Abstract: An assembly unit with an industrial robot for handling a vehicle body is provided. The industrial robot can be moved by coupling to the vehicle body in the conveying direction, in which a conveyor belt conveys the vehicle body. The industrial robot retains in any conveying situation its exact position relative to the workpiece in all directions. A transport platform serves to transport the industrial robot. The transport platform can be moved independently of the conveyor belt and without use of rails if the industrial robot is decoupled from the vehicle body. A component storage unit can be coupled to the transport platform. The component storage unit then can also be moved by the transport platform. The industrial robot can be designed for a small load to achieve a cost-effective assembly unit.

Abstract: A method for welding two metal parts from aluminium alloys with the steps: melting of the metal parts to be joined in a weld region through an energy input by means of a laser beam with the formation of a weld seam, smoothing the surface of the weld seam through a further energy input with partial melting of the weld seam in the region of the surface, wherein the further energy input is a defocused laser beam, of which the focal point is positioned in the beam direction in front of or behind the surface of the weld seam, wherein the defocused laser beam and the surface normal of a surface of the two metal parts to which the laser beam is applied, incorporate an angle of greater than or equal to 5 degrees, and a connecting arrangement welded with this method.

Abstract: A restraint system for a motor vehicle is formed by one or more inflatable supporting structures whose longitudinal extent in the deployed state substantially exceeds their transverse dimension, and which unfold mainly in the direction of their longitudinal extension. During unfolding, the supporting structure, when impacting upon an obstacle does not have the same stability as when it is completely unfolded, and/or does not reach the final volume or the final extension.

Abstract: A powertrain system includes a hybrid transmission device operative to transfer power between an input member and torque machines and an output member in one of a plurality of operating range states. The torque machines are connected to an energy storage device. A method for operating the powertrain system includes determining a permissible range of input operating points to the input member, determining ranges of motor torques for the torque machines, determining an available power range from the energy storage device, selecting a candidate input operating point within the permissible range of input operating points, and determining maximum and minimum achievable output torques transferable to the output member for the candidate engine operating point within the ranges of motor torques for the torque machines and within the available power range from the energy storage device in a candidate operating range state.

Abstract: The pressure drop associated with the coolant flow in the coolant transition regions of a typical high power density, solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack can be significant. This pressure drop can be reduced by enlarging the height of the coolant ducts in this region of the associated flow field plate so that the ducts extend beyond the plane of the plate. The height change can be accommodated by offsetting the ducts in adjacent cells in the stack and by employing non planar MEAs in this region. By reducing the pressure drop, improved coolant flow sharing is obtained.