Abstract: A vehicle seating system includes a seatback pivotally coupled to a seat base. The seatback is operable between an upright position and a reclined position. A lift assembly is operably coupled to the seat base. The lift assembly is operable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. A position sensor is coupled to the lift assembly via a ball joint, wherein the ball joint and the position sensor adjust with movement of the lift assembly. A seat controller communicatively is coupled to the position sensor, wherein the seat controller determines if the lift assembly is in the disengaged position or has moved to the engaged position based on position data received from the position sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vehicle side rail, an electric transmission system, a powertrain assembly and a corresponding vehicle. The vehicle side rail according to the present disclosure includes a profile body that further comprises a housing and a conduit disposed in the housing, wherein the conduit connects a coolant pump and an electric transmission cooling system and transmits coolant between them.

Abstract: An assembly includes a vehicle frame having a middle section, a front-section vehicle-forward of the middle section, and a rear section vehicle-rearward of the middle section. The middle section has frame rails spaced from each other and cross-beams extending from one frame rail toward the other frame rail. The frame rails each having a vehicle-forward end and a vehicle-rearward end. The assembly includes one or more electric-vehicle batteries. At least one of the batteries is in one of the cross-beams. The assembly includes two front nodes between and directly connected to the middle section and the front section and two rear nodes between and directly connected to the middle section and the rear section.

Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for automatic adjustment of a seat in a vehicle. In an example method, a processor may evaluate a detector signal to determine an occupancy status of a second seat located behind a first seat in a vehicle. The processor may then execute a seat movement operation of the first seat based on the occupancy status of the second seat. The seat movement operation may involve either moving the first seat backwards over a first distance based on the second seat being unoccupied or moving the first seat backwards over a second distance that is smaller than the first distance based on the second seat being occupied. The first seat may be moved backwards at either a first speed of movement or a second speed of movement based on factors such as an available separation distance between the first seat and the second seat.

Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for detecting presence of a potential user of a vehicle, validating the potential user with a permissioned blockchain with a plurality of predefined nodes through a consensus among the predefined nodes, determining a level of authentication for the potential user according to the consensus and allowing the potential user to enter the vehicle and denying access to predetermined vehicle systems if the consensus fails to provide the level of authentication above a predefined percentage. The initializing the authentication based on detected presence of the potential user includes detecting the potential user with an exterior sensor coupled to the vehicle and applying the permissioned blockchain to perform facial recognition including performing an initial determination of authentication and requesting confirmation of the initial determination from at least one of the plurality of 63predefined nodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating safe vehicle operations, such as reducing illegal passings, avoiding possible collisions, and assisting road users around a vehicle are provided. The system uses a smart algorithm to perform negotiations between the vehicle, e.g., a school bus, and other road users, e.g., road vehicles, bicycles, scooters, etc. The method may include capturing image data of the surroundings of the school bus to identify violations within a proximity of the school bus such as children jay-walking and vehicles illegally passing the school bus when the stop arm is raised. The captured data may be recorded and shared with the school bus, other road users, or local authorities.

Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for providing a vehicle-and-drone-based security service. In an example method, a first area of interest and a second area of interest associated with a structure may be determined. The first area of interest may then be determined to be monitored at the vehicle. The second area of interest may also be determined to be monitored at a drone associated with the vehicle. A route may be identified for the drone to travel along, where the route is configured for the drone to monitor the second area of interest. The drone may then be launched via the vehicle to travel along the route to monitor the second area of interest.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a computer including a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a vehicle being in an autonomous drive mode. The computer includes instructions to detect a user request to change the drive mode from the autonomous drive mode to a manual drive mode. The computer includes instructions to move the brake pedal from the stowed position to the deployed position in response to the response to the user request to change the drive mode. The computer includes instructions to prompt a user to validate the brake pedal being in the deployed position. The computer includes instructions to change from the autonomous drive mode to the manual drive mode in response to the user validating deployment of the brake pedal.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a deployable assist handle configured to be gripped by a user, the deployable assist handle being deployable amongst a plurality of use positions, at least one sensor for sensing a user proximate the vehicle, and an actuator for actuating the deployable assist handle. The vehicle also includes a controller determining one or more characteristics of the user from the sensed data and controlling the actuator to actuate the deployable assist handle to a select use position based on the determined one or more characteristics.

Abstract: Theft deterrent systems and methods using onboard weight sensors are disclosed herein. An example method can include obtaining an image of a location where a scale is located in a vehicle, the scale being used for cargo weight measurement, determining from the image, when the location of the scale is located is empty, determining a weight value output by the scale, determining an offset for the scale when the weight value is greater than a weight threshold, and adjusting the scale using the offset to zero the scale.

Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for providing vehicle payload assistance. An example method executed by processor of a vehicle payload assistance system may include obtaining information about a first laden weight of a vehicle. The processor determines a weight difference between the first laden weight and a payload capacity of the vehicle, and further determines, based on the weight difference, a payload margin available for loading the vehicle. A vehicle payload assistance operation may then be executed that includes detecting a change in the first laden weight due to introduction of an object into the vehicle, obtaining information about a second laden weight of the vehicle after introduction of the object into the vehicle, determining that the second laden weight exceeds the payload margin available for loading the vehicle, and issuing an advisory to reduce the second laden weight by removing the object from the vehicle.

Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods associated with generating images. An example method executed by a processor may include receiving, from a first vehicle, a first image based on a first field of view of objects located in a cabin area of the first vehicle and a second image based on a second field of view of objects located outside the first vehicle. The method may further include receiving, from a second vehicle, a third image based on a third field of view of objects located outside the second vehicle. A composite image may be generated based on the first image, the second image, and the third image. In one case, the composite image may be generated by superimposing at least a portion of the first image upon at least a portion of the second image and/or upon at least a portion of the third image.

Abstract: A battery housing assembly for housing battery components of an electric vehicle includes a battery tray, a lid, and a sealant. The battery tray includes a channel located outwardly relative to the battery components. The lid is secured to the battery tray and includes an end portion disposed within the channel. The lid further includes at least one alignment feature configured to align the lid and the battery tray. The sealant is disposed within a portion of the channel of the battery tray and is configured to secure the battery tray and the lid to each other. The sealant is further configured to seal an internal cavity of the battery housing assembly.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to multi-modal trip planning and event coordination. A method may include detecting, by a first device, based on first location data of a vehicle, that the vehicle has arrived at a destination location for a passenger of the vehicle; generating directions from the vehicle at the destination location to a physical structure at the destination location; presenting the directions; detecting an image of the passenger exterior to the vehicle at the destination location; identifying, by the at least one processor, based on the image, user information associated with the passenger at the destination location; detecting, based on the user information and second location data associated with a second device of the passenger, a disorientation event associated with the passenger; generating, based on the detecting of the disorientation event, instructions to be presented to the passenger; and presenting the instructions.

Abstract: A method for spectroscopically detecting a chemical in a gas sample includes illuminating the gas sample with ultraviolet light and photolyzing a first chemical in the gas sample to generate a photolyzed gas sample and spectroscopically detecting a second chemical in the photolyzed gas sample. The second chemical has an optical absorption range within a respective optical absorption range of the first chemical.

Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for providing a vehicle- and drone-based tracking system. In an example method, a tracker system associated with a vehicle may be initiated. At least one parameter associated with a route may be received via the tracker system. A first notification may subsequently be received from a device, and the first notification may be associated with a first location of the device. After a first predetermined period of time since the first notification is received, a second notification may be received from the device. The second notification may be associated with a second location of the device. The tracker system may then determine, based on the second notification, that the second location of the device is within the at least one parameter associated with the route.

Abstract: An automotive exhaust gas sensor includes a gas chamber, an ultraviolet light source configured to emit ultraviolet light into the gas chamber and to photolyze an exhaust gas sample in the gas chamber, and an electrochemical detector disposed in the gas chamber and configured to detect a specified chemical in the photolyzed exhaust gas sample.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and using dual vehicle digital twins for model-based learning and remotely-operated vehicles. An example method may include receiving, by a processor associated with a first digital twin stored locally on a computing system of a vehicle or a second digital twin stored remotely on a first remote system, data relating to a first sub-system of the vehicle and a second sub-system of the vehicle. The example method may also include sending the data to the first digital twin or the second digital twin, wherein sending the data includes synchronizing with the first digital twin or the second digital twin.

Abstract: A system for forming a vehicle component includes a first metal sheet having an aperture, a second metal sheet contacting a lower surface of the first metal sheet, an anvil supporting the first and second metal sheets beneath the aperture, and a press bit disposed above the aperture.

Abstract: A vehicle includes wheels, brakes to control speeds of the wheels, and a hydraulic fluid source in fluid communication with the brakes. The vehicle includes a computer storing instructions to determine that speeds of the wheels are zero and actuate the hydraulic fluid source to provide hydraulic fluid to a first set of one or more of the brakes at a first pressure sufficient to maintain the vehicle body at a present position and to provide hydraulic fluid at a volumetric rate to one or more of the brakes not in the first set, and, while providing hydraulic fluid at the volumetric rate to a brake not in the first set, detect second pressures of the brake not in the first set. The instructions include instructions to determine a volume-pressure curve for the brake not in the first set based on the volumetric rate and the second pressures.