Abstract: A sensor includes electrodes and two enclosure portions. The electrodes have a shape to match an outer periphery of a non-metallic parent pipe. The two enclosure portions are connected by a hinge to facilitate positioning around the outer periphery of the non-metallic parent pipe. A first portion of the two enclosure portions includes a cutout electrode for surrounding a cutout space. The cutout electrode is tied to a ground to shield against signals from the cutout space. The sensor generates a signal indicative of the presence or absence of a pipe inserted within an inner periphery of the non-metallic parent pipe based on a capacitance measurement and a threshold.

Abstract: A system and method of providing an immersive media experience to a user through utilizing one or more vehicle system modules (VSMs) included in a vehicle, wherein the method includes: establishing a connection with a media control device, wherein the media control device includes a display; determining whether the media control device is authorized to control the one or more VSMs as a part of the immersive media experience; receiving an immersive media control request from the media control device, wherein the immersive media control request includes a request from the media control device to perform one or more vehicle functions using the VSMs during playback of immersive media content, and wherein the playback of the immersive media content includes visually perceptible media content that is displayed using the display of the media control device; and controlling the one or more VSMs according to the received VSM control requests.

Abstract: Flexible polyurethane foams are made by reacting a polyether mixture and water with a polyisocyanate. The foams have excellent suite of properties for use in seating applications, as they are supporting, comfortable and resilient foam. A further advantage is these properties can be obtained at isocyanate indices of close to or even greater than 100.

Abstract: Systems and methods for simultaneously performing engine coolant stagnation and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler cooling in an engine include providing a coolant circuit configured to flow coolant through both a block of the engine and an EGR cooler of a cooled EGR (CEGR) system of the engine, a main pump on the coolant circuit that is driven by an electric motor or a crankshaft of the engine to pump coolant through a block of the engine, and a secondary pump on the coolant circuit that, when energized, is configured to pump coolant through the coolant circuit, and, during a cold start of the engine, de-energizing the electric motor or disconnecting the main pump from the engine crankshaft to stagnate coolant in the engine block and energizing the secondary pump to flow coolant through the EGR cooler of the CEGR system.

Abstract: A vehicle storage compartment is provided herein. The vehicle storage compartment includes first and second vertical members coupled to a first edge portion of a base and connected by a cross member. The first and second vertical members and the cross member define an aperture accessible from a vehicle-rearward location. The vehicle storage compartment includes a removable floor positioned on base.

Abstract: An object lifting, pulling and digging apparatus has a pair of jaws that can be opened to enable positioning the jaws around a post, tree, and/or bush then closed around the post, tree, and/or bush. The jaws can then be raised to pull the post, tree, and/or bush from the ground. The jaws of the apparatus can also be closed and angled downwardly to drive the distal ends of the jaws into the ground, where the jaws can then be moved upwardly to dig the post, tree, and/or bush from the ground. The apparatus can easily be attached to a vehicle equipped with a universal quick attach hitch and having auxiliary hydraulics, for example, a “skid steer” type farm or construction vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining available bandwidth and performing initial stream selection when commencing adaptive bitrate streaming using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes measuring network bandwidth using a playback device, determining an initial network bandwidth estimate using the network bandwidth measurements, selecting an initial stream from said plurality of streams of encoded media that are encoded at different maximum bitrates rates using the playback device based upon the maximum bitrates of the plurality of streams and the initial bandwidth estimate; and commencing streaming of encoded media by requesting portions of the encoded media from the initial streams using the playback device.