Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a battery pack and a method for charging the battery pack externally. The battery pack can include a charging port configured to charge the battery pack, a cooling circuit configured to cool the battery pack in a vehicle, and a cooling interface configured to connect the cooling circuit with an external cooling device that is external to the vehicle. The charging port and the cooling interface can be integrated into a charging port assembly, the cooling interface has an inlet port and an outlet port that have high pressure quick disconnect leakless fittings, and the battery pack is configured to be charged externally via the charging port. The battery pack can include a plurality of isolating devices configured to determine whether the cooling circuit is connected to the external cooling device.

Abstract: A portable sensing apparatus includes an attachment mechanism to secure the portable sensing apparatus to an object, a communications module and a flexible sensor communicatively coupled to the communications module. The flexible sensor is configured to mechanically deform in accordance with a shape of the object and includes a pair of diffusion layers disposed between a pair of contact layers that distribute the force received along outer surfaces of the flexible sensor across the diffusion layers. The flexible sensor includes a sensing layer disposed between the diffusion layers. The diffusion layers normalize the force received from the contact layers across the sensing layer. The sensing layer receives the force at a plurality of locations across a surface area of the sensing layer to determine a resultant pressure applied to the flexible sensor, and the communications module transmits an electrical signal indicative of the resultant pressure to an external device.

Abstract: A method for determining a resultant force is provided including performing a standard calibration by evenly applying a force across a plurality of sensing areas of a sensor system, performing a non-standard calibration by non-evenly applying a force across the plurality of sensing areas of the sensor system, developing a machine learning algorithm based on data collected during the standard calibration and the non-standard calibration, detecting a field use force applied to a sensing area of the sensor system, and using the machine learning algorithm to correct a force measurement of the field use force applied to the sensing area of the sensor system.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a battery pack, battery modules, and a method for replacing the battery modules. The battery pack can include a first battery module and a second battery module. The first battery module can include a charging socket configured to charge the first battery module and the charging socket is conformed to a standard configuration. The charging socket can include first terminals for electrically coupling to the second battery module and a cooling interface connected to a conduit in the first battery module to cool the first battery module. The method can include electrically isolating the first battery module from a HV module interconnection system that connects the first and second battery modules in a vehicle. The method can include removing the first battery module from a compartment of the vehicle where the battery pack is positioned and installing another battery module into the compartment.

Abstract: A method for determining a resultant force is provided including includes performing a standard calibration by evenly applying a force across a plurality of sensing areas of a sensor system, performing a non-standard calibration by non-evenly applying a force across the plurality of sensing areas of the sensor system, developing a machine learning algorithm based on data collected during the standard calibration and the non-standard calibration, detecting a field use force applied to a sensing area of the sensor system, and using the machine learning algorithm to correct a force measurement of the field use force applied to the sensing area of the sensor system.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a battery pack and a method for charging the battery pack externally. The battery pack can include a charging port configured to charge the battery pack, a cooling circuit configured to cool the battery pack in a vehicle, and a cooling interface configured to connect the cooling circuit with an external cooling device that is external to the vehicle. The charging port and the cooling interface can be integrated into a charging port assembly, the cooling interface has an inlet port and an outlet port that have high pressure quick disconnect leakless fittings, and the battery pack is configured to be charged externally via the charging port. The battery pack can include a plurality of isolating devices configured to determine whether the cooling circuit is connected to the external cooling device.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a battery pack, battery modules, and a method for replacing the battery modules. The battery pack can include a first battery module and a second battery module. The first battery module can include a charging socket configured to charge the first battery module and the charging socket is conformed to a standard configuration. The charging socket can include first terminals for electrically coupling to the second battery module and a cooling interface connected to a conduit in the first battery module to cool the first battery module. The method can include electrically isolating the first battery module from a HV module interconnection system that connects the first and second battery modules in a vehicle. The method can include removing the first battery module from a compartment of the vehicle where the battery pack is positioned and installing another battery module into the compartment.

Abstract: A portable sensing apparatus includes an attachment mechanism to secure the portable sensing apparatus to an object, a communications module and a flexible sensor communicatively coupled to the communications module. The flexible sensor is configured to mechanically deform in accordance with a shape of the object and includes a pair of diffusion layers disposed between a pair of contact layers that distribute the force received along outer surfaces of the flexible sensor across the diffusion layers. The flexible sensor includes a sensing layer disposed between the diffusion layers. The diffusion layers normalize the force received from the contact layers across the sensing layer. The sensing layer receives the force at a plurality of locations across a surface area of the sensing layer to determine a resultant pressure applied to the flexible sensor, and the communications module transmits an electrical signal indicative of the resultant pressure to an external device.