Abstract: Micro-authorization of remote assistance for an autonomous vehicle is described herein. A constraint that inhibits propulsion by a mechanical system of the autonomous vehicle is activated by a computing system of the autonomous vehicle, wherein a signal that identifies the activated constraint is transmitted from the autonomous vehicle to a remote computing system. The remote computing system generates instructions to deactivate the activated constraint. A return signal is transmitted from the remote computing system that specifies instructions to deactivate the constraint and a distance to desirably advance the autonomous vehicle. The computing system of the autonomous vehicle deactivates the constraint and the mechanical system is controlled to advance the autonomous vehicle when signal latency is less than a predetermined threshold duration of time.

Abstract: An air duct assembly for a vehicle air distribution system includes a first duct defining a first passage and a second duct defining a second passage separate from the first passage. The first and second passages are fluidly connected to a common outlet for flowing air to a windshield of the vehicle. The assembly further includes a third duct defining a third passage for flowing air to a side glass of the vehicle. The second and third passages are fluidly connected to a common inlet for receiving air from the blower motor. The third passage is fluidly connected to a lateral outlet that is separate from the common outlet, with the lateral outlet flowing air to a side glass of the vehicle. The assembly further includes at least one acoustic baffle disposed within the second passage and configured to reduce a transmission of the blower noise through the second passage.

Abstract: A holographic display system for a motor vehicle includes a coherent light source for generating a beam of coherent light and a spatial light modulator (SLM) having a two-dimensional pixel array, which is encoded with a hologram for modulating a phase of the coherent light. The SLM generates a first diffracted beam associated with a main image and a second diffracted beam associated with a conjugate image, where the first and second diffracted beams are angularly spaced from one another by a first angle. The system further includes an optical component for angularly spacing the first and second diffracted beams from one another by a second angle that is larger than the first angle. The system further includes a display surface receiving the first diffracted beam from the optical component to display the main image, with the display surface being free of the second diffracted beam.

Abstract: A current measuring circuit measures a charging current of a battery comprising a plurality of cell groups while the battery is being charged using one of a plurality of charging systems. A voltage measuring circuit measures voltages of the cell groups. A controller defines a plurality operating regions in a charging current profile of the battery during a charging cycle, filters the charging current and the voltages measured in the operating regions, calculates internal resistances of the cell groups in the operating regions based on the filtered current and voltages, generates at least one of statistical values and distance metrics based on the internal resistances of the cell groups, and determines whether one or more of the cell groups is faulty based on the at least one of the statistical values and the distance metrics irrespective of the plurality of charging systems used to charge the battery.

Abstract: A sleeping occupant crash protection system includes an occupant sleeping compartment positioned within an autonomous vehicle. A substantially flat platform of the occupant sleeping compartment supports an occupant reclining in a horizontal sleep position. An elastic bedsheet is positioned in direct contact with an upper surface of the platform positioned between the occupant and the platform. A sensing system is in communication with the occupant sleeping compartment and triggers deployment of a bedsheet displacement system during a vehicle rapid deceleration event.

Abstract: A system for regulating voltage includes an electronic fuse including a switching component and an active control circuit connected to the switching component, the control circuit configured to open the switching component based on at least an overcurrent condition. The system also includes a voltage regulation component connected to the switching component, the voltage regulation component configured to regulate a voltage across the switching component by applying a voltage to the switching component based on a measured voltage drop across the switching component, and a desired load voltage.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a system is provided that includes one or more first sensors, one or more second sensors, and a processor disposed onboard a vehicle. The first sensors are configured to at least facilitate obtaining first sensor data with regard to an external environment outside the vehicle. The second sensors are configured to at least facilitate obtaining second sensor data with regard to one or more eyes of a driver of the vehicle. The processor is configured to at least facilitate: determining a predicted gaze angle of the one or more eyes of the driver based on the external environment outside the vehicle, using the first sensor data; determining a measured gaze angle of the one or more eyes of the driver, using the second sensor data, and controlling one or more vehicle actions based on a comparison of the predicted and measured gaze angles.

Abstract: A battery electric system for a motor vehicle or another electrified system includes a battery pack connected to a direct current voltage bus, and having positive and negative battery terminals, a main pyrotechnic fuse (“pyro fuse”), a high-voltage (HV) component connected to the bus via an HV channel, a current sensing element connected to the HV component on the HV channel, and a control system configured to selectively disconnect the battery pack from the bus by transmitting a voltage signal to the main pyro fuse when a measured current value from the current sensor is indicative of a short-circuit fault. A channel switch may be connected to or integral with the current sensing element, and configured to disconnect the HV component from the bus by opening in response to the measured current value.

Abstract: A battery system includes a battery cell, which includes an anode including a first current collector and an anode layer disposed on the first collector and including an anode active material. The cell includes a cathode including a second current collector and a cathode layer disposed on the second collector and including a cathode active material. The cell includes a solid-state electrolyte including one of a reduction tolerable solid electrolyte disposed in contact with the anode and an oxidation tolerable solid electrolyte disposed in contact with the cathode. The reduction tolerable solid electrolyte is present in an amount of from 0.1 part by weight to 5 parts by weight based upon 100 parts by weight of the anode layer. The oxidation tolerable solid electrolyte is present in an amount of from 1 part by weight to 10 parts by weight based upon 100 parts by weight of the cathode layer.

Abstract: An active material component of a composition for forming an electrode of a battery in a dry process is provided. The active material component includes a dry powder including a plurality of grains of an active material. The active material component further includes an electrically conductive filler material attached to each of the plurality of grains.

Abstract: A system includes a source vehicle and a destination vehicle. The destination vehicle is configured to determine that the source vehicle and the destination vehicle are suitably close to exchange data through a wireless communications channel, compare current version numbers in the destination vehicle with approved version numbers in the source vehicle, approve an update for one or more current software components in the destination vehicle in response to one or more criteria, receive one or more approved software components at the destination vehicle from the source vehicle via the wireless communications channel in response to the current version numbers of the current software components approved for the update being different from corresponding ones of approved version numbers of the approved software components, and update the one or more current software components in the destination vehicle with the one or more approved software components received from the source vehicle.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing three-dimensional objects using an additive manufacturing technique, methods for forming dye-infused feed material for an additive manufacturing technique, and vehicles including additive manufactured components are provided. An exemplary method for manufacturing a three-dimensional object using an additive manufacturing technique includes solubilizing a dye into a medium in the form of a supercritical fluid and contacting a feed material with the medium to infuse the dye into the feed material to form dye-infused feed material. The method further includes locally melting the dye-infused feed material in selected regions of a layer corresponding to a cross-section of a three-dimensional object being formed and solidifying the dye-infused feed material into a solid layer of dye-infused material. Further, the method includes repeating the local melting and solidifying steps to form the three-dimensional object made up of a plurality of solid layers of dye-infused material.

Abstract: A battery cell monitoring system provides a direct measurement of electrical and heat distributions in a battery cell, using segmented elements that are in direct contact with an electrode of the battery. The battery cell monitoring system provides distributed local through-plane current, temperature, and pressure measurements with power for operation of the battery being supplied via battery tabs. An embodiment of a battery cell monitoring system includes a two-dimensional current collector array, a two-dimensional temperature sensor array, a plurality of pressure sensors, and a plurality of reference electrodes interspersed within the current collector array. The current collector array, the temperature sensor array, the pressure sensors, and the reference electrodes are arranged on a printed circuit board. The current collector array is configured to have direct physical contact with an electrode of the battery cell. The current collector array is disposed within a container of the battery cell.

Abstract: Methods for forming a function-infused feed material for a three-dimensional printing technique, methods for manufacturing an additive-infused three-dimensional printed object, and vehicles including additive manufactured components are provided. An exemplary method for forming a function-infused feed material for a three-dimensional printing technique includes solubilizing a functional additive into a medium. Further, the method includes contacting a three-dimensional printing feed material with the medium to infuse the functional additive into the three-dimensional printing feed material to form the function-infused feed material.

Abstract: Low waste methods for three-dimensional printing techniques are provided. A method includes performing a preceding additive infusion process including: solubilizing an additive into a medium in a supercritical fluid state; contacting a preceding material with the medium to infuse a portion of the additive into the preceding material to form a preceding additive-infused material; and separating remaining additive from the medium. Further, the method includes performing at least one succeeding additive infusion process including: solubilizing the remaining additive and, optionally, additional additive, into the medium in a supercritical fluid state; and contacting a succeeding material with the medium to infuse at least a portion of the remaining and additional additive into the succeeding material to form a succeeding additive-infused material, wherein the medium from the preceding additive infusion process is reused in the at least one succeeding additive infusion process.

Abstract: A system for optimizing charging for a vehicle having a rechargeable energy storage unit and travelling on a route includes a controller. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. Execution of the instructions by the processor causes the controller to obtain details of the route, including surveying local charging infrastructure to determine availability of one or more charging stations within a predefined radius of the route. The controller is adapted to obtain respective station parameters pertaining to the one or more charging stations. Based on user input, at least one session goal is selected from a predefined set of goals. The controller is adapted to generate a recommended charging profile respectively for one or more stops along the route, based in part on the session goal and the respective station parameters.

Abstract: A method for use aboard a motor vehicle having a vehicle interior and a vehicle telematics unit (VTU) includes detecting, using an electronic control unit (ECU), an active voice call between the VTU and a remote call center, and processing sensor data via the ECU. The sensor data is indicative of an operator of the vehicle having exited the interior. In response to enabling conditions, the voice call is transferred to a personal mobile device, e.g., a smartphone, external to the interior. The enabling conditions may include receipt by the ECU of a call transfer approval signal. A motor vehicle includes a body and control system attached thereto. The control system includes the VTU, a sensor suite, and the ECU. A computer-readable storage medium includes instructions, the execution of which by a processor of the ECU causes the method to be performed.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes strengthened structural elements effected through surface alloying and heating via an induction heating fixture. A rotor includes laminations formed to have internal cavities and structural members adjacent the cavities. A number of the laminations are stacked to form a lamination stack. An alloying material is applied to the lamination stack at the structural members. The lamination stack is placed in a fixture so that an inductor extends along the structural members and cooling elements extend through the cavities. A current is applied to the inductor to heat the structural members, alloying the alloying material into the structural members.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided that includes: obtaining sensor data via one or more sensors of a vehicle; determining, via a processor of the vehicle, a driving style of a driver of the vehicle based on use of the sensor data over multiple periods of time; and determining, via the processor, an indication as to whether the driver is attempting to spoof a control system of the vehicle with respect to one or more automated features of the vehicle, based on the sensor data and the style of the driver.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided in a vehicle to reduce the likelihood of a trailer jackknife condition. The method includes: receiving trailer profile information; receiving a dynamic vehicle steering angle (?) and dynamic hitch articulation angle (?) while the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction; continuously calculating a maximum safe vehicle speed (vmax) at which to proceed in reverse without jackknifing based on the trailer profile information, the ?, the ?, a predetermined safe time to jackknife (TTJ_ne), and a maximum hitch articulation angle (?JK); comparing a current vehicle longitudinal speed (v) to the vmax; automatically generating a speed correction signal to cause the vehicle to slow down below the vmax when the v exceeds the vmax; and sending the speed correction signal to a vehicle motion control system to instruct the vehicle motion control system to reduce the v below the vmax.