient and tactical conditions experienced by the aircraft over the course of flight, as may be useful for lifting the aircraft to a target altitude and/or carrying out a particular mission. Additionally, or alternatively, controlling lifting gas in the volume of the inflatable structure may facilitate lifting the aircraft using lifting gas generated by reacting stable materials with one another at a launch site in the field. As an example, aluminum may react with water to form a lifting gas including hydrogen and steam. As the steam condenses to water in the inflatable structure, a valve may expel water from the inflatable structure to assist in maintaining buoyancy of the aircraft.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor media content at a content display site are described. An example apparatus includes processor circuitry to execute computer readable instructions to: estimate a first audience size associated with unmeasured locations based on distributed census-based page views and a measured panel data; generate a virtual panel based on the first audience size to enable more accurate estimation of traffic from the unmeasured locations by weighting second panelists associated with the unmeasured locations and reweighting a subset of the second panelists; and determine additional activity not represented by the measure panel data; and calculate an online audience based on a measured location audience, the virtual panel, and the additional activity.

Abstract: One or more guest electronic devices establish electronic communication with a host electronic device. The guest electronic devices transmit requests requesting presentation of media content from an application operating locally on each guest electronic device. The host electronic device arranges the requests in a queue. One or more processors of the host electronic device select a principal request from the queue and initiate the application operating locally on a guest electronic device identified by the principal request, thereby causing delivery of the media content from the guest electronic device identified by the principal request to the host electronic device.

Abstract: Compressing a frame of video includes receiving a frame of a video, identifying a three dimensional (3D) object in the frame, matching the 3D object to a stored 3D object, compressing the frame of the video using a color prediction scheme based on the 3D object and the stored 3D object, and storing the compressed frame with metadata, the metadata identifying the 3D object, indicating a position of the 3D object in the frame of the video and indicating an orientation of the 3D object in the frame of the video.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein to perform edge computing in 4G and 5G cores based on application usage. Networks identify highly requested content at an access point and may use network data analytics functions to identify which content is popular in the area served by an access point. The highly requested content may be applications, webpages, or similar content. Once the highly requested content has been identified, tunneling to at least one application server to download the highly requested content occurs. The content may then be stored in a dynamically caching server near the access point. The network data analytics operations to identify highly requested content may be performed on a periodic basis, and content that no longer meets a predetermined threshold may be flushed from the dynamically caching server.

Abstract: A laminate product is disclosed. The laminate product includes a base layer formed from a thermoplastic polyolefin and a bondable first layer laminated to the base layer. Paint, ink, or attachments may be applied to the bondable first layer. A method of producing the laminate product includes the steps of laminating a base layer and a bondable first layer by application of pressure and heat to the base layer and the first layer. Paint, ink, or attachments may then be applied to the bondable first layer.

Abstract: A hybrid method of estimating position of a mobile device which utilizes both received signal power and timing measurements. Received signal power of signals received by the mobile device from a plurality of cells are measured and corresponding received signal power measurements are stored. The method further includes measuring, at the mobile device, times of arrival of signals received from the plurality of cells. A plurality of time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements are determined from the times of arrival. A power-time hybrid Gaussian maximum likelihood estimator and positioning assistance data for the plurality of cells are used to generate a maximum likelihood estimate of the position of the mobile device by evaluating a joint conditional probability of the received signal power measurements and the plurality of TDOA measurements. Gaussian random variables may be used to represent the received signal power measurements and the TDOA measurements.

Abstract: An online broadcasting system is provided. The system combines live video streaming, video on demand (VOD), messaging and other media content provided by an owner of a live broadcast and/or by the owner's online followers. The media content may be combined into a single broadcast stream. The owner of the broadcast may use an online control room to choose in real time what multimedia content to provide to his/her followers. The system also provides for interaction between the followers and interactive elements that the owner may create through the system. A gaming and/or revenue sharing component also may be provided wherein the owner and the followers may earn points for viewing and/or interacting with sponsored media through the system.

Abstract: There is includes a method and apparatus comprising computer code configured to cause a hardware processor or processors to perform obtaining a block of video data, splitting the block into an L-shaped partition and a second partition, the second partition being one of a rectangular shaped partition and another L-shaped partition, and performing intra prediction of the L-shaped partition by using a reference sample chain, comprising a chain of neighboring reconstructed samples, as reference samples.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first charging coil with one or more conductors arranged in a first winding pattern, a second charging coil with one or more conductors arranged in a second winding pattern, and a ferrite structure with a main section with a top side, a first side section and a second side section. A portion of the top side of the main section is adjacent to a portion of the bottom side of the first side section and the second side section. A portion of the first and second charging coils are positioned adjacent to the top side of the main section interior in between the first and second side sections. A portion of the first charging coil is adjacent to the bottom of the first side section. A portion of the second charging coil is adjacent to the bottom of the second side section.