Abstract: An aqueous or water-borne precursor liquid for forming an odor-absorbing and anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coating is provided. The precursor includes a fluorine-containing polyol precursor having a functionality >about 2 that forms a branched fluorine-containing polymer component defining a first phase in the anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coating. The precursor also includes a first precursor that forms a first component including a cyclodextrin present as second phase. The first phase can be a continuous phase and the second phase can be a first discrete phase, or the second phase can be the continuous phase and the first phase can be the first discrete phase. A crosslinking agent, water, and optional acid or base are also present. An emulsifier may also be included. Methods of making an odor-absorbing and anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coatings with such precursors are also provided.

Abstract: A modular robotic device is provided. The modular robotic device includes a robot base and a robotic manipulator connected to the robot base and operable to articulate a tool device connected to an end of the robotic manipulator. The robotic manipulator includes a plurality of modular rigid segments, wherein each of the plurality of modular rigid segments includes a joint portion and each operable to be selectably connected to the robotic manipulator. The plurality of modular rigid segments is interchangeable and operable to be assembled in various combinations.

Abstract: A seat system includes a seat bottom and a seat back at a rear of the seat bottom. A thermally controlled seat belt includes a lap portion and a shoulder portion. The thermally controlled seat belt can include a porous sleeve that is connected to a seat ventilation system or a vehicle ventilation system. The seat belt can alternatively or additionally include a heating fabric or thermoelectric elements.

Abstract: A control allocation system for a vehicle includes an electric power steering (EPS) system, one or more redundant actuation systems for controlling a plurality of wheels of the vehicle, and one or more controllers in electronic communication with the EPS system and the one or more redundant actuation systems. The one or more controllers execute instructions to determine tracking errors and vehicle dynamics states based on a plurality of local path planning references and receive a fault signal indicating the EPS system is non-functional. In response to receiving the fault signal, the one or more controllers determine a plurality of corrective constraints in real-time. The one or more controllers solve a real-time constrained optimization problem for each sampling interval of the control allocation system to determine a plurality of control actions based on the plurality of corrective constraints and the tracking errors.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting partial discharge in a stator for an electric motor are provided. An exemplary method includes applying a high voltage AC sinewave input signal to the stator and energizing at least one winding therein. The method includes sensing a first resulting load signal occurring in the stator with a first device and filtering the first resulting load signal to form a first high frequency signal indicating any partial discharge (PD) voltage occurring in the stator. The method also includes sensing a second resulting load signal occurring in the stator with a second device and filtering the second resulting load signal to form a second high frequency signal indicating any partial discharge voltage occurring in the stator. Further, the method includes processing the first and second high frequency signals to form a processed signal indicating whether partial discharge occurred.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (“LiDAR”) system includes a coherent light source that generates a frequency modulated optical signal comprising a series of optical chirps. A scanning assembly transmits the series of optical chirps in a scan pattern across a scanning region, and receives a plurality of reflected optical chirps corresponding to the transmitted optical chirps that have reflected off one or more objects located within the scanning region. A photodetector mixes the reflected optical chirps with a local oscillation (LO) reference signal comprising a series of LO reference chirps. An electronic data analysis assembly processes digital data derived from the reflected optical chirps and the LO reference chirps mixed at the photodetector to generate distance data and optionally velocity data associated with each of the reflected optical chirps.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle systems for off-road driving incident prediction and assistance, methods for making/operating such systems, and vehicles networking with such systems. A method for operating a motor vehicle includes a system controller receiving geolocation data indicating the vehicle is in or entering off-road terrain. Responsive to the vehicle geolocation data, the controller receives, from vehicle-mounted cameras, camera-generated images each containing the vehicle's drive wheel(s) and/or the off-road terrain's surface. The controller receives, from a controller area network bus, vehicle operating characteristics data and vehicle dynamics data for the motor vehicle. The camera data, vehicle operating characteristics data, and vehicle dynamics data is processed via a convolutional neural network backbone to predict occurrence of a driving incident on the off-road terrain within a prediction time horizon.

Abstract: A two-piece current collector sub-assembly includes a current collector bridge disposed on the positive terminal of a first battery cell and a current collector plate disposed on a second battery cell. The current collector plate surrounds a positive terminal of the second battery cell. The current collector bridge is coupled to the current collector plate to electrically connect the first battery cell to the second battery cell.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition for batteries is provided. The electrolyte composition includes ethylene carbonate, diethyl carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate, vinyl ethylene carbonate, vinyl carbonate, 1,3-propane sultone, ethylene sulfate, and lithium difluorophosphate. The ethylene carbonate, the diethyl carbonate, and the ethyl methyl carbonate are each present in the electrolyte composition in an amount from 10 parts by weight to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the electrolyte composition. The vinyl ethylene carbonate is present in an amount up to 0.5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the electrolyte composition. The vinyl carbonate is present in an amount up to 1.0 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the electrolyte composition. The 1,3-propane sultone is present in an amount up to 1.5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the electrolyte composition.

Abstract: A system for context-based adaptive virtual experience control in a vehicle is provided. The system includes an output device configured for providing a sensory output to a user of the vehicle and a computerized virtual experience control module configured for controlling the output device based upon a virtual experience mode. The system further includes a computerized context-based adaptive control module configured for monitoring contextual data related to one of the user of the vehicle or operation of the vehicle, monitoring feedback from the user related to one of favor or disfavor related to the virtual experience mode, and utilizing the contextual data and the feedback from the user to selectively, automatically command activation of the virtual experience mode.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, methods and systems are provided for controlling steering of an autonomous vehicle. The method includes: operating, by a processor, the autonomous vehicle in a semi-automated mode; receiving, by the processor, driver input including a measured driver torque; receiving, by the processor, threat data; determining, by the processor, a steering command bias based on an impedance relation, impedance parameters, the measured driver torque, and the threat data; determining, by the processor, a reference angle based on the steering command bias and a desired angle; and generating, by the processor, control data to control the steering of the autonomous vehicle based on the reference angle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing fuel economy and maintaining particulate emissions below a threshold of an engine system in a vehicle. An engine system has port fuel injection, direct injection, variable compression ratio, and independent compression/expansion. A processor predicts settings for the four systems that optimize for a fuel economy that is maximized. A particulate rate of the engine system is computed based on the settings. A determination is made of whether the particulate rate is below a threshold. When the particulate rate is below the threshold, command signals are delivered to actuators of the systems to move to the settings. When the threshold is exceeded, the settings are revised to maintain the particulate below the threshold while optimizing for fuel economy.

Abstract: An indexing multi-panel door includes a leading door panel supported on a first track and moveable between open and closed positions, a trailing door panel supported on a second track and moveable between open and closed positions, a motion control track mounted to one of the door panels, a follower mounted to the other one of the door panels, the follower including a first distal end received within the motion control track, the motion control track including features to frictionally engage the first distal end, wherein when the leading door is moved between the open and closed positions, engagement between the first distal end and the features moves the trailing door panel along with the leading door panel, and allows slippage, wherein the leading and trailing door panels move relative to one another as the leading and trailing door panels are moved between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A removable roof panel system for a vehicle, includes a frame structure configured to be mounted to a roof of the vehicle. A front panel is removably mounted to the frame structure and including a front glass panel and a front panel frame. A rear panel is removably mounted to the frame structure and includes a rear glass panel and a rear panel frame. The frame structure includes a trough portion and supports a first seal configured to be disposed between the roof of the vehicle and the front and rear glass panels and a second seal disposed between the front and rear panel frames and the frame structure. A front latch system releasably secures the front panel to the frame structure and a rear latch system releasably secures the rear panel to the frame structure.

Abstract: An electromechanical system operates in part through physical interaction with an operator, and includes a multi-axis robot, a controller, and a counterbalance mechanism connected to the robot. The counterbalance mechanism includes a base structure connected to a set of linkages, a pneumatic cylinder, a spring-loaded cam assembly, and an optional constant force spring. The linkages form a four-bar parallelogram assembly connectable to a load. The cylinder and cam assembly, and optional constant force spring, each impart respective vertical forces to the parallelogram assembly. The forces combine to provide gravity compensation and self-centering functions or behaviors to the load, enabling the load to move with a vertical degree of freedom when manually acted upon by the operator, and to return the load to a nominal center position.

Abstract: A method for providing a driver alert including receiving a traffic signal phase state and a time remaining in the traffic signal phase state, determining a move forward time in response to the traffic signal phase state being red and the time remaining in the traffic signal phase state, displaying the move forward time to a driver, determining a driver attentiveness level, and generating a driver alert in response to the driver attentiveness level being below a threshold attentiveness level and the move forward time being less than a threshold time.

Abstract: An serviceable battery pack and assembly method may include a battery pack having a stanchion extending through a wall of the battery pack, a first battery pack seal between the stanchion and the wall of the battery pack, attachment of the battery pack at the exterior of a floor pan of a vehicle at the stanchion, and a second battery pack seal between the exterior of the floor pan and the wall of the battery pack surrounding the stanchion.

Abstract: A workpiece accumulator system for a stamping machine includes linear actuators, nesting blocks, exit rails, and a first controller. The nesting blocks are disposed on moveable members of the linear actuators and arranged to vertically stack workpieces being fabricated by the stamping machine. The first controller communicates with a second controller that controls the stamping machine. The first controller controls the linear positions of the linear actuators to retract the nesting blocks from an initial position to accommodate placement of the one of the plurality of workpieces in a stack on the nesting blocks. The linear actuators are controlled to retract the nesting blocks to fully retracted positions to place the plurality of workpieces in the stack onto the exit rails when a quantity of the plurality of workpieces in the stack is equal to a desired quantity.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for learning a neural network and to determine a pose of a vehicle in an environment. A first processor performs a first feature extraction on sensor-based image data to provide a first feature map. The first processor also performs a second feature extraction on the aerial image data to provide a second feature map. Both feature maps are correlated to provide a correlation result. The first processor learns a neural network using the correlation result and ground-truth data, wherein each of the first feature extraction and the second feature is learned to extract a portion of features from the respective image data. A geo-tagged second feature map can then be retrieved by an on-board processor of the vehicle which, along with on-board processed sensor-based data by the network trained by the first processor, determines the pose of the vehicle.

Abstract: Autonomous control of a subject vehicle including a longitudinal motion control system includes determining states of parameters associated with a trajectory for the subject vehicle and parameters associated with a control reference determined for the subject vehicle. A range control routine is executed to determine a first parameter associated with a range control command based upon the states of the plurality of parameters, and a speed control routine is executed to determine a second parameter associated with a speed control command based upon the states of the plurality of parameters. An arbitration routine is executed to evaluate the range control command and the speed control command, and operation of the subject vehicle is controlled to achieve a desired longitudinal state, wherein the desired longitudinal state is associated with a minimum of the range control command and the speed control command.