Abstract: A system for updating software installed on an electronic unit on a vehicle can include a processor and a memory. The processor can be disposed on an intermediate communications device. The intermediate communications device can be a mobile device. The memory can store an update request module and an update existence module. The update request module can include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to receive, from the electronic unit on the vehicle, a request for an update of the software. The request can include: (1) an identification of a version of the software currently installed on the electronic unit and (2) a key to specifically identify the electronic unit. The update existence module can include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to receive, from a device associated with development of the software, information about an existence of the update.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to generating a notification about a risk of a target vehicle toppling over due to wind. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a wind force of the wind at a location of the target vehicle and determining one or more characteristics of the target vehicle. The method includes determining whether there is a risk of the target vehicle toppling over based on the wind force of the wind and the one or more characteristics of the target vehicle. The method includes generating a notification about the risk.

Abstract: A rectifier apparatus for a wireless inductive charging system includes a first PCB having a metal layer, a dielectric layer provided on a surface of the metal layer, and a circuit layer provided on an opposite surface of the dielectric layer relative to the metal layer, the circuit layer including copper traces and circuit components, the circuit components including a capacitor array. The apparatus includes a second PCB having a non-metallic substrate and a plurality of inductors formed in the non-metallic substrate, each inductor comprised of a magnetic core and metallic windings, where the plurality of inductors are electrically coupled forming an inductor array. The circuit layer of the first PCB and the inductor array of the second PCB are electrically coupled to form a rectifier circuit to provide DC power. The circuit layer and the inductor array can be electrically coupled via aligned contact pads on each PCB.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein concern estimating the mass of a vehicle. One embodiment uses a slope estimator to estimate the grade of a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling; inputs state estimates from the slope estimator, an estimated wheel force, and an estimated wheel acceleration to a secondary mass estimator that calculates a first estimated mass of the vehicle; selects, based at least in part on the first estimated mass, a calibration value using a tuning map; inputs the calibration value, the estimated wheel force, the state estimates, and a measurement noise value to a main mass estimator that calculates a second estimated mass of the vehicle that is more accurate than the first estimated mass due, at least in part, to the calibration value; and adjusts automatically one or more operational parameters of the vehicle based, at least in part, on the second estimated mass.

Abstract: A wireless inductive charging apparatus includes first and second coil boards arranged in parallel, each coil board having a substrate and a first metallic trace forming a first inductive winding disposed on a first surface of the substrate. The apparatus includes an electrically-insulating and thermally-conductive insert board arranged between and adjacent to the first and second coil boards, the insert board including microchannels to provide cooling to the coil boards. The first coil board, the insert board and second coil board are arranged in a stacked formation to generate electric power when exposed to a changing magnetic field. Each coil board can also include a second metallic trace forming a second inductive winding disposed on a second surface of the substrate, the second surface on an opposite side of the substrate relative to the first surface. Additional coil boards and insert boards can be added to the stacked arrangement.

Abstract: A clip installation tool that includes a shaft defining a first bore centered around a central axis. The first bore receives a spring therein. The clip installation tool further includes a movable portion partially disposed within the first bore and in contact with the spring. The movable portion defines a second bore. The clip installation tool further includes a stopper extending at least partially within the second bore and a handle coupled to the shaft.

Abstract: An example operation includes one or more of determining, by a vehicle, that an authorized component has been replaced on the vehicle with an unauthorized component, and providing by the vehicle a notification of an impact to the vehicle based on the unauthorized component.

Abstract: A double-sided cold plate includes a manifold comprising openings extending from a first surface of the manifold through the manifold to a second surface of the manifold forming recesses within the manifold and an inlet channel and an outlet channel fluidly coupled to the recesses within the manifold, a plurality of first heat sinks coupled to the first surface of the manifold enclosing the openings on the first surface, and a plurality of second heat sinks positioned adjacent each other along a length of the manifold and coupled to the second surface of the manifold, enclosing the openings on the second surface, a width of the plurality of second heat sinks is greater than a width of the manifold thereby forming an overhanging portion on each lengthwise side of the manifold, the overhanging portion configured to mechanically support a plurality of electrical components positioned around a perimeter of the manifold.

Abstract: A driver board assembly includes a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate, one or more power devices embedded within the PCB substrate, and a plurality of conductive layers arranged within the PCB substrate. The plurality of conductive layers are configured to electrically couple the one or more power devices to a current source and thermally couple the one or more power devices to one or more cooling assemblies mounted to at least one of a first surface of the PCB substrate and a second surface of the PCB substrate opposite the first surface of the PCB substrate.

Abstract: A container for a fuel cell system includes a system frame configured to house one or more components of a fuel cell system. The container also includes a plurality of fuel cells supported by the system frame and configured to provide power to an external unit. The container also includes a raised floor configured to support the plurality of fuel cells. The container also includes a cooling system. The cooling system includes a central cooling pipe located underneath the raised floor, a plurality of fuel cell cooling pipes connected to the central cooling pipe and to each fuel cell, and a cooling pipe valve configured to regulate the pressure of the cooling system.

Abstract: A method includes detecting a force applied to a sensing area of a sensor system, the sensing area including a first sensing region and a second sensing region. The first sensing region is determined to be a correct sensing region. The second sensing region is determined to be an incorrect sensing region. An activation area of the incorrect sensing region is determined. A force distribution of the incorrect sensing region is determined. A corrected corresponding force measurement of the incorrect sensing region is calculated based on the activation area and force distribution of the incorrect sensing region.

Abstract: A truck includes a passenger cabin and a truck bed located rearward of the passenger cabin in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The truck bed includes a bed deck and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. A compressor unit is located between an inner sidewall panel and an outer sidewall panel of one of the sidewalls. A truck bed cover covers the truck bed. A bladder is connected to an underside of the truck bed cover. The compressor unit connected to the bladder and configured to inflate the bladder.

Abstract: An artificial muscle includes a housing including an electrode region, an expandable fluid region, a first film layer, and a second film layer. The first film layer and the second film layer each include an inner protective layer having a first elasticity, an outer protective layer having a second elasticity, and a reinforcing layer provided between the inner protective layer and the outer protective layer, the reinforcing layer having a third elasticity greater than the first elasticity of the inner protective layer and the second elasticity of the outer protective layer. The artificial muscle further includes an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing and between the first film layer and the second film layer, and a dielectric fluid housed within the housing.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting erroneous LIDAR data are disclosed herein. One embodiment receives LIDAR point-cloud data pertaining to a robot's environment; receives image data and generates segmented optical-flow data therefrom; fuses, in a 2D grid, a plurality of objects including LIDAR points and optical-flow pixels; executes a hash function that generates, for the plurality of objects, a 1D hash table and an associated index; performs one or more queries using the 1D hash table and the associated index to measure the extent of spatial correspondence between the LIDAR points and the optical-flow pixels; identifies the LIDAR point-cloud data as erroneous, when the extent of spatial correspondence fails to satisfy one or more predetermined criteria; and identifies the LIDAR point-cloud data as valid and controls operation of the robot based, at least in part, on the LIDAR point-cloud data, when the extent of spatial correspondence satisfies the one or more predetermined criteria.

Abstract: Vehicle systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products to enhance the situational competency and/or the safe operation of a vehicle by automatically controlling the vehicle in response to executing measurable attribute data analysis that includes a comparison of the relative height of a detected road infrastructure element with a predetermined threshold height value.

Abstract: An electrolyte includes a composite salt mixture formed from a halogen-free closo-borate salt and a halogenated closo-borate salt. The halogen-free closo-borate salt includes a first cation selected from Li+, Na+, Mg2+, or Ca2+, and a closo-borate anion with the structure [ByH(y?z)Rz]2?, [CB(y?1)H(y?z)Rz]?, [C2B(y?2)H(y?t?1)Rt]?, [C2B(y?3)H(y?t)Rt]?, or [C2B(y?3)H(y?t?1)Rt]2?, and a second cation selected from Li+, Na+, Mg2+, or Ca2+,and a halogenated closo-borate anion with the structure [ByH(y?z?i)RzXi]2?, [CB(y?1)H(y?z?i)RzXi]?, [C2B(y?2)H(y?t?j?1)RtXj]?, [C2B(y?3)H(y?t?j)RtXj]?, or [C2B(y?3)H(y?t?j?1)RtXj]2?. The parameter y is an integer within a range of 6 to 12, z is an integer within a range of 0 to y, t is an integer within a range of 0 to (y?1), z+i is an integer within a range of 0 to y, t+j is an integer within a range of 0 to y?1, R is a linear, branched-chain, or cyclic C1-C18 alkyl or fluoroalkyl group, and X is F, Cl, Br, and/or I.

Abstract: A sound absorbing device includes a chamber with an opening and at least one fabric layer extending across the opening. The at least one fabric layer extending across the opening is at least two fabric layers stacked relative to and in direct contact with each other, at least two fabric layers stacked relative to and spaced apart from each other by a predefined distance, at least one elastic fabric layer configured to vibrate independently from the chamber, or a three dimensional fabric layer. The at least two fabric layers stacked relative to and in direct contact with each other and the at least two fabric layers stacked relative to and spaced apart from each other by a predefined distance are configured to move relative to each other, and the at least one elastic fabric layer is configured to vibrate independently from the chamber.

Abstract: A flexural wave absorber includes a metasurface with an inner portion, an outer portion, and a plurality of beam strips extending between the inner portion and the outer portion. The metasurface also includes a plurality of coupled resonators disposed on the plurality of beam strips. The plurality of coupled resonators can include a lossy resonator and a lossless resonator, two lossy resonators and a lossless resonator, or a lossy resonator and two lossless resonators. In addition, each of the plurality of beam strips can have multiple pairs of coupled resonators disposed thereon that work at or absorb different frequency ranges.

Abstract: A method includes receiving features associated with an object to be tracked, receiving an estimated location of the object, determining a region of interest with respect to a first connected vehicle that includes the estimated location of the object, transmitting the features and the region of interest to the first connected vehicle, receiving object data associated with the object from the first connected vehicle, the object data comprising a location of the object, and updating an object track associated with the object based on the object data, the object track comprising the location of the object at a plurality of time steps.

Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting a vehicle at an intersection are disclosed herein. One embodiment detects that the vehicle is stopped at the intersection at one of a first position and a second position; detects that a driver of the vehicle is pressing on an accelerator pedal of the vehicle; delays acceleration of the vehicle automatically by a first predetermined period, when the vehicle has been detected at the first position; and delays acceleration of the vehicle automatically by a second predetermined period, when the vehicle has been detected at the second position. Delaying acceleration of the vehicle automatically prevents the vehicle from being struck by a cross-traffic vehicle that has proceeded through the intersection against a first traffic signal in a red-light state.