Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that limits forward swing of an accessory mounted in a vehicle, the accessory separating a cargo area from a passenger seating area and configured to rotate around a bracket rod. The apparatus includes a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket is attached to the accessory and extends perpendicularly away from the accessory. The second bracket is attached to the bracket rod and extends perpendicularly away from the bracket rod. When the first bracket contacts the second bracket, forward swing of the accessory toward the passenger seating area is limited.

Abstract: A deployment flap for a vehicular airbag system is disclosed. The deployment flap includes: a main body portion; wings that extend laterally from the main body portion; and at least one expandable portion. The main body portion includes a tear seam that is configured to separate during the inflation of an airbag such that the airbag extends through the deployment flap. The at least one expandable portion is reconfigurable from a collapsed configuration into an expanded configuration to thereby facilitate lengthening of the main body portion and the wings prior to separation of the tear seam during multi-stage inflation of the airbag, whereby the deployment flap directs the airbag and inhibits eccentric deployment.

Abstract: A vehicle includes: a vehicle body; a support structure that is connected to the vehicle body and which is configured to provide a framework for one or more thermal components of the vehicle; a reinforcement member that is connected to the vehicle body and which is configured to absorb impact forces; and an active grille shutter that is connected to the support structure. The active grille shutter includes an integral pedestrian guard that is configured for contact with a pedestrian's leg to protect the pedestrian's leg during an impact.

Abstract: A vehicle front end assembly includes a fender, a headlamp assembly and a trim panel. The fender has a front edge portion. The headlamp assembly has a housing and a lens. The lens defines an upper section and a lower section with a slot defined therebetween. The trim panel is installed to the housing within the slot. The trim panel is attached to the housing of the headlamp assembly and is retained by the front edge portion of the fender.

Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly includes a lamp finisher, a knob and a retainer. The lamp finisher defines an exterior housing for a light source of the vehicle lamp assembly. The knob is movable with respect to the lamp finisher to operate the light source between an ON state and an OFF state. The retainer is sandwiched between a portion of the lamp finisher and a portion of the knob. The knob is retained to the lamp finisher by the retainer.

Abstract: An apparatus for post-processing of a decision-making model of an autonomous vehicle receives a decision-making model including a plurality of states. The model is processed using multivariate data that comprises values for at least three observations of a vehicle operational scenario. A slice of the model decision space is generated by fixing values of all except two observations, and modifying the values of the two observations to obtain multiple alternative solutions for the model. The alternative solutions and the modified values form the slice. Each alternative solution is associated with a respective first value of a first observation and a respective second value of a second observation. The apparatus also generates a solution to a modified decision-making model that is the model modified by, for at least one state and at least one of the two observations, modifying a probabilistic transition matrix, a probabilistic observation matrix, or both.

Abstract: A vehicle mobile device holder assembly includes a base, a first articulating section and a second articulating section. The base is shaped and dimensioned to fit within a beverage container recess of a center console of a passenger vehicle. The base has an open central area dimension and shaped to receive a beverage container. The base further includes an attachment portion. The first articulating section is attached to attachment portion of the base. The second articulating section is attached to the first articulating section and has a mobile device retaining section.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided that includes a top end plate, a bottom end plate, a plurality of fuel cells provided between the top end plate and the bottom end plate, at least one bipolar plate, a plurality of hollow fasteners, and a plurality of sleeves. Each of the at least one bipolar plate is formed between two of the plurality of fuel cells. The plurality of hollow fasteners and the plurality of sleeves extend through holes in each of the top end plate, the bottom end plate, the plurality of fuel cells and the at least one bipolar plate. Each of the plurality of sleeves surrounds one of the plurality of hollow fasteners. Each of the plurality of hollow fasteners comprises a top surface, a hole in the top surface, a side surface, and a plurality of holes formed in the side surface.

Abstract: A vehicle interior lighting assembly includes a roof structure, a headliner and a light source. The roof structure has a lower surface portion located inboard of the outer periphery. The headliner is supported to the outer periphery of vehicle roof structure. The headliner has a central opening defined by an inner edge portion of the headliner. The opening exposes a portion of the roof structure. The inner edge portion of the headliner is spaced apart from the lower surface portion of the vehicle roof structure such that a gap is defined between the vehicle roof structure and inner edge portion of the headliner. The light source is installed to the lower surface portion of the vehicle roof structure such that when the light source is illuminated, light is emitted through the gap between the vehicle roof structure and inner edge portion of the headliner.

Abstract: A vehicle windshield testing assembly includes a test table, a plurality of supports, a vehicle windshield, and a testing fixture. The test table is configured to be adjustable about a first axis and a second axis. The plurality of supports is movably connected to the test table. The vehicle windshield is supported by the plurality of supports. The testing fixture supported by the plurality of supports. The testing fixture includes a plurality of hollow sleeves configured to receive a testing object. Each of the hollow sleeves has an opening facing the vehicle windshield.

Abstract: A door structure is moveable to and from of a closed orientation covering a door opening and an open orientation exposing the door opening of a vehicle. The door structure has an inner door panel with an interior latch handle attachment area and an attenuation slot adjacent to the interior latch handle attachment area. The attenuation slot is defined between a first slot edge and a second slot edge. The interior latch handle is installed to the interior latch handle attachment area. A portion of the interior latch handle is located adjacent to the first slot edge of the attenuation slot. In response to an impact event proximate a central area of the door structure, the door structure and the interior latch handle attachment area deform such that the first slot edge and the interior latch handle move relative to the second slot edge of the attenuation slot.

Abstract: A drive train connector assembly includes a first connecting structure and a second connecting structure. The first connecting structure has an attachment protrusion with first and second edges. The first edge extends in a first direction. The second edge extends in a second direction. Both directions are perpendicular to the rotational axis. The first and second directions define a first acute angle therebetween. The second connecting structure defines recessed area. The attachment protrusion fits into the recessed area. The recessed area defines third and fourth edges. The third edge extends in a third direction and the fourth edge extends in a fourth direction. The third direction and the fourth direction define a second acute angle. With the attachment protrusion installed within the recessed area the first and third edges are parallel to one another and the second and fourth edges are parallel to one another.

Abstract: A vehicle front end module includes a radiator unit, a heat exchanger unit and a splash shield assembly. The heat exchanger unit is disposed in a vehicle forward direction of the radiator unit. The splash shield assembly is disposed in the vehicle forward direction of the radiator unit so that the splash shield is located between the heat exchanger and radiator unit.

Abstract: A reactive pedal algorithm is used to modify an accelerator pedal output (APO)-to-torque conversion to produce more deceleration for the same accelerator pedal position. Modifying the APO-to-torque conversion provides the driver of a vehicle the sensation that the vehicle is resisting approaching closer to a lead vehicle. The APO-to-torque conversion is modified based on a scene determination to classify vehicles as in-lane, neighbor-lane, or on-coming. Lane change assist methods and systems are used to modify the APO-to-torque conversion range based on a lead vehicle, a neighbor vehicle, or both.

Abstract: A releasable alignment clip secures a primary leaf spring to one or more secondary leaf springs of a suspension of a vehicle. The releasable alignment clip prevents separation of the primary leaf spring from the secondary leaf spring during normal operation while permitting relative sliding. The releasable alignment clip has a minimum separation force such that in response to a collision forcing a wheel forwardly, the releasable alignment clip deforms and permits separation of the primary leaf spring from the secondary leaf spring to avoid the primary leaf spring from breaking between the alignment clip and a point of attachment to the vehicle. The releasable alignment clip may have a reduced thickness, notches, or one or more perforations to achieve the minimum separation force.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electric vehicle includes operating the vehicle in accordance with a current pedal map. A plurality of alternative pedal maps is defined. A variance for each of the plurality of alternative pedal maps is determined. Operation of the vehicle is switched from the current pedal map to one of the alternative pedal maps based on the determined variance.

Abstract: An accent lighting system for a vehicle is disclosed that includes a light module and a transmitter. The light module includes a first inductive member and a diffuser that extends along a periphery of the light module so as to collect and distribute light generated by the light module. The transmitter includes a second inductive member that is configured for electromagnetic communication with the first inductive member so as to create current in the first inductive member and thereby power the light module.

Abstract: An apparatus for traversing a vehicle transportation network by an autonomous vehicle (AV) includes a human-autonomy teaming manager. The manager includes a first processor configured to initiate a dialogue associated with a predefined dynamic task sequence that is responsive to a condition experienced by the AV while traversing from a starting location to an ending location within the vehicle transportation network. The sequence is one of a plurality of predefined dynamic task sequences that uses multiple agents to resolve the condition. The manager receives, from an interface accessible to a human agent, an input responsive to the dialogue. The input confirms the sequence as a selected predefined dynamic task sequence or selects an other of the plurality of predefined dynamic task sequences as the selected predefined dynamic task sequence. The manager delegates tasks of the selected predefined dynamic task sequence to resolve the condition.

Abstract: A battery bracket assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting bracket configured to be connected to a vehicle frame and to receive a battery. The mounting bracket includes a base, and a first wall extending upwardly from a first end of the base. A second wall extends upwardly from a second end of the base. First and second tabs extend from first and second ends of the first wall. The first and second tabs extend toward the second wall. Third and fourth tabs extend from first and second ends of the second wall. The third and fourth tabs extend toward the first wall. A third wall extends from a first side of the base. A fourth wall extends from a second side of the base. The first and third tabs are connected to the third wall and the second and fourth tabs are connected to the fourth wall.

Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed that includes a vehicle body and at least one sensor assembly that is supported on the vehicle body. The at least one sensor assembly is configured to detect an external object and includes a housing portion and a sensor that is supported within the housing portion such that the sensor is oriented at a fixed (e.g., downward) angle.