Abstract: A locating fixture that includes a base, an adjustable locating member, a plurality of indicia, a restraining member and a lower substructure. The base includes a raised platform having a mounting aperture. The adjustable locating member is disposed within the mounting aperture and includes a part locating feature and a position indicator fixedly attached to the adjustable locating member. The plurality of indicia is located on the raised platform adjacent to the adjustable locating member. The position indicator cooperates with the plurality of indicia to determine a vertical position of the adjustable locating member. The restraining member is cooperatively engaged with the adjustable locating member. The lower substructure is configured to allow for longitudinal and lateral translation of the base. The base is translatably mounted to the lower substructure.

Abstract: A tool includes an input portion, socket, arm, and sleeve. The input portion receives input torque about an axis. The socket is axially spaced apart from the input portion and configured to rotate a nut about the axis. The socket defines first and second apertures that extend through opposite ends of the socket into the socket cavity. A slot is open to the socket cavity and extends axially between the first and second apertures through a perimeter of the socket. The arm connects the input portion to the socket for common rotation. The arm does not extend completely about the axis. The sleeve includes a lower portion rotatable about the socket between a first position, in which the slot is open through a side of the tool, and a second position, in which the lower portion closes the slot to inhibit spreading of the socket.

Abstract: A method for producing an active carbon filter for a carbon canister includes forming a body having a honeycomb structure with a plurality of bleed passages from a polymer based material, and forming an adsorption layer along a surface of the body, where the adsorption layer is made of a carbon based material.

Abstract: A mold assembly for a hot stamping die is provided. The mold assembly includes a mold having a body defining a cavity and a removable channel insert. The removable channel insert is positioned in the cavity and has a curved shape. The removable channel insert also includes a plurality of projections integrating the insert with the body. The removable channel insert is configured to form inlets and outlets for fluid in the hot stamping die upon removal of the insert.

Abstract: A locating fixture includes an adjustable locating member for supporting and restraining a part. The adjustable locating member allows for rotational and translational adjustment for aligning to a particular part configuration. The adjustable locating member utilizes a plurality of indicia and a position indicator to assist in the alignment of the adjustable locating member to a desired position, which is then restrained at a desired position by a restraining element.

Abstract: A hybrid structural assembly for a motor vehicle includes a casting and a structural inlay. The casting includes a plurality of structural components joined together in a casting process to form structural load paths and extending in a plurality of directions in a 3D space. The casting includes a cast-allowable alloy material. The structural inlay is secured to at least one of the structural components. The structural inlay includes a material having at least one of a higher ductility and a higher toughness than the cast-allowable alloy material.

Abstract: A method includes generating one or more nominal images of at least a portion of a digital twin of an environment, defining one or more anomalous characteristics of the one or more components, generating one or more anomalous images of the portion of the digital twin of the environment based on the field of view and the one or more anomalous characteristics, performing a tessellation routine and a texture mapping routine on the one or more nominal images and the one or more anomalous images to generate a plurality of synthetic images, and labeling, for each synthetic image from among the plurality of synthetic images, the synthetic image as one of an anomalous type, a nominal type, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method of determining a condition of a component (e.g., valves) of an engine having a manifold air pressure sensor during a cold test includes providing pressurized air to an intake of the engine. The method includes rotating a crankshaft of the engine. The method includes measuring pressures with the manifold air pressure sensor as a function of crankshaft rotational position. The method includes comparing the pressures with a predetermined baseline. The method includes indicating a condition of the component based on the comparison of the pressures with the baseline.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vehicle climate control using distributed sensors are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving data from sensors distributed within a vehicle at a first controller, processing the data at the first controller to identify an event associated with the interior of the vehicle and sending an instruction based on the event from the first controller to a second controller of the vehicle to affect an operation of a climate control system of the vehicle.

Abstract: An atomizer for applying a coating to a substrate includes a nozzle and at least one electrode. The nozzle defines a plurality of apertures. The nozzle includes a nozzle plate, a nozzle body, and an actuator. The nozzle plate defines the apertures. The nozzle body and an inner side of the nozzle plate define a reservoir in fluid communication with the first apertures. The actuator is configured to vibrate the nozzle plate to eject droplets of a liquid from the reservoir through the first apertures. The at least one electrode is configured to directly or indirectly electrostatically charge the droplets with a charge that repels the droplets from each other to reduce coalescence of the droplets before the droplets reach the substrate.

Abstract: A method for surveying an environment includes segmenting a plurality of nodes into a plurality of communities. The method includes identifying a plurality of community centroids based on the plurality of communities, where each community centroid from among the plurality of community centroids is associated with one community from among the plurality of communities. The method includes determining, for each community centroid from among the plurality of community centroids, a community type of the community centroid, where the community type is one of a primary type and an auxiliary type, and where the community type is based on a distance between the community centroid and one or more charging stations. The method includes generating a plurality of intercommunity routes based on the plurality of community centroids, the one or more charging stations, the community type, and one or more performance constraints.

Abstract: An intelligent bicycle sharing system, or other vehicle sharing system, is able to provide helpful bicycle availability indications based on historical data and user proximity. Historical data can be collected over time as users use the bicycle sharing system. For example, the historical data may include how many bicycles are checked at out a given time and how many remain at a given location. In some embodiments, an indication may be provided to the user as the user approaches the vehicle sharing system. The indication may provide information regarding the availability of bicycles.

Abstract: A locating fixture that includes a base, an adjustable locating member, a plurality of indicia, a restraining member and a lower substructure. The base includes a raised platform having a mounting aperture. The adjustable locating member is disposed within the mounting aperture and includes a part locating feature and a position indicator fixedly attached to the adjustable locating member. The plurality of indicia is located on the raised platform adjacent to the adjustable locating member. The position indicator cooperates with the plurality of indicia to determine a vertical position of the adjustable locating member. The restraining member is cooperatively engaged with the adjustable locating member. The lower substructure is configured to allow for longitudinal and lateral translation of the base. The base is translatably mounted to the lower substructure.

Abstract: Smart vehicle parking apparatus and related methods are disclosed herein. An example system includes a processor to reserve a personal vehicle for a time interval. The personal vehicle is to park at a location during the time interval. The processor is also to match a vehicle use option to the personal vehicle based on the time interval and the location. The vehicle use option is associated with a person to use the personal vehicle during the time interval.

Abstract: A thread tap includes a shaft and teeth. The shaft includes helical passages from the threading end to the base end of the shaft. Each passage opens through an aperture in the threading end. A second tap includes a cap and the shaft includes an axially extending passage. The cap is coupled to the threading end and at least partially defines apertures in fluid communication with the passage and the exterior of the tap. A third tap includes teeth spaced apart by a plurality of linear flutes. The shaft includes a central passage and a plurality of flute passages. Each flute passage extends radially outward from a common location in the central passage to a corresponding one of the flutes. The central passage is closed to a terminal end of the threading end.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a tooling assembly for a machine having an automatic tool changing system. The tooling assembly includes a holder, a tool body, and an internal passage defined within and extending through the holder and the tool body. The holder includes a machine interface configured to engage with a spindle of the machine. The internal passage is operable to have a coolant fluid flow within, and has a stem channel and a curved channel extending from the stem channel.

Abstract: A method for compensating springback of a part includes running a finite element analysis (FEA) simulation of forming a panel using a model of forming die such that a panel with springback is simulated, determining at least two zero springback locations on the panel where hanging apertures are simulated, running an FEA simulation of the panel hanging from the hanging apertures, and comparing a geometry of the hanging panel to a geometry of a reference panel such that a difference between the geometry of the hanging panel and the geometry of the reference panel due to the springback is determined and compensated.

Abstract: A forming die includes a first die component with a male bead and a second die component with a female bead. The male bead and the female bead form a bead with a reverse bead geometry with the male bead having a groove and the female bead having a protrusion complimentary with the groove such that the protrusion is aligned with the groove when the male bead extends into the female bead. Also, the protrusion is adjustable in real-time within the female bead. A stamping machine with the first die component and the second die component has a control unit configured to adjust the protrusion in real-time as a function of mechanical property testing data, width testing data, thickness testing data, lubrication testing data and/or image sensor module data on one or more blanks to be stamped and/or one or more blanks that have been stamped.

Abstract: A renewable energy charging system for increasing the charging efficiency of an autonomous vehicle includes a computer programed to predict, in a vehicle at a plurality of locations, an amount of power generation associated with each location. The computer selects one of the locations based at least on the predicted amounts of power generation and moves the vehicle to the selected location.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a component includes additively manufacturing (AM) a plurality of interior layers of the component and AM at least one anti-bump, squeak, rattle (BSR) layer of the component such that the at least one anti-BSR layer reduces BSR acoustic noise compared to the plurality of interior layers. The at least one anti-BSR layer can be a plurality of anti-BSR layers and the plurality of anti-BSR layers includes a BSR property that is different than a corresponding BSR property of the plurality of interior layers.