Abstract: A technique for facilitating deployment and stowing of a ballistic shield on a vehicle includes providing a central armored panel having a hinged connection to a base, which may be coupled to or integral with the vehicle. The hinged connection includes an axle and a set of torsion springs configured to exert a lifting torque on the central armored panel relative to the base, such that the central armored panel is movable about the hinged connection for assuming both an upright, deployed position and a laid-down, stowed position.

Abstract: An electrified vehicle assembly includes a frame that has a passenger side rail and a driver side rail. The assembly further includes a battery support plate and a battery pack. The battery support plate is secured to the passenger side rail and the driver side rail. The battery pack has a plurality of cross-members. To secure the battery pack to the battery support plate, mechanical fasteners each extend through an aperture in the battery support plate to engage one of the cross-members.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system may include a deadbeam extended between a first wheel at a first end of the deadbeam and a second wheel at a second end of the deadbeam, an electric motor disposed forward of the deadbeam, a lateral link operably coupling the deadbeam to a chassis of the vehicle, a first half shaft operably coupled to the first wheel and the electric motor, a second half shaft operably coupled to the second wheel and the electric motor, a first suspension assembly operably coupling the first wheel to the chassis, and a second suspension assembly operably coupling the second wheel to the chassis.

Abstract: An alignment assembly that includes a body that defines a bolt aperture and at least one pin aperture. A control arm is proximate the body and includes a bushing with a bushing aperture. A bolt extends through the bushing aperture and the bolt aperture. The bolt has a front portion and an end portion opposing the front portion. A flag nut is coupled to the end portion and includes a plate with at least one aperture. At least one pin extends through the at least one pin aperture and the at least one aperture. A position of the pin at least partially determines a position of the control arm.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system may include a semi trailing arm, a coilover damper and a distributed jounce response assembly. The semi trailing arm may be operably coupled to a chassis of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) at a first pivotable connection and a second pivotable connection. The semi trailing arm may also support a rear wheel of the BEV. The coilover damper may be disposed between the chassis and a third pivotable connection on the semi trailing arm. The distributed jounce response assembly may progressively distribute a jounce load to at least two different locations within the system.

Abstract: An electrified vehicle assembly includes a frame that has a passenger side rail and a driver side rail. The assembly further includes a battery support plate and a battery pack. The battery support plate is secured to the passenger side rail and the driver side rail. The battery pack has a plurality of cross-members. To secure the battery pack to the battery support plate, mechanical fasteners each extend through an aperture in the battery support plate to engage one of the cross-members.

Abstract: A method provides a set of credentials for accessing a live event as a spectator. The credentials includes tiered credentials with respect to access privileges from a queue imposed to access the live event. The access privileges specify a queued order based spectator access time and a spectator access duration. The method evaluates the credentials received from users seeking to access the live event as spectators including determining whether a provided credential pertains to a non-owning viewer or an owning viewer of a subject of the live event. The method controls, by a real-time visual media generation engine of a streaming server, the spectator access time and the spectator access duration of each of the users to the live event as the spectators based on the credentials by placing the users in predetermined queuing positions associated with corresponding levels of the credentials. The live event is a living artwork.

Abstract: A method provides a set of credentials for accessing a live event as a spectator. The credentials includes tiered credentials with respect to access privileges from a queue imposed to access the live event. The access privileges specify a queued order based spectator access time and a spectator access duration. The method evaluates the credentials received from users seeking to access the live event as spectators including determining whether a provided credential pertains to a non-owning viewer or an owning viewer of a subject of the live event. The method controls, by a real-time visual media generation engine of a streaming server, the spectator access time and the spectator access duration of each of the users to the live event as the spectators based on the credentials by placing the users in predetermined queuing positions associated with corresponding levels of the credentials. The live event is a living artwork.

Abstract: A method, program storage device, and computer processing system are provided. The method includes providing a set of credentials for accessing a live event. The set of credentials include tiered credentials with respect to access privileges from a queue imposed to access the live event. The access privileges specify a queued order based access time and an access duration. The method further includes evaluating the credentials received from users seeking to access the live event. The method also includes controlling, by a real-time visual media generation engine of a streaming server, the access time and the access duration of each of the users to the live event based on the credentials by placing the users in predetermined queuing positions associated with corresponding levels of the credentials.

Abstract: Containers comprise a container body and a cap, wherein the cap comprises a surface feature configured to accommodate engagement with a member to provide desired increased leverage to a user to aid loosening and/or removing the cap from the container. The surface feature may be an opening or any other surface feature, and the member may be another container having a cap or container body having a surface feature configured to complement and fit the surface feature of the cap, forming an interlocking attachment therewith. Both containers may be configured identically, each having surface features that complement one another, thereby forming a system made up of such two containers for loosening/removing the caps of one another. The caps each may include an opening and a section sized to fit in the opening so that the section of one cap fits in the opening of the other cap.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle may include a steering knuckle operably coupled to a wheel hub, and a plurality of links operably coupling the steering knuckle to a chassis of the vehicle. One of the links may be a trailing blade having a body portion that lies in a plane. The trailing blade may include a first end operably coupled to the steering knuckle and a second end operably coupled to the chassis. The trailing blade may extend from the first end to the second end such that the plane of the body portion forms an angle of greater than 5 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle may include a steering knuckle operably coupled to a wheel hub, and a plurality of links operably coupling the steering knuckle to a chassis of the vehicle. One of the links may be a trailing blade having a body portion that lies in a plane. The trailing blade may include a first end operably coupled to the steering knuckle and a second end operably coupled to the chassis. The trailing blade may extend from the first end to the second end such that the plane of the body portion forms an angle of greater than 5 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods are provided. A method includes receiving, by a real-time visual media generation engine of a streaming server, a visual medium input to be formed into a living artwork. The method further includes generating, by the real-time visual media generation engine, variational versions of the visual medium input as the living artwork. Each of the variational versions has one or more image elements altered based on one or more variables. Each of the variational versions is unique with respect to each other and persists for a period of time while non-variational versions maintain static content.

Abstract: Modular vehicle platforms are disclosed. An example modular platform includes a frame to couple to a body of a vehicle. A first bracket is coupled to the frame. One of a second bracket or a third bracket is coupled to the frame. The first bracket is spaced from the second bracket or the third bracket. The first bracket and the second bracket enable attachment of a first suspension to the frame. The first bracket and the third bracket enable attachment of a second suspension to the frame. The first suspension has a first geometry that is different than a second geometry of the second suspension.

Abstract: Containers comprise a container body and a cap, wherein the cap comprises a surface feature configured to accommodate engagement with a member to provide desired increased leverage to a user to aid loosening and/or removing the cap from the container. The surface feature may be an opening or any other surface feature, and the member may be another container having a cap or container body having a surface feature configured to complement and fit the surface feature of the cap, forming an interlocking attachment therewith. Both containers may be configured identically, each having surface features that complement one another, thereby forming a system made up of such two containers for loosening/removing the caps of one another. The caps each may include an opening and a section sized to fit in the opening so that the section of one cap fits in the opening of the other cap.

Abstract: Modular vehicle platforms are disclosed. An example modular platform includes a frame to couple to a body of a vehicle. A first bracket is coupled to the frame. One of a second bracket or a third bracket is coupled to the frame. The first bracket is spaced from the second bracket or the third bracket. The first bracket and the second bracket enable attachment of a first suspension to the frame. The first bracket and the third bracket enable attachment of a second suspension to the frame. The first suspension has a first geometry that is different than a second geometry of the second suspension.

Abstract: A method for detecting a type of one of plurality of devices attached to a graphics machine, each device being one of at least a first type and a second type. The method includes detecting at a controller the type of device attached to or to be attached to the machine. The controller is capable of preadjusting the device or machine as a function of the detection. A graphics machine includes a controller, a first device connected to the controller, the first device being categorizable as one of at least a first type and a second type, the controller detecting the type of the first device, and a memory accessible by the controller, the memory storing information regarding the first type and the second type.

Abstract: A method for detecting a type of one of plurality of devices attached to a graphics machine, each device being one of at least a first type and a second type. The method includes detecting at a controller the type of device attached to or to be attached to the machine. The controller is capable of preadjusting the device or machine as a function of the detection. A graphics machine includes a controller, a first device connected to the controller, the first device being categorizable as one of at least a first type and a second type, the controller detecting the type of the first device, and a memory accessible by the controller, the memory storing information regarding the first type and the second type.

Abstract: A method for detecting a type of one of plurality of devices attached to a graphics machine, each device being one of at least a first type and a second type. The method includes detecting at a controller the type of device attached to or to be attached to the machine. The controller is capable of preadjusting the device or machine as a function of the detection. A graphics machine includes a controller, a first device connected to the controller, the first device being categorizable as one of at least a first type and a second type, the controller detecting the type of the first device, and a memory accessible by the controller, the memory storing information regarding the first type and the second type.

Abstract: A method for detecting a type of one of plurality of devices attached to a graphics machine, each device being one of at least a first type and a second type. The method includes detecting at a controller the type of device attached to or to be attached to the machine. The controller is capable of preadjusting the device or machine as a function of the detection. A graphics machine includes a controller, a first device connected to the controller, the first device being categorizable as one of at least a first type and a second type, the controller detecting the type of the first device, and a memory accessible by the controller, the memory storing information regarding the first type and the second type.