Abstract: A differential carrier and ring gear assembly for a vehicle is provided. The assembly comprises a differential carrier, a ring gear, and a weld nugget. The differential carrier comprises an outer surface including a first contact face having a weld end extending to a root end. The first contact face has a first slot formed on a first radial portion thereof. The ring gear is disposed about the differential carrier and comprises an inner side having an inner surface. The inner side has a stop flange abutting the root end. The inner surface comprises a second contact face disposed on the first contact face such that the root end is in abutment with the second end. The first and second hollow channels define a pocket therebetween and the first slot defines a first vent hole for venting. The weld nugget is disposed between the first and second contact faces.

Abstract: An energy management system for an electric autonomous vehicle comprises a battery and a controller comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The system comprises a pre-allocation input mechanism transmitting an input signal to the processor relating to a travel destination for the vehicle. The system comprises a navigation module receiving a wireless signal from a satellite network relating to a current location of the vehicle. The system comprises an autonomous input mechanism powered by the battery and transmitting an autonomous signal to the processor relating to dynamic conditions for autonomous operation of the vehicle. The processor determines a route between the current location and the travel destination, performs autonomous operation of the vehicle along the route, and selectively powers or tunes the usage of the at least one autonomous input mechanism with the battery during autonomous operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: An electric propulsion system includes a rotary electric machine having an output member, a rechargeable energy storage system (“RESS”) connected to the electric machine, a user interface device, and a controller. The RESS includes multiple battery modules and a switching circuit, the latter being configured, in response to electronic switching control signals, to connect the battery modules in a parallel-connected configuration or a series-connected configuration, as a selected battery configuration. The user interface device receives an operator-requested drive mode request as an electrical signal indicative of a desired drive mode of the electric propulsion system.

Abstract: A method of making an electrode material for an electrode in an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided, where a protective coating is applied to an electrode precursor material. The electrode precursor may be a silicon-containing composition. The protective coating is selected from the group consisting of: an oxide-based coating, a fluoride-based coating, and a nitride-based coating. The method also includes lithiating the electrode precursor material in a continuous process. The continuous process is conducted in a reactor having a first reaction chamber and a second reaction chamber to form a lithiated electrode material comprising the protective coating.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assisting a user with parking a vehicle in a parking space. In various embodiments a method includes: receiving, by a processor, user input indicating a position of a virtual line displayed on a display screen of the vehicle, wherein the virtual line is adjustable by a user; storing, by the processor and in a datastore, the position of the virtual line and a vehicle position associated with a parking space; and selectively displaying, by the processor, an appearance of the virtual line on the display screen when the vehicle is within a range of the vehicle position to assist a user in parking the vehicle in the parking space, wherein the selectively displaying is based on a comparison of a boundary within a scene associated with the parking space and the virtual line.

Abstract: A system for determining relevance of a light source to an automobile includes at least one camera adapted to capture images of light sources in proximity to the automobile, a controller in communication with the at least one camera and adapted to receive captured images from the at least one camera, the controller further adapted to estimate an orientation of at least one light source relative to the automobile, classify the at least one light source as one of relevant and irrelevant, and, when the at least one light source is classified as relevant, send information about the at least one light source to a planning module for the automobile.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a control system for a multi-phase electric machine that includes an inverter configured to transfer electric energy from a rechargeable energy storage device (RESS), and phase current sensors. A controller includes an executable instruction set to monitor, via the phase current sensors, the phase currents, and detect that one of the phase currents is outside a linear measurement range of a respective one of the phase current sensors. An extrapolated current for the respective one of the phase current sensors is determined based upon the phase currents from others of the phase current sensors. A current extrapolation routine evaluates the respective one of the phase current sensors. A fault is detected in the respective one of the phase current sensors based upon the current extrapolation routine and the extrapolated current.

Abstract: A cooling circuit includes vehicle components and a jet manifold. The vehicle components are configured to receive coolant and include a first vehicle component and a second vehicle component. The jet manifold includes a first input, a second input and a nozzle. The first input is configured to receive coolant from the first vehicle component. The second input is configured to receive coolant from the second vehicle component. The nozzle is configured to increase pressure of the coolant received at the first input to generate a jet stream and a low-pressure zone in a cavity of a body of the jet manifold, the low-pressure zone created by the jet stream drawing coolant from the second input.

Abstract: According to one or more examples, a system includes an observer vehicle, and a vehicle in a predetermined vicinity of the observer vehicle. The observer vehicle detects an operating condition of the vehicle using one or more perception devices. The observer vehicle determines that the operating condition does not satisfy a predetermined norm. The observer vehicle generates a message indicating the operating condition of the vehicle. The observer vehicle identifies a communication identifier of the vehicle. The observer vehicle sends the message to be received by the vehicle using the communication identifier via a vehicle to everything (V2X) communication module.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing powders. The system includes a housing having an enclosure, a crucible configured to produce a melt of a first material, a droplet device configured to receive the melt of the first material from the crucible and produce a flow of droplets of the melt of the first material within the enclosure of the housing, wherein the droplets solidify within the enclosure, and a distribution device configured to propel a second material into the flow of droplets of the first material within the enclosure such that the second material is mixed with the droplets of the first material to produce the powder that includes the first material, the second material, and/or a reaction product thereof.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle incorporating a multimodal multi-technique signal fusion system is described herein. The signal fusion system is configured to receive at least one sensor signal that is output by at least one sensor system (multimodal), such as at least one image sensor signal from at least one camera. The at least one sensor signal is provided to a plurality of object detector modules of different types (multi-technique), such as an absolute detector module and a relative activation detector module, that generate independent directives based on the at least one sensor signal. The independent directives are fused by a signal fusion module to output a fused directive for controlling the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A system for detecting one or more characteristics of an object within an automotive vehicle includes one or more sensors mounted within an interior of the vehicle or on an exterior of the vehicle, with each sensor being configured to detect a location, an orientation, a size and/or an object type of the object, and a controller operably connected with the one or more sensors and configured to assess whether the object is disposed in a predetermined alertworthy disposition. A method for detecting characteristics of the object within the vehicle includes determining the location, orientation, size and/or object type of the object using the one or more sensors, and assessing whether the object is disposed in a predetermined alertworthy disposition.

Abstract: The concepts described herein relate to a calculation of desired future longitudinal horizons related to torque or acceleration, and desired future lateral horizons related to yaw rate and lateral velocity, and their use in response to driver-selectable modes. In the longitudinal direction, driver inputs of pedal and brake position as well as drivability metrics are used to calculate the desired future torque trajectory. In the lateral direction, the front and rear steering angles may be used with a bicycle model to derive the trajectories. The trajectories are used in a vehicle motion controller that uses weighting to tradeoff competing requests and deliver performance that is consistent with a selected driver mode, such as a tour mode, a sport mode, an off-road mode, a trailering mode, etc.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes a rotor body formed from a plurality of rotor laminations defining a first axial end and a second axial end. Each of the plurality of rotor laminations includes a plurality of openings that are aligned so as to define a plurality of passages through the rotor body. A plurality of reinforcement elements extend through the plurality of laminations. Each of the plurality of reinforcement elements is arranged in a corresponding one of the plurality of passages and includes a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion and the second end portion of select ones of the plurality of reinforcement elements extend outwardly of the first axial end and the second axial end. An end ring is positioned at the first axial end. The end ring is integrally formed with the select ones of the plurality of reinforcement elements.

Abstract: A power module is provided and includes first stack, second stack, and third stacks of layers, a heat pipe, and at least one cold plate or heat sink. The third stack of layers is disposed between the first and second stacks of layers and includes a first semiconductor die, a second semiconductor die and a center spacer layer disposed between the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die. The heat pipe extends at least partially into the center spacer layer. The at least one cold plate or heat sink receives thermal energy from the first stack of layers and the second stack of layers. The first stack of layers, the second stack of layers, the third stack of layers, the heat pipe and the at least one cold plate or heat sink facilitate dual sided cooling of each of the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die.

Abstract: Systems and methods of making an enhanced brake rotor having enhanced wear resistance are provided. The systems and methods provide a vehicular rotor comprising a base comprising iron (Fe). The base comprises an outer surface having a laser-hardened portion thereon. The laser-hardened portion comprises martensite and having a thickness of between 10 and 100 microns of the outer surface to define the enhanced brake rotor with enhanced wear resistance.

Abstract: A noise vibration harshness reduction assembly includes a housing, a component, and an axial ring. The component is supported via the housing and movable relative to the housing. The axial ring is disposed axially along the component. The axial ring is configured to attenuate axial sound inducing vibrations in response to operation of the component.

Abstract: A shelving system including a cabinet including a product receiving zone. The product receiving zone includes a first end, a second end, a first side and a second side. A shelf member is arranged between the first side and the second side. The shelf member includes a first side portion and a second side portion. One of the first side portion and the second side portion includes a first shelf support and a second shelf support. A bi-directional slide and tilt system is mounted to one of first side and the second side of the product receiving zone. The bi-directional slide and tilt system includes a first portion receptive of the first shelf support and a second portion receptive of the second shelf support. The first portion and the second portion facilitate sliding and tilting of the shelf relative to the product receiving zone.

Abstract: A top mount assembly includes an attachment bracket having a flange section, a piston rod mount section, and a cylinder section, the flange section includes a plurality of apertures for receiving a plurality of fastener bolts, the piston rod mount section being configured to receive a piston rod, and the cylinder section of the attachment bracket includes an annular chamber that receives an annular working piston.