Abstract: A system includes an in-cabin sensor, a seatbelt routing zone module, and a seatbelt routing classification module. The in-cabin sensor is operable to generate an image of an occupant in a vehicle seat. The seatbelt routing zone module is configured to generate a seatbelt routing zone based on at least one of a size of the occupant in the image and a shape of the occupant. The seatbelt routing classification module is configured to determine whether a seatbelt is routed properly around the occupant based on whether the seatbelt is at least partially within the seatbelt routing zone.

Abstract: A power line communication (PLC) system for a vehicle is contemplated. The system may include a plurality of power lines configured to connect at least a first node and a second node to negative and positive terminals of a vehicle battery. The system may include a filter connected to the power lines. The filter may be configured to attract a first portion of a PLC signal to the negative terminal prior to the first portion reaching the second node and to permit a second portion of the PLC signal to continue transmission to the second node.

Abstract: A method for tempering steel for riveting includes positioning a first component having a first composition over a second component having a second composition, and resistance spot welding the first component to the second component using a resistance spot weld gun to form a spot weld. The method includes tempering at least one of the first component, the second component and the spot weld with the resistance spot weld gun, and coupling a third component having a third composition to the first component and the second component with a rivet, and the third composition is different than the first composition and the second composition.

Abstract: Catalyst systems that are resistant to high-temperature sintering and methods for preparing such catalyst systems that are resistant to sintering at high temperatures are provided. Methods of forming such catalyst systems include contacting a support having a surface including a catalyst particle with a solution comprising a metal salt and having an acidic pH. The metal salt is precipitated onto the surface of the support. Next, the metal salt is calcined to selectively generate a porous coating of metal oxide on the surface of the support distributed around the catalyst particle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle towing a trailer. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more sensors onboard a vehicle are configured to provide sensor data, and a processor onboard the vehicle is configured to at least facilitate: monitoring a trailer sway of the trailer using the sensor data, based on one or more parameters of the sensor data representing the trailer sway and application of a band-pass filter to the one or more parameters; and mitigating the trailer sway, via instructions provided by the processor to one or more braking systems of the vehicle, the trailer, or both, when it is determined that the trailer sway of the trailer is sufficient to warrant mitigation based on the one or more parameters of the sensor data representing the trailer sway and the application of the band-pass filter to the one or more parameters.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that include obtaining first camera images of a parking location before a vehicle is parked at the parking location; obtaining second camera images of the parking location after the vehicle is parked at the parking location; and detecting, via a processor, a fluid leak for the vehicle based on a comparison of the first camera images and the second camera images.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting a blind spot of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, head position data indicating a position of a head of a driver of the vehicle; determining, by the processor, pillar position data associated with at least one pillar of the vehicle; determining, by the processor, at least one angle based on the head position data and the pillar position data; determining, by the processor, at least one blind spot area based on the at least one angle; detecting, by the processor, at least one object within the at least one blind spot area; and generating at least one of notification data, decision data, and control data based on the at least one object.

Abstract: An automated driving system includes an object detection system. A neural network image encoder generates image embeddings associated with an image including an object. A neural network text encoder generates concept embeddings associated with each of a plurality of concepts. Each of the plurality of concepts is associated with one of at least two object classes. A confidence score module generates a confidence score for each of the plurality of concepts based on the image embeddings and the concept embeddings associated with the concept. An object class prediction module generates a predicted object class of the object based on an association between a set of concepts of the plurality of concepts having at least two of the highest values of the generated confidence scores and the one of the at least two object classes associated with a majority of the set of concepts.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a sunshade of a vehicle. The methods and systems receive a route plan from a first location to a second location, predict a sun parameter indicative of sun glare on the window for the route plan based on solar direction and vehicle heading at distributed locations throughout the route plan, and activate the sunshade based on the sun parameter so as to shade the window.

Abstract: A solid-state electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions includes a solid-state electrolyte that defines a first major surface and an electrode that defines a second major surface. The solid-state electrochemical cell also includes an interfacial layer disposed between the first major surface of the solid-state electrolyte and the second major surface of the electrode. The interfacial layer may include an ion-conductor disposed in an organic matrix.

Abstract: Hollow automotive parts, methods for fabricating hollow automotive parts, and methods for fabricating hollow castings are provided. An exemplary method for fabricating a hollow casting includes casting at least a first casting section and a second casting section from a slurry using a semi-solid casting process, and welding the casting sections together at interfaces therebetween.

Abstract: An occupant detection system for an interior cabin area of a vehicle includes one or more signal conversion devices including conversion circuitry and a wireless control module including a multi-band transceiver having two or more transceivers. The wireless control module executes instructions to continuously send, by a first transceiver, signals on a first frequency band. The wireless control module executes instructions to receive, by a second transceiver, signals on a second frequency band from a signal conversion device. The wireless control module compares original training symbols from the signals on the first frequency band with training symbols from the signals on the second frequency band to determine a change in value of in one or more channel state information (CSI) parameters, and determines one or more occupants are present within the interior cabin area of the vehicle based on the change in one or more CSI parameters.

Abstract: A lifting system includes a top plate, a bottom plate and N pairs of hinged plates. The N pairs of hinged plates are connected by 2N pairs of hinges to N sides of the top plate and the bottom plate, where N is an integer greater than 2. A bladder is arranged between the top plate and the bottom plate and between inner edges of the N pairs of hinged plates.

Abstract: A method of forming a shaped steel object is provided. The method includes cutting a blank from an alloy composition including 0.05-0.5 wt. % carbon, 4-12 wt. % manganese, 1-8 wt. % aluminum, 0-0.4 wt. % vanadium, and a remainder balance of iron. The method also includes heating the blank until the blank is austenitized to form a heated blank, transferring the heated blank to a press, forming the heating blank into a predetermined shape to form a stamped object, and decreasing the temperature of the stamped object to a temperature between a martensite start (Ms) temperature of the alloy composition and a martensite final (Mf) temperature of the alloy composition to form a shaped steel object comprising martensite and retained austenite.

Abstract: A throttle body for an engine or fuel cell of a vehicle is provided. The throttle body comprises a cylindrical housing comprising a first open end extending to a second open end defining an inner wall having an inner surface. The throttle body further comprises a moveable blade valve movably disposed on the inner wall and arranged to regulate air to the engine during operation of the vehicle. The moveable blade valve has an outer surface. The throttle body further comprises a dual-phase thermal composite coating (TCC) disposed on one of the inner surface of the inner wall and outer surface of the moveable blade valve for enhanced thermal conductivity and reduced deposit accumulation on the inner surface and the outer surface. The dual-phase TCC comprises a first material comprising between 10 wt % and 90 wt %, and a second material comprising between 10 wt % and 90 wt % of the dual-phase TCC. The dual phase TCC has a contact angle of between 100° and 160° and a thermal conductivity of at least 0.3 W/mK.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for locating a pair of components relative to one another using complex surfaces. One component has a complex surface, where the complex surface is smoothly contoured. Another component is shaped to be connected with the first component. A fixture locates the first component relative to the second component. The fixture includes a locator with a complex surface region shaped to mate with the complex surface of the one component to locate the fixture relative to that component. The fixture includes another locator to locate the fixture relative to the second component.

Abstract: A holographic projection system includes a SLM that receives a light beam and generates a modulated beam projected at an eyebox, where: the modulated beam includes multiple versions of a test image; and the test image includes bright objects and transparent regions, which are selected dark areas of interest for measuring luminance. A control module runs a test to characterize contrast in each of multiple virtual image planes including: controlling the SLM to generate the modulated beam; measuring luminance levels of each of the versions of the test image displayed in the virtual image planes; calculating contrast ratios based on the luminance levels of each of the versions of the test image; determining whether the contrast ratios are within predetermined ranges of predetermined contrast ratios; and adjusting operation of the SLM in response to one of the contrast ratios not being within a corresponding one of the predetermined ranges.

Abstract: A method for determining, in real-time, an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) clutch torque includes receiving vehicle data in real-time, wherein the vehicle data includes a torque request, determining a preliminary eLSD clutch torque using a neural network and the vehicle data, determining clutch torque bounds of the eLSD using a physics-based model, determining whether the preliminary eLSD clutch torque is outside the clutch torque bounds of the eLSD, adjusting the preliminary eLSD clutch torque using clutch torque bounds to determine a final clutch torque of the eLSD in response to determining that the preliminary eLSD clutch torque is outside the clutch torque bounds of the eLSD, and commanding, in real-time, the eLSD to apply the final clutch torque to a clutch of the eLSD.

Abstract: A system and method for operating an electric vehicle. In another exemplary embodiment, a system for operating an electric vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a first motor and a transmission coupled to the first motor. The transmission is configured to shift gears when a speed of the electric vehicle crosses a shift threshold. The shift threshold is independent of a position of an acceleration pedal of the electrical vehicle.

Abstract: A display device include a first transparent layer, a second transparent layer and a spacer arranged between the first transparent layer and the second transparent layer to define a first region and a second region. A first plurality of electrodes are arranged on an inner surface of the first transparent layer in the first region. A plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are connected to the first plurality of electrodes in the first region. A second plurality of electrodes are arranged on the inner surface of the first transparent layer in the second region. A third plurality of electrodes are arranged on the inner surface of the second transparent layer in the second region. Particles are arranged in the second region between the second plurality of electrodes and the third plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: A method for determining a tire tread wear estimation of a tire includes receiving, by a controller, a direct tire tread wear measurement, when available, performing an indirect tire tread wear estimation, performing a data fusion of the indirect tire tread wear estimation with the direct tire tread wear measurement when available, estimating a percentage tire life remaining and a mileage to end of tire life, and estimating a refined tire tread wear calibration coefficient for performing future indirect tire tread wear estimations.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle systems and logic for battery charge control and information display, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method of operating a vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving vehicle location data indicating a real-time location of the vehicle and determining if the vehicle's real-time location is within a virtual geofence that delineates a predefined geographic area. If the real-time vehicle location is within the virtual geofence, the controller receives user location data indicating a real-time location of a vehicle user and determines if the user's real-time location is within a predefined proximity to the vehicle. If the user is within the predefined proximity to the vehicle, the controller responsively determines if a vehicle battery is charging; if so, the controller transmits a command signal to a resident vehicle subsystem to execute a control operation related to the charging of the vehicle battery.

Abstract: A method and a system for user interaction with a hologram includes displaying the hologram inside a passenger compartment of the vehicle, after displaying the hologram inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, monitoring a vehicle user inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle user provided a user command, determining that the vehicle user provided the user command, and in response to determining that the vehicle user provided the user command, manipulating the hologram in accordance with the user command.

Abstract: A vehicular communication controller includes a microcontroller (MCU) located within a vehicle to generate, by a software component, a find service request to discover an offered service from one or more systems on a chip (SoC). The MCU may generate a service message packet that includes the find service request inserted into a payload of the find service message packet where the payload is bound to an automotive/embedded communication protocol. Using unicast or multicast, the find service message packet may be sent to one or more SoC receiving devices. The SoC receiving devices may deserialize the header and payload of the find service message packet to retrieve the find service request and generate a service directory message based on service metadata and publish a cloud event including a solicited response that is sent back to the software component.

Abstract: A cargo bed divider system for a pickup truck includes a first guide rail connectable to a first lateral side of a cargo bed, a second guide rail connectable to a second lateral side of the cargo bed, a cargo bed divider supported between the first guide rail and the second guide rail, and an adjustment mechanism connectable to a forward end of the cargo bed and the cargo bed divider. The adjustment mechanism selectively moves the cargo bed divider between a first position adjacent the forward end of the cargo bed and a second position adjacent to a rear end of the cargo bed.

Abstract: In various aspects, the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing an electrode for an electrochemical cell. The method includes contacting a solid electrode material and a substrate at an interface. The method further includes preparing a liquid electrode material at the interface by heating at least a portion of the solid electrode material to a first temperature. The first temperature is greater than or equal to a melting point of the solid electrode material. The method further includes creating a layer of the liquid electrode material on the substrate by moving at least one of the solid electrode material and the substrate with respect to the other of the solid electrode material and the substrate. The method further includes forming the electrode by cooling the liquid electrode material to a second temperature. The second temperature is less than or equal to the melting point.

Abstract: A virtual LiDAR sensor system fora motor vehicle includes a plurality of camera modules and algorithms that generate a depth image, a RGB image, and a segmentation information image. The system is implemented with an algorithm that associates the backscattered signals with information from a color-reflectivity table, incident angle determination and depth information.