Abstract: A rotor includes a unitary, single material substrate defining a rotor lamination having pockets defining legs and configured to contain permanent magnets therein to establish a magnetic pole of the rotor. The rotor includes a first region having a predefined magnetic permeability. The rotor includes a second region defined between the legs and an outer periphery of the lamination. The second region has a magnetic permeability less than the first region to reduce torque ripple of a predetermined harmonic order.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to detect a vehicle wireless signal at a first frequency-band. The processor is also configured to choose a second signal at a second frequency-band having a predefined relationship to a requested action. The processor is further configured to connect to the second signal and lower a signal data-transfer rate, responsive to the detection, and use the second signal to perform a time-of-flight based user-proximity detection, to determine if a user is within a vehicle proximity range associated with the requested action.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes an air mover within a seatback. An inlet channel extends from an occupant seatback surface to the air mover and includes first and second outlet channels. The air mover selectively and alternatively moves air from the inlet channel to one of the first and second outlet channels. The first outlet channel includes a vent located proximate a headrest.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for indicating whether a wastegate positioned in a vehicle exhaust system is stuck in a closed or open configuration. In one example, a method comprises activating an electric air compressor positioned in an intake of the engine and obtaining a first baseline air flow and a second baseline air flow in the exhaust system, and in response to an indication that the wastegate is potentially stuck open or closed, obtaining a test air flow measurement via activating the electric air compressor and comparing the test air flow in the exhaust system to the first and/or the second baseline air flow. In this way, the wastegate may be diagnosed under conditions of limited engine operation, such as that which may occur in hybrid electric vehicles.

Abstract: A system includes a support structure that includes a bottom surface and a connector plate pivotably connected to the bottom surface, and a device including a wheel, the device being releaseably connectable to the connector plate.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for taking mitigating action where a canister purge valve configured to control an amount of fuel vapors inducted into the engine during purging operations of a fuel vapor storage canister, is indicated as being degraded. In one example, a method comprises controlling an amount of pressure directed to a fuel tank and the fuel vapor storage canister via a pump positioned downstream of the fuel tank and canister to actively route fuel vapors to the canister during a refueling event. In this way, fuel vapors may be prevented from being routed to engine intake under conditions of a degraded canister purge valve, which may reduce opportunity for vehicle stall, improve driveability, and which may reduce release of undesired evaporative emissions to atmosphere.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to facilitate environmental visibility determination. An example vehicle comprises a sensor and a processor and memory. The sensor is to generate road image information. The processor and memory are in communication with the sensor and are configured to: detect vanishing points of lane markings in the road image information, convert an average pixel row value of the vanishing points to a distance value, and if the distance value is below a threshold, stop execution of at least one road condition monitoring feature.

Abstract: A vehicle electric machine assembly including a stator core and a terminal block is provided. The stator core includes one or more three-phase terminals connected to end windings. The terminal block includes a connector for each of the three-phase terminals. A portion of the end windings extending from the stator core, the three-phase terminals, and the terminal block are overmolded as a single unit such that a portion of each of the connectors is exposed for connection to an inverter. The terminal block may further include one or more threaded apertures, each sized to receive a threaded stud to facilitate an electrical connection between one of the one or more three-phase terminals and the inverter. Each of the one or more three-phase terminals may extend axially along an axis substantially parallel to a central axis of a rotor disposed within a cavity defined by the stator core.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a processor programmed to process a user's profile by collecting usage pattern of a user; and responsive to a trigger condition, downloading media data from a server to a local storage for the user according to the user profile before the user uses the media data, and load the media data from the local storage to present to the user responsive to user using the vehicle.

Abstract: A door assist system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator configured to control a position of the door about a hinge assembly. An interference sensor forms a portion of a door opening seal and is configured to detect an obstruction in a plurality of detection regions. The system further comprises a controller configured to control the actuator in response to a detection signal from the interference sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a thermal system for a battery; and a controller for the thermal system. The controller may be configured to, during vehicle motion, cool the battery when a temperature of the battery exceeds a lower threshold and inhibit transfer of power with the battery when the temperature exceeds an upper threshold, and while coupled with a charge station, heat the battery to a temperature between the lower threshold and the upper threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle maneuvering system comprises at least one image device configured to capture image data and a controller. The controller is configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer in the image data and control motion of the vehicle navigating a hitch ball of the vehicle toward the coupler position. The controller is further configured to monitor a coupler distance extending from the coupler position and the hitch ball. In response to the coupler distance being less than or equal to the distance threshold, the controller is configured to classify a plurality of portions of the image data as trailer portions and non-trailer portions and identify the coupler position by processing the image via a feature extraction operation.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a sensor window, a deflector fixedly positioned to deflect a first airflow travelling in an opposing direction to a direction of travel of the sensor window to one or more directions tangential to the sensor window, and a nozzle fixedly positioned to direct a second airflow through the nozzle to a space between the sensor window and the deflector.

Abstract: A hybrid transaxle permits location of a traction motor in a more favorable location, decreasing the risk of occupant injury in a vehicle collision. Axis transfer gearing moves the generator off the engine axis, which permits placing the traction motor further forward without interference with the generator. The gearing is confined to two gear planes, reducing the transaxle width.

Abstract: An interior trim assembly of a vehicle extends along width and height directions. The interior trim assembly includes a headliner having a substrate and a cover together defining a folded portion. A first cross-section of the folded portion along the width direction includes first and second cover portions and a first substrate portion of the substrate positioned between the first and second cover portions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a heat exchanger. In one example, a method may include adjusting a flap to adjust a number of conduits configured to receive exhaust gas recirculate and exhaust gas within the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a wireless transceiver, configured to communicate with a mobile device; a vehicle sensor, configured provide vehicle motion data; and one or more processors, configured to responsive to receiving an authentication request from the mobile device, send a request for a device motion fingerprint for a first timeframe to the mobile device, receive the device motion fingerprint from the mobile device, generate a vehicle motion fingerprint for the first timeframe using the vehicle motion data, responsive to a driving maneuver input intensity being greater than an input threshold, compare the vehicle motion fingerprint with the device motion fingerprint to generate a similarity score, and responsive to the similarity score being indicative of at least a predefined threshold level of similarity between the vehicle motion fingerprint and the device motion fingerprint, authenticate a wireless connection between the mobile device and the vehicle via the wireless transceiver.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cooling an overheated engine using a combination of variable displacement engine (VDE) technology and direct injection technology. In one example, a method may include deactivating a subset of engine cylinders based on an engine temperature and directly injecting liquid fuel into the deactivated cylinders. In this way, an increased thermal conductivity of the liquid fuel compared to air decreases the engine temperature at a faster rate than when air-based engine cooling methods are used, thereby preventing overheating-related engine degradation.

Abstract: A motor vehicle console comprises a mount and a pair of exposed parallel tubular members. Each of the tubular members has a forward section, an intermediate section extending rearwardly, and a rearward section, wherein at least one of the forward horizontal section, intermediate section, and rearward section is disposed at an elevation horizontally above the other of the forward section, intermediate section, and rearward section and each forward section is operatively coupled with the mount.