Abstract: A system for route guidance, the system comprising a driving controller, wherein the driving controller is configured to receive sensor output from at least one sensor, wherein, based on the received sensor output, the driving controller determines, for a common time interval, a first set of route actions and a second set of route actions; and a vehicle motion controller configured to receive, from the driving controller, the first set of route actions and the second set of route actions, and wherein, during the common time interval, the first set of route actions are executed when the vehicle is in a first state and the second set of route actions are executed when the vehicle is in a different second state.

Abstract: A power supply device for a vehicle that includes two or more independent power sources, a simple low-power voltage monitor connected to a fast switch device, an electronic control unit (ECU), and a dedicated standby monitor element. Each power source has a separate path to connect to the load(s). That is to say, a primary path connects the primary power source to the one or more loads, and a backup path connects the backup power source to the one or more loads. Furthermore, each path includes a back-to-back blocking element, which prevents a direct connection between the primary power source and the backup power source. At standby, both or all paths are blocked except the standby monitor, ensuring extremely low quiescent current. When the system is ON, the voltage level of the power system is monitored; if the voltage level drops below a threshold level, then the paths are switched.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle are described. A processor of a longitudinal planning system determines a state of the vehicle. The processor determines a state of a leader vehicle. The processor, based on the determined state of the vehicle and the determined state of the leader vehicle, determines a critical distance for the vehicle. The processor compares a distance between the vehicle and the leader vehicle with the critical distance. The processor, based on the comparison, determines whether the vehicle is too close to or too far from the leader vehicle. The processor, based on the determination, applies one or more of overshoot constraints, undershoot constraints, and critical constraints. After applying the one or more of overshoot constraints, undershoot constraints, and critical constraints, the processor determines a target acceleration for the vehicle. The processor controls the vehicle to track the target acceleration for the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems include localization of a vehicle localize precisely and in near real-time. As described, localization of a vehicle using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) can comprise receiving a signal from each of a plurality of satellites of a GNSS constellation and receiving input from one or more sensors of the vehicle. The input from the sensors can indicate current physical surroundings of the vehicle. A model of the current physical surrounding of the vehicle can be generated based on the input from the one or more sensors of the vehicle. One or more multipath signals received from the plurality of satellites can be mitigated based on the model and the vehicle can be localized using the received signals from the plurality of satellites of the GNSS constellation and based on the mitigation of the one or more multipath signals.

Abstract: A measurement circuit device for a vehicle includes a power transistor and a voltage measurement circuit coupled to the power transistor that measures a voltage across the power transistor. The measurement circuit device also includes a microcontroller that determines a junction temperature using the measured voltage and adjusts a capacity of the power transistor based on the determined junction temperature. In some embodiments, the measurement circuit device may include a clamping device that clamps the voltage across the transistor when the transistor is off. The measurement circuit device may also include an analog-to-digital converter that converts the measured voltage from an analog value to a digital value.

Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to a system including a motor, a battery that provides power to the motor, and control circuitry that provides one or more first current pulses to the motor using power from the battery to cause one or more second current pulses in the battery that heat the battery to a desired temperature while maintaining zero torque in the motor.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described that maintain and service electric vehicle battery packs and assemblies. The methods and systems automatically remove a used battery pack from an electric vehicle, replace the used battery pack with a charged battery pack, and service the removed used battery pack for subsequent vehicle installation. The servicing of the used battery pack includes removing a desiccant cartridge from the used battery pack and renewing a desiccant material associated with the desiccant cartridge. This desiccant material may be renewed by drying the desiccant cartridge using a heater. The used battery pack may be conveyed to a battery charger to charge the used battery pack to a predetermined charge level. The renewed, dry, desiccant cartridge may be attached to any battery pack and installed in an electric vehicle after the battery pack has been charged.

Abstract: Embodiments include a method for pruning anchor points from a feature map generated from a Light Detections And Ranging (LiDAR) point cloud, the method comprising: receiving, by a navigation system, a LiDAR point cloud from a LiDAR sensor, the LiDAR point cloud comprising data representing one or more objects in physical surroundings detected by the LiDAR sensor; extracting, by the navigation system, a feature map from the LiDAR point cloud, the feature map comprising a plurality of anchor points, each anchor point defined by an anchor box; smoothing, by the navigation system, the extracted feature map; determining, by the navigation system, density of pixels within the anchor box of each anchor point; and pruning, by the navigation system, anchor points from the feature map based on a plurality of factors related to the determined density of pixels within the box of each anchor point.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle are described. A processor of a longitudinal planning system determines a state of the vehicle. The processor determines a state of a leader vehicle. The processor, based on the determined state of the vehicle and the determined state of the leader vehicle, determines a critical distance for the vehicle. The processor compares a distance between the vehicle and the leader vehicle with the critical distance. The processor, based on the comparison, determines whether the vehicle is too close to or too far from the leader vehicle. The processor, based on the determination, applies one or more of overshoot constraints, undershoot constraints, and critical constraints. After applying the one or more of overshoot constraints, undershoot constraints, and critical constraints, the processor determines a target acceleration for the vehicle. The processor controls the vehicle to track the target acceleration for the vehicle.

Abstract: An electrolyte for a lithium-ion cell, comprises an organic solvent mixture comprising: (a) a hydrofluorinated ether base solvent to dissolve a lithium salt; (b) a fluorinated linear and/or cyclic ester co-solvent to form an SEI layer on a surface of the active materials; and (c) a fluorinated linear and/or cyclic ester co-solvent having a viscosity less than a viscosity of each of the hydrofluorinated ether base solvent and SEI-layer forming fluorinated linear and/or cyclic ester co-solvent to reduce a viscosity of the organic solvent mixture and a lithium salt dissolved in the organic solvent mixture.

Abstract: Devices, methods and systems used to detect thermal incidents are disclosed. In one embodiment, there may be a thermal incident detection apparatus for a battery pack including one or more battery modules, the one or more battery modules comprising a plurality of battery cells arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein each battery cell in the one or more battery modules comprises a vent, the apparatus comprising a thermally anisotropic material positioned in proximity to one or more battery cells of the one of more battery modules, wherein the thermally anisotropic material has an in-plane thermal conductivity greater than a through-plane thermal conductivity; and a sensor positioned in proximity to the thermally anisotropic material to sense thermal energy transferred by one of more of the battery cells to the thermally anisotropic material.

Abstract: A power supply device for a vehicle includes an energy storage device, and a converter coupled to an external power source and that converts a first voltage provided by the external power source into a second voltage. The power supply device includes at least one switching element coupled between the converter and the energy storage device, and a controller that monitors a charge level of the energy storage device while the vehicle is not in operation. The control controls switching of the at least one switching element based on the charge level to either i) connect the converter to the energy storage device to exit a sleep mode and enter a charge mode to charge the energy storage device with the second voltage, or ii) disconnect the converter from the energy storage device to exit the charge mode and enter the sleep mode.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sequentially laser welding terminal tabs of a battery cell to corresponding terminal tabs of a busbar are described using a single laser position and path. The terminal tabs of a battery cell are aligned in contact with terminal tabs of a busbar. A laser welder, from a first position, generates a laser weld beam at a first diameter welding the first terminal tab of the battery cell to the first terminal tab of the busbar. Next, the laser weld beam is narrowed, reducing the first diameter to a smaller second diameter. Without moving the laser welder from the first position, the narrowed laser weld beam burns a hole through the welded first set of terminal tabs, traverses a gap toward a second set of terminal tabs behind the first set and welds the second set together.

Abstract: An energy storage device and structure for energy storage cells is provided that includes a plurality of energy storage cells. Each of the energy storage cells has an upper side and a lower side. The plurality of energy storage cells are arranged in a pattern with each energy storage cell being spaced apart from one another. The upper sides of each of the energy storage cells are adjacent to one another. A phase change composition (PCC) material has through holes arranged in the pattern. A portion of each of the energy storage cells is positioned within a respective through hole. A lightweight material is adjacent to the PCC material and surrounds at least another portion of each of the energy storage cells. The PCC material is closer to the upper side of the energy storage cells than the lightweight material.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to recording event data to identify and resolve anomalies associated with control of driverless vehicles. Some examples include computing vehicular drive parameters to facilitate driverless transit, monitoring control signals, detecting an event, triggering storage of event data, determining transmission control criteria, and transmitting the event data based on the transmission control criteria. Other examples include receiving event data via a communications network from an autonomous vehicle, identifying a computed vehicular drive parameter, extracting sensor data associated with the event, detecting application of control signals, analyzing the control signals, the sensor data, and the subset of computed vehicular drive parameters to identify a type of event, and generating update executable instructions responsive to the type of event.

Abstract: A device for charging an energy storage device includes a controller to initiate a charging operation for the energy storage device and control, during a first stage of the charging operation, a thermal control system to direct a first volume of the thermal mass along a first flow path to heat the energy storage device to a first desired temperature. The controller controls, during a second stage of the charging operation, the thermal control system to direct a second volume of the thermal mass along a second flow path to cool the energy storage device from the first desired temperature towards a second desired temperature.

Abstract: A method is provided for optimizing the use of autonomous features of advanced driver assistance systems and the tracking thereof. For example, a vehicle may be equipped with several driver assistance systems in which a driver of the vehicle may be assisted. The vehicle may automatically change the number of active assistance systems or suggest to the driver one or more assistance systems to activate based on several factors, including poor driving on behalf of the driver or poor driving conditions due to weather or road quality. Statistics regarding the use of such advanced driver assistance systems may be monitored and tracked and stored on an onboard database or transmitted continuously or periodically to various entities. For example, the system may operate to allow an insurance company to track the driving performance and the use of the advanced driver assistance systems to update actuarial models to more accurately adjust rates.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a method for object detection. The method includes receiving sensor data indicative of one or more objects for each of a camera subsystem, a LiDAR subsystem, and an imaging RADAR subsystem. The sensor data is received simultaneously and within one frame for each of the subsystems. The method also includes extracting one or more feature representations of the objects from camera image data, LiDAR point cloud data and imaging RADAR point cloud data and generating image feature maps, LiDAR feature maps and imaging RADAR feature maps. The method further includes combining the image feature maps, the LiDAR feature maps and the imaging RADAR feature maps to generate merged feature maps and generating object classification, object position, object dimensions, object heading and object velocity from the merged feature maps.

Abstract: Remote devices have replaced keys as a means to access a secure feature of a vehicle. Remote door locks, starters, climate control, trunk openers, etc., have allowed vehicles to be more welcoming and easier to use. However, such functions often rely on radio frequency transmissions that can merely relay signals coming from an authorized device that may allow a nefarious user to access the vehicle or contents therein. By encoding sequence numbers and timestamps within an exchange, a vehicle may determine that an authorized user is too far away to be granted access to the secure feature, thereby denying access to the nefarious user implementing a relay attack on the vehicle.

Abstract: A “universal” airbag system according to embodiments of the present disclosure provides for occupant protection in both conventional and unconventional seating orientations (rotated, reclined, and lying positions), when impacted in various directions. The universal airbag system features a seat mounted airbag which may be used with a seat-integrated seatbelt. The material may be selected, constructed, and attached such that it does not fail or tear under application-specific loading conditions, is strong enough to capture the occupant, has the elongation/expansion properties for a flexible yet stable shape with excursion limiting functionality, and is optionally inflatable.