Abstract: A method of assisting deceleration during a stop of a motor vehicle having a drivetrain including a traction motor, a road wheel operatively connected to the drivetrain, a friction brake configured to decelerate the road wheel, and an electronic controller includes detecting, via the electronic controller, a request to stop the vehicle. The method also includes commanding the traction motor to provide regenerative braking in response to the request to stop the vehicle. The method additionally includes determining a current vehicle operating state. The method also includes determining an amount of brake drag torque to be generated by the friction brake based on the current vehicle operating state. The method further includes commanding an application of the determined amount of the brake drag torque in parallel with the regenerative braking, thereby operating the friction brake as a mechanical drivetrain damper while assisting the regenerative braking to stop the motor vehicle.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a system is provided that includes a sensor system configured to generate sensor data associated with a seat of a vehicle; and a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor system and configured to determine, from the sensor data, a baseline position of a child seat sitting on the seat of the vehicle, determine, from the sensor data, a displacement of the child seat from the baseline position, and selectively generate notification data based on the displacement.

Abstract: Methods of making a thick multilayer electrode for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium are provided. The methods may include forming the multilayer electrode on a current collector by forming a plurality of electrode units to define an electrode stack on the current collector. Each unit of the plurality of electrode units comprises an electroactive material layer comprising a plurality of electroactive particles and an interfacial conductive material layer comprising a plurality of graphene nanoparticles. The electrode stack has a thickness of greater than or equal to about 100 micrometers and is capable of winding and withstanding a bend angle of greater than or equal to a radius of curvature of less than or equal to about 1 radian/inch while remaining substantially free of macrocracks.

Abstract: An electrolyte for a lithium metal battery includes a nonaqueous aprotic organic solvent, a lithium salt dissolved in the nonaqueous aprotic organic solvent and, by volume, from 1% to 10% of a flame retardant additive. The flame retardant additive is at least one of an organophosphate compound, an organophosphite compound, organophosphonate compound, or a phosphazene compound.

Abstract: A method is provided for autonomously operating a vehicle. The method includes receiving vehicle state and vehicle environment data; determining that a vehicle position is not in a position for autonomous mode based on vehicle state and vehicle environment data, wherein the position is associated with a center of one lane of a roadway; enabling a steering assistance torque for a lane-centering operation concurrently within a pre-determined period of time of engagement of the autonomous mode for a vehicular operation; blending the steering assistance torque for assisting in vehicle guidance with a torque applied by the operator for the lane-centering operation with the autonomous mode of vehicular operation engaged; and executing enablement of the autonomous vehicular operation mode with the vehicle positioned within the center of one lane of the roadway as the operator is transitioned from a hands-on to a hands-off control of the vehicle.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle systems with networked on-body vehicle cameras with camera-view augmentation capabilities, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method for operating a motor vehicle includes a system controller receiving, from a network of vehicle-mounted cameras, camera image data containing a target object from a perspective of one or more cameras. The controller analyzes the camera image to identify characteristics of the target object and classify these characteristics to a corresponding model collection set associated with the type of target object. The controller then identifies a 3D object model assigned to the model collection set associated with the target object type. A new “virtual” image is generated by replacing the target object with the 3D object model positioned in a new orientation. The controller commands a resident vehicle system to execute a control operation using the new image.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicles are provided, with the vehicle including vehicle systems, a communication bus, a first processor, and a communication bus transceiver. The first processor is configured to at least facilitate: determining whether a potential safety concern is present pertaining to control the vehicle systems; and providing communications along the communication bus of the vehicle, the communications including an indication of the potential safety concern. The communication bus transceiver is coupled to the first processor and configured to at least facilitate: recognizing the indication of the potential safety concern; and inhibiting the control for the vehicle systems when the indication of the potential safety concern is recognized by the communication bus transceiver.

Abstract: An ultra wide band antenna includes a ground plane and an antenna body. The antenna body includes a planar portion arranged above and parallel to the ground plane. A tapered side portion extends perpendicular to the planar portion in a direction towards the ground plane, wraps at least 50% around an outer edge of the planar portion and tapers in height from a feed side of the antenna body in a direction towards a back side of the antenna body. A cylinder is connected to a bottom surface of the planar portion and to the ground plane. A connecting portion connects the back side at the outer edge of the planar portion to the ground plane.

Abstract: A system to detect and avoid spilled cargo in an automobile vehicle, includes an automobile vehicle rear cargo area including a floor to temporarily receive a storage item in the cargo area. A lift gate is moved between a closed and latched position and a fully open position inclusive to allow loading and removal of the storage item. A vision system identifies the storage item when initially loaded in the cargo area and identifies if the storage item is initially positioned in a cargo spill position or subsequently moves to the cargo spill position. A cargo stop device is releasably connected to the lift gate. An operating system releasably stores the cargo stop device when the storage item is not in the cargo spill position and deploys the cargo stop device when the storage item is in the cargo spill position.

Abstract: A system is provided for producing a die that forms a sheet metal blank into a workpiece for a stamped vehicle component. The system includes a processor receiving design data associated with the workpiece. The processor produces a computer simulation based on the data and determines a stretching index of the workpiece. The processor compares the stretching index to an index threshold. The processor generates a stretching failure signal when the stretching index is above the index threshold. The processor generates a stretching acceptance signal, and a display device indicates that the workpiece has a fracture when the stretching index is below the index threshold. The display device indicates that the workpiece does not have the fracture, when the display device receives the stretching acceptance signal, such that a die manufacturing device transforms a tool material into the die.

Abstract: A pneumatic shade includes a plurality of slats, a plurality of first fold members, and a plurality of second fold members. Each slat is elongated and includes and spans laterally between opposite longitudinal edges. Each of the first- and second-fold members are elongated and co-extend longitudinally with the slats. Each first fold member is attached to longitudinal edges of the respective adjacent slats. Each second fold member is attached to longitudinal edges of respective adjacent slats and are alternatingly orientated with respect to the first fold members such that each slat spans laterally between a respective first fold member and second fold member. Each of the first fold members and the second fold members are adapted to move between a folded state and an unfolded state upon application of pressurized air.

Abstract: A system includes a clutch state module and a clutch torque module. The clutch state module is configured to determine whether a clutch of an electronic limited slip differential is locked or unlocked. The electronic limited slip differential couples an engine of a vehicle to left and right wheels of the vehicle. The clutch torque module is configured to estimate an actual torque transferred by the clutch using a first clutch torque model when the electronic limited slip differential is unlocked, and estimate the actual clutch torque using a second clutch torque model when the electronic limited slip differential is locked. The second clutch torque model is different than the first clutch torque model.

Abstract: Hybrid lithium-ion electrochemical cells include a first electrode having a first polarity and a first electroactive material that reversibly cycles lithium ions having a first maximum operational voltage and a second electrode having the first polarity with a second electroactive material having a second maximum operational voltage. A difference between the second and first maximum operational voltages defines a predetermined voltage difference. Also included are at least one third electrode including a third electroactive material that reversibly cycles lithium ions having a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, a separator, and electrolyte. A voltage modification component (e.g., diode) is in electrical communication with the first and the second electrodes.

Abstract: A cellular antenna structure for integration in a vehicle includes a ground plane to follow a slope of a spoiler chassis. The spoiler chassis is a portion of the vehicle covered by a spoiler. The cellular antenna structure also includes a cellular antenna orthogonal to the ground plane and electrically connected to the ground plane and a structural support affixed to the ground plane to maintain a fixed position of the cellular antenna orthogonal to the ground plane.

Abstract: A nozzle to output air onto an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle is includes: a housing including: a first opening configured to receive air output by a blower; a second opening to output air toward the interior surface of the windshield; N sets of tracks formed in the housing, where N is an integer greater than 1; N vanes that are flexible and that each slide along a respective one of the N sets of tracks; and an actuator that is coupled to each of the N vanes and that is configured to slide along the N vanes along the N sets of tracks, respectively.

Abstract: A vehicle and method for intra-vehicle communication within the vehicle involve a sending controller to transmit a message, and a receiving controller to receive the message. The vehicle includes one or more switches to relay the message from the sending controller to the receiving controller. The sending controller and each of the one or more switches include an egress port for transmission of the message. A processor performs bounded timing analysis to determine a total wait time during transmission of the message from the sending controller to the receiving controller as a sum of each egress port wait time at each egress port encountered by the message. Action is taken to avoid or mitigate the total wait time during transmission exceeding a deadline for the message, and the bounded timing analysis includes performing an iterative process and determining a lower bound (LB), an upper bound (UB), and a median value.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent charging systems for transferring energy to and from motor vehicles, methods for making/operating such systems, and vehicles with V2V and V2G energy transfer capabilities. A method for operating an intelligent charging system includes a system controller receiving, from a user interface of a user, a request to schedule a transfer of electricity to the user. The system controller broadcasts to a crowdsourced set of service providers a solicitation for energy transfer bids for completing the user’s transfer request. After receiving multiple bid submissions for completing the transfer request from multiple service providers, the system controller selects an optimized one of the bid submissions using a multi-criteria selection strategy. The multi-criteria selection strategy includes a joint utility maximization function and/or a trade-off Pareto solution.

Abstract: A flange connector assembly for connecting trim pieces of a vehicle. A first male portion having an end portion connected to a first trim part and a second female portion connected to a trim part end to be attached to the first trim part. The first male portion has a connection portion with a T-shaped cross section and the second portion has a second connecting portion with a T-shaped cavity. The first male connecting portion and the second female connecting portion fit to precisely engage each other and retain the trim portion to be attached. The protruding T-shaped portion includes raised tuning flanges and is capable of adjusting up/down, inboard/outboard or twist fine tuning for providing alignment adjustment to the trim pieces via adjustment of the flange heights in the mold and providing new precisely adjusted T-flanges for providing a tuned butt connection of a trim strip for instance.