Abstract: A communication system for digital key pairing of a vehicle includes a network transceiver configured for communication via one or more networks with at least one secure server, and a controller. The controller is configured to pre-provision the vehicle with pairing password verifiers for digital key programming to support digital key programming when the vehicle is offline with the at least one secure server, and/or provide end-to-end secure communication between the controller and the at least one secure server by generating and utilizing (i) at least one timestamp, (ii) at least one unique vehicle ID, and (iii) at least one random number in messages communicated between the controller and the at least one secure server.

Abstract: A system for detecting a source of a misfire for a turbulent jet ignition (TJI) engine having a first ignition device disposed in a pre-chamber of a cylinder head and a second ignition device disposed for communication with a main combustion chamber is presented. The system includes a controller that determines engine operating conditions; generates a first spark from the first ignition device at a first time; generates a second spark from the second ignition device at a second time; activates a skipfire mode based on a determination that the engine operating conditions are satisfactory, wherein in the skipfire mode, the controller generates a modified second spark at a modified second time, the modified second time being later than the second time; and determines a misfire event based on sensing ionization of gasses at the main combustion chamber subsequent to firing the first and second ignition devices.

Abstract: A state of power (SOP) estimation system for an electrified vehicle includes a battery system of the electrified vehicle and a control system configured to access a trained battery voltage estimation model configured to estimate a voltage of the battery system based on a set of input parameters including at least state of charge (SOC), temperature, and power or current, perform a search process to determine a final estimated SOP that causes the estimated voltage of the battery system to fall within a desired voltage range, and control the electrified vehicle based on the final estimated SOP of the battery system.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a rotor, a stator, and a housing. The stator can include: teeth and yoke regions, the teeth region being proximate teeth of the stator and radially inward of the yoke region; first axial channels in the yoke region extending axially through the stator substantially from one axial end to the opposite axial end; second axial channels in the teeth region extending axially through the stator substantially from the one axial end to the opposite axial end, the second axial channels being proximate the stator teeth and radially inboard from the first axial channels; and a cross-bridge radial channel extending between and connecting a pair of radially opposed first and second axial channels. The electric machine is configured to receive cooling oil into the first and second axial channels such that the oil flows axially and radially within the stator to cool at least the stator.

Abstract: An electric drive module (EDM) for an electrified vehicle is provided. The EDM includes a housing; an electric motor; a single compound planetary gear set having a sun gear fixed to its input shaft, a single planetary carrier rotationally supporting pairs of compound planets in engagement with the sun gear and a ring gear, respectively; first and second torque transfer devices (TTDs) coupled to the carrier; and a power take off (PTO). The EDM is selectively switchable among: (i) a first gear where the first TTD is disengaged and the second TTD is engaged grounding the carrier to the housing, (ii) a second gear where the second TTD is disengaged and the first TTD is engaged to couple for common rotation the carrier and the sun gear; and (iii) a neutral PTO mode where the input shaft drives the PTO.

Abstract: A tow bar system for an independently steered and powered trailer vehicle includes a length sensing hitch having a first end configured to removably couple to a hitch of a lead vehicle, and an opposite second end configured to removably couple to a hitch of the trailer vehicle. A free sliding bar is disposed between the first and second ends and configured to allow extension and compression of the length sensing hitch. A length sensor is operably associated with the free sliding bar and configured to sense a length of the tow bar system.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle during a tire instability incident includes detecting a tire instability incident and activating a vehicle control measure. The tire instability incident can be detected as a function of one or both of tire pressure outside of a threshold pressure, and tire temperature above a threshold temperature. Activating the vehicle control measure includes one or a combination of two or more of: a) actuating a safety system; b) actuating an external alert; and c) reducing a vehicle speed.

Abstract: An active electric motor damping (AEMD) calibration and control system for an electrified vehicle includes an external computing system that is separate from the electrified vehicle and is configured to execute a virtual model to simulate operation of the electrified vehicle in a plurality of different operating modes, wherein the electrified powertrain includes an electric motor configured to generate drive torque that is transferred to the driveline and determine, using the virtual model to, a set of optimized parameters, for each of the plurality of different operating modes of the electrified vehicle, for AEMD control of the electric motor, and a control system of the electrified vehicle, the control system being configured to receive, from the external computing system, the sets of optimized parameters and control the electric motor based on the sets of optimized parameters to perform AEMD control.

Abstract: A dynamic and conditional data collection method for vehicle includes generating, by a cloud-based system, a software policy for a software code, the software policy including at least one of (i) a Check feature and (ii) a Select feature, wherein the Check feature specifies a runtime condition whose state determines whether a first set of vehicle parameters or a different second set of vehicle parameters are to be collected and the Select feature specifies a particular variable whose value, relative to a range of variable values, determines whether a third set of vehicle parameters or a different fourth set of vehicle parameters are to be collected, and providing the software policy to the ECU for execution of the software code according to the software policy to dynamically and conditionally collect vehicle data, which can be returned from the ECU to the cloud-based system for further analysis.

Abstract: A vehicle driver health monitor alert system includes a near infrared sensors and camera for detecting the position of a driver's eyes and head, as well as detecting the size and position of a driver's pupils which may indicate a health anomaly such as a seizure. The system may also include a galvanic skin response sensor which may also detect health anomaly such as a seizure. Other sensors such as electrocardiogram sensors and ultra-wide bandwidth units may be used to detect health anomalies such as cardiac attack, or breathing irregularities. Upon detection of a health anomaly, the system may initiate an Ecall, sound the vehicle's horn and turn on the emergency flashers and may also perform a minimum risk maneuver to bring the vehicle to a safe stop, by engaging the vehicle braking and steering systems.

Abstract: A vehicle thermal system includes a coolant circuit having at least one coolant loop, a pump, a valve, and a component to be cooled. A controller is programmed to receive a flow target indicating a coolant flow required to cool the component, receive a coolant temperature and a position of the valve, determine a pressure drop for a given flow target, coolant temperature, and valve position, determine a maximum flow based on the given flow target, coolant temperature, and valve position, determine a pump pressure rise for the given flow target and coolant temperature, and a pump speed required to meet the given flow target, determine a pump maximum pressure rise for the given coolant temperature, and a maximum coolant flow rate and a pump maximum speed, determine a final pump speed required to meet the received flow target, and command the pump to operate at the final pump speed.

Abstract: A door is connected to a skid plate or belly pan or vehicle at a location that overlaps an outlet port formed in the skid plate or belly pan. The door is movable from a closed position that obstructs the outlet port to an open position where the door does not obstruct the outlet port by an actuator that is in communication with a controller, wherein the controller is configured to communicate an instruction to the actuator to move the door from the closed position to the open position based on a signal indicative of a temperature or a pressure within a housing of a battery pack received from at least one sensor positioned in the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a truck bed at least partially defined by a floor, a forward wall, sidewalls, and a tailgate. A pair of outboard support bars are each coupled to and extend over one sidewall, and a vertical inner open area is defined between the support bar and the sidewall. A vertical storage module is disposed in the open inner area and includes a shell defining an inner storage area. A door is rotatably coupled to the shell to selectively enclose the inner storage area.

Abstract: Direct current to direct current (DC-DC) boosting and fast charging techniques for an electrified vehicle include providing relay switches electrically connected between a DC charging station rated at a first voltage, an inverter, and a high voltage (HV) battery system rated at a higher second voltage, wherein at least one of the plurality of relay switches is connected to a midpoint of one of three inductor phase legs of the inverter and controlling a boosted fast charging mode wherein the plurality of relay switches are opened/closed such that the first voltage is provided to the inverter and to the HV battery system for recharging, wherein the inverter and the electric motor utilize a first alternating current (AC) phase current based on the first voltage to inductively generate and convert two AC phase currents to a third DC voltage for further boosted recharging of the HV battery system.

Abstract: A comprehensive consumption control system for a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicle includes a user interface configured to receive a user selection from a plurality of different comprehensive consumption modes for an electrified powertrain, the selected comprehensive consumption mode specifying a distributed usage of power sources for an electric motor and an engine, wherein the power source for the electric motor is state of charge (SOC) in a battery system and the power source for the engine is fuel in a fuel system and a controller in communication with the user interface and configured to receive, from the user interface, the selected comprehensive consumption mode for the electrified powertrain, and control the electrified powertrain based on the selected comprehensive consumption mode such that the electric motor and the engine use the battery system SOC and the fuel according to the distributed usage specified by the selected comprehensive consumption mode.