Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting low impact collisions for a vehicle (100). The system includes at least one sensor (99, 110, 111, 115, 120-123, 125-136, 140, 141) and an electronic controller (150). The electronic controller (150) is configured to receive sensor data from the sensor (99, 110, 111, 115, 120-123, 125-136, 140, 141) and determine one or more features of the sensor data received from the at least one sensor. The electronic controller (150) is further configured to determine if a collision has occurred based upon the one or more features of the sensor data, and take at least one action in response to determining that the collision has occurred.

Abstract: A strain tolerant recycled bitumen pavement composition comprising aggregate, recycled bitumen, and a specialized polymer modified bitumen. The specialized polymer modified bitumen may comprise bitumen and polymer, where the polymer comprises a preponderance of butadiene. The amount of recycled bitumen in the composition may be greater than 5% of the composition. Such high levels of recycled bitumen in a pavement composition, while desirable both economically and environmentally, typically produces layers with poor strain tolerance. The strain tolerance of the layer produced with the composition of the present invention, however, may be significantly higher due to the inclusion of the specialized polymer modified bitumen.

Abstract: Systems and approaches enable concurrent interaction with multiple user applications in a multi-tasking environment. User input, such as voice commands, head movement, hand or finger gestures, device motion, can be received to a centralized component of a system. State information for each user application can be determined, and the centralized component can send a recognized command or gesture to the appropriate user application(s) based on the state information and/or rules for propagating user input. Additionally, users can configure the input modalities of each user application to customize interaction with systems.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for enabling a standby mode during videoconferencing, the standby mode having reduced bandwidth consumption and configured to indicate whether a person is present while protecting a privacy of the person. For example, a local device may capture low resolution video data at a low sampling rate, downsample the video data and send the downsampled video data to a remote device, which may upsample the downsampled video data and display the upsampled video data on a display. The upsampled video data indicates an environment of the local device while blurring details, enabling a user of the remote device to identify movement or activity while maintaining privacy for anyone near the local device. The local device may identify activity, motion and/or objects of interest in the video data and may apply a special effect emphasizing the activity, motion and/or objects of interest.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for enabling a standby mode during videoconferencing, the standby mode having reduced bandwidth consumption and configured to indicate whether a person is present while protecting a privacy of the person. For example, a local device may capture low resolution video data at a low sampling rate, downsample the video data and send the downsampled video data to a remote device, which may upsample the downsampled video data and display the upsampled video data on a display. The upsampled video data indicates an environment of the local device while blurring details, enabling a user of the remote device to identify movement or activity while maintaining privacy for anyone near the local device. The local device may identify activity, motion and/or objects of interest in the video data and may apply a special effect emphasizing the activity, motion and/or objects of interest.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques are provided for management of animation collisions. An animation that may collide with another animation is represented with a sequence of one or more animation states, wherein each animation state in the sequence is associated with or otherwise corresponds to a portion of the animation. In order to manage animation collisions, a state machine can be configured to include a group of states that comprises animation states from a group of animations that may collide and states that can control implementation of an animation in response to an animation collision. In one aspect, a state machine manager can implement the group of states in order to implement an animation and manage animation collisions.

Abstract: A WiFi-enabled user device charger is disclosed that may include a processor, a WiFi antenna, a connector for receiving power, a user device charging and data transmission connector, and a memory storing computer-executable instructions configuring the processor to connect to a server using the WiFi antenna to fetch data; queue a portion of the data to transfer to the user device; determine that the user device is connected to the WiFi-enabled user device charger; transmit at least a portion of the data to the user device using the device charging and data transmission connector; and transfer power to the user device using the device charging and data transmission connector. The WiFi-enabled user device charger may not provide any functionality that is not related to charging the user device or transferring data between the user device and the server.

Abstract: A method of forming a grouted pile member in unstable soil involves introducing a pile member into a soil region having an N penetration value of between 2 and 11. Grout is introduced through the pile member under pressure and forms a column generally below the pile member. The pile member may, optionally, then be lowered into the grouted material.

Abstract: A method of forming a grouted pile member in unstable soil involves introducing a pile member into the ground and passing it through a first extremely unstable layer of soil into a second layer of relatively unstable material. Grout is introduced through the pile member under pressure and forms a column generally below the pile member. The pile member is then lowered into the grouted material.

Abstract: A technique for classifying objects within an image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by identifying a portion of an image, and then filtering the portion of the image based upon an object characteristic and a reference within the image. The image can be a representation of a plurality of pixels, wherein at least some of the plurality of pixels are enabled to represent the identified portion of the image. The reference can be one of a reference plane or a terrain within the image.

Abstract: A technique for locating objects within an image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by obtaining an image and then identifying an object within the image based upon an orientation of the object within the image. The image can be a representation of a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in a plurality of columns and rows, and wherein at least some of the plurality of pixels are enabled to represent the object.

Abstract: A technique for tracking objects through a series of images is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by obtaining at least first and second representations of a plurality of pixels, wherein at least one grouping of substantially adjacent pixels has been identified in each of the first and second representations. Each identified grouping of substantially adjacent pixels in the first representation is then matched with an identified grouping of substantially adjacent pixels in the second representation.

Abstract: A technique for disambiguating proximate objects within an image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by obtaining an image which is a representation of a plurality of pixels, wherein at least one grouping of substantially adjacent pixels has been identified in the plurality of pixels. Discontinuities are identified in each of the identified groupings of substantially adjacent pixels. Each of the identified groupings of substantially adjacent pixels are divided according to the identified discontinuities. It is then determined if each of the divided identified groupings of substantially adjacent pixels corresponds to an object to be classified.

Abstract: A technique for updating a background image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by obtaining at least two representations of an image. At least one portion of at least one of the at least two representations is identified. An updated representation of the image is then provided by averaging together the at least two representations excepting each identified portion.

Abstract: A technique for processing images is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by obtaining a representation of an image, and then locating an area of interest in the representation. The located area of interest is then classified according to a first characteristic of one or more objects of interest and a reference within the image. If the located area of interest has been classified as an area containing at least one object of interest, the at least one object of interest can be disambiguated from other objects in the located area of interest.

Abstract: A technique for providing a computer generated face having coordinated eye and head movement is realized by providing a computer generated movable head and at least one computer generated movable eye. The movement of the computer generated movable head and the movement of the at least one computer generated movable eye are coordinated such that the movement of the computer generated movable head follows the movement of the at least one computer generated movable eye.

Abstract: A technique for acknowledging multiple objects using a computer generated face is realized by determining the location of at least two objects relative to a display device. A computer generated face is produced on the display device, wherein the computer generated face has at least one eye. The at least one eye is alternately directed between the at least two objects.

Abstract: Simulated logs for home construction are formed from PVC pipe which is filled with hard cast foam. The pipes are precast with a simulated log design to include knots, cracks and wood grain, and the bottom of each log contains a one inch groove to hold a longitudinally extending rubber gasket. The logs are attached together by threaded rod fasteners which utilize doubleended nuts, and caps are used to close off the ends of the log. Plumbing, electrical conduits, and the like may be retained within the tubing, and T-bolts are used to attach the initial log to a concrete foundation. The PVC pipe can be either of a round or square cross sectional shape and, in addition to log shapes, the PVC tubing can also be formed into rectangularly-shaped blocks similar to bricks and concrete blocks now used in the construction trade.