Abstract: A method for forming a prelithiated, layered anode material includes contacting an ionic compound and a lithium precursor in an environment having a temperature ranging from about 200° C. to about 900° C. The ionic compound is a three-dimensional layered material represented by MX2, where M is one of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) and X is one of silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), and boron (B). The lithium precursor is selected from the group consisting of: LiH, LiC, LiOH, LiCl, and combinations thereof. The contacting of the ionic compound and the lithium precursor in the environment causes removal of cations from the ionic compound to create openings in interlayer spaces or voids in the three-dimensional layered material thereby defining a two-dimensional layered material and also causes introduction of lithium ions from the lithium precursor into the interlayer spaces or voids to form the prelithiated, layered anode material.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling regeneration of a particulate filter of an engine system are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, a request for particulate filter regeneration; in response to the request, determining, by the processor, at least one of a compression ratio and an expansion ratio; generating, by the processor, control signals to actuators of the engine system to adjust the at least one of the compression ratio and the expansion ratio to achieve a desired exhaust temperature; generating, by the processor, control signals to actuators of the engine system to optimize torque output based on the desired exhaust temperature, engine speed, and a desired engine load; and initiating, by the processor, regeneration of the particulate filter based on the command signals.

Abstract: A tool system controls and prevents gaps during processing of assemblies at elevated temperature. Gaps are prevented from arising at joints between components during temperature changes. The tool system includes a lever arm having a body, a connection configured to allow the body to pivot, a cam surface defined by the body and configured to engage the second component, and a weight arm extending from the body and over the second component. In response to movement of the second component, the lever arm is configured to pivot at the connection while the weight arm is configured to generate a force transferred through the body to the second component to maintain contact at the joint between the first component and the second component. A rod may be connected with the lever arm for added weight.

Abstract: An inflatable structure includes a top end cap, a bottom end cap, a bladder, a nozzle, a loop, and a first tether. The bladder is attached to the top and bottom end caps and is configured to hold pressurized fluid therebetween. The nozzle is configured to allow fluid to enter and exit the bladder. The loop is attached to one of the top and bottom end caps. A tether is disposed within the bladder, coupled to the other one of the top and bottom end caps, and extends through the at least one loop. The top end cap assumes a first position when the bladder is inflated. When the top end cap is adjusted from the first position to a second position, the first tether is configured to maintain the top end cap in the second position.

Abstract: A system and method of automatically activating a windshield wiper system of a vehicle having a front windshield with a front wiper and a rear windshield with a rear wiper are provided. The method comprises assessing at least one windshield classification of road conditions based on original information and capturing a front image of the front windshield, a rear image of the rear windshield, and an environment image of the environment. The method further comprises classifying the images to define a first windshield class. The method further comprises determining a front windshield perception, a rear windshield perception, and an environment perception of the first windshield class to define a first combination of detection sources. The method further comprises fusing the front windshield perception, the rear windshield perception and the environment perception, defining a first front probability of the first windshield class.

Abstract: A hydraulic gerotor pump for an automatic transmission may comprise a housing and a gear set rotatably disposed within the housing. The gear set may comprise an inner gear and an outer gear having radially opposed intermeshing teeth that together define a plurality of circumferentially disposed variable volume pumping chambers therebetween. The housing may be made of a first aluminum-based material, and the inner gear and the outer gear of the gear set may be made of a second aluminum-based material. The linear coefficient of thermal expansion of the first aluminum-based material may be substantially the same as that of the second aluminum-based material.

Abstract: A method for measuring a distance to a target based upon time modulated polarization state illumination is provided. The method includes: transmitting a time varying polarized light beam toward the target; capturing, at a plurality of subpixel regions of a receiver, a reflected time varying polarized light beam that has been reflected off of the target; generating a plurality of polarization signals for each subpixel region that are indicative of the polarization state of the captured reflected light beam in the subpixel region; calculating a time difference between the transmitted time varying polarized light beam and the captured reflected light beam by comparing the polarization state of the captured reflected light beam with a polarization state of the transmitted time varying polarized light beam; and calculating the distance by multiplying the calculated time difference with the speed of light.

Abstract: A method of forming a shaped steel object is provided. The method includes cutting a blank from an alloy composition including 0.05-0.5 wt. % carbon, 4-12 wt. % manganese, 1-8 wt. % aluminum, 0-0.4 wt. % vanadium, and a remainder balance of iron. The method also includes heating the blank until the blank is austenitized to form a heated blank, transferring the heated blank to a press, forming the heating blank into a predetermined shape to form a stamped object, and decreasing the temperature of the stamped object to a temperature between a martensite start (Ms) temperature of the alloy composition and a martensite final (Mf) temperature of the alloy composition to form a shaped steel object comprising martensite and retained austenite.

Abstract: A Lidar system, photonic chip and method of detecting an object. The photonic chip includes a laser and one or more photodetectors. The laser generates a transmitted light beam. The one or more photodetectors are receptive to a reflected light beam that is a reflection of the transmitted light beam from an object and generate an electrical signal as output in response to the reflected light beam signal. An amplifier is configured to amplify a signal related to the reflected light beam to amplify the output signal of the one or more photodetectors. A processor determines a parameter of the object from the amplified output signal.

Abstract: A method of unlocking a vehicle of a user having a handheld device based on visual domain and radio frequency (RF) domain technologies is provided. The method comprises activating an on-board apparatus of the vehicle when the handheld device of the user is within a threshold distance from the vehicle. The method further comprises comparing a visual domain position of the user based on visual domain data with an RF domain position of the user based on RF domain data by a first equation, |dvisualti(X)?dRFti(X)|<?d and a second equation, |?visualti(X)??RFti(X)|<??. The method further comprises validating the user when the first and second equations are true and unlocking the vehicle after the user is validated.

Abstract: A method of forming a shaped steel object, includes cutting a blank from an alloy composition. The alloy composition includes 0.1-1 wt. % carbon, 0.1-3 wt. % manganese, 0.1-3 wt. % silicon, 1-10 wt. % aluminum, and a balance being iron. The method also includes heating the blank to a temperature above a temperature at which austenite begins to form to generate a heated blank, transferring the heated blank to a die, forming the heated blank into a predetermined shape defined by the die to generate a shaped steel object, and decreasing the temperature of the shaped steel object to ambient temperature. The heating is performed under an atmosphere comprising at least one of an inert gas, a carbon (C)-based gas, and nitrogen (N2) gas.

Abstract: Systems and methods involve obtaining observation points of a lane line using one or more sensors of a vehicle. Each observation point indicates a location of a point on the lane line. A method includes obtaining uncertainty values, each uncertainty value corresponding with one of the observation points. A lane model is generated or updated using the observation points. The lane model indicates a path of the lane line. An uncertainty model is generated or updated using the uncertainty values corresponding with the observation points. The uncertainty model indicates uncertainty associated with each portion of the lane model.

Abstract: A battery includes a plurality of battery cells, each battery cell including a core, a source of thermal control fluid in fluid communication with the core, and a first pressure sensitive valve positioned between the core and the source of thermal control fluid, the first pressure sensitive valve adapted to open when pressure within the core exceeds a first pre-determined value.

Abstract: A thermal barrier component for an electrochemical cell (e.g., a battery) includes a mat, a functional material, and a polymer binder. The mat includes a porous matrix. The functional material is in pores of the porous matrix. The functional material includes an oxide. In certain aspects, the functional material may be a composite material. The polymer binder is in contact with the porous matrix and the functional material. At least one of the porous matrix, the functional material, and the polymer binder is configured to serve as an intumescent carbon source. The oxide is configured to catalyze thermal degradation of the intumescent carbon source to form intumescent carbon at a first temperature. The first temperature is greater than or equal to about 300° C. The thermal barrier component is configured to mitigate thermal runaway in an electrochemical cell. The thermal barrier component may include one or more layers.

Abstract: Presented are electrochemical devices with in-stack sensor arrays, methods for making/using such electrochemical devices, and lithium-class battery cells with stacked electrode assemblies having in-stack sensor arrays. An electrochemical device includes a device housing that stores an electrolyte composition for conducting ions. An electrode stack, which is located inside the device housing in electrochemical contact with the electrolyte, includes at least two working electrodes. An electrically insulating and ionically transmissive separator is interposed between each neighboring pair of working electrodes. A reference electrode is attached to one side of the separator and connected to multiple electrical sensing devices.

Abstract: A thermal barrier component for an electrochemical cell according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a functional material. The functional material includes at least one of a hydrate of a metal carbonate and a hydrate of a metal phosphate. The functional material is configured to release water vapor at a first temperature of greater than or equal to about 100° C. and decompose to release a gaseous fire retardant at a second temperature of greater than or equal to about 300° C. Another thermal barrier component according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a hydrate and a fire retardant. The hydrate is configured to release water in an amount greater than or equal to about 1 kg at a first temperature of greater than or equal to about 100° C. The fire retardant is configured to decompose at a second temperature of greater than or equal to about 300° C.

Abstract: A positive electrode including positive electrode active material particles, a polymeric binder, a polymeric dispersant, and a combination of electrically conductive carbon additive types. The combination of electrically conductive carbon additive types includes carbon particles, graphene sheet stacks, and carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment having a roof structure having a front header, a pair of side headers and a rear header. A headliner is disposed beneath the roof structure. At least one inflatable bladder is disposed along at least one of the front header, the pair of side headers and the rear header. The at least one inflatable bladder is connected to an inflator. A rib structure is disposed adjacent to the at least one inflatable bladder. The inflatable bladder inflates to a maximum height of 12 cm below the at least one of the front header, the pair of side headers and the rear header.

Abstract: An electric powertrain system includes an electric machine having a rotor and stator. The stator has multiple phase legs, each respective one of which includes a single phase lead connected to two or more parallel stator windings. The stator thus has multiple phase leads collectively conducting phase currents. A rotary output member is connected to the rotor and connectable to a load. A traction power inverter module (TPIM) is electrically connected to the phase legs. Current sensors collectively measure the phase currents. Each respective current sensor is connected to a different phase lead. A controller in communication with the current sensors and the TPIM, in response to a commanded current and the measured phase currents, detects a threshold variation in the measured phase currents indicative of a phase current imbalance fault, and selectively changes a thermodynamic state of the electrified powertrain in response to the fault.