Abstract: A method for diagnosing an air filter status includes receiving, by a controller, sensor data indicative of a mass air flow rate, an air temperature and an air pressure of an air cleaner assembly including an air filter, determining an air filter life remaining from the sensor data, and receiving data indicative of a vehicle condition. The method also includes determining when a first condition is satisfied and when true, triggering an air filter leakage alert. When the first condition is not satisfied, the controller determines when a second condition is satisfied. When the second condition is satisfied, the controller determines when a third condition is satisfied, and when the third condition is satisfied, triggers an air filter snow intrusion alert. When the second condition is satisfied and the third condition is not satisfied the controller triggers an air filter blockage alert.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a spoiler and an antenna assembly for the vehicle. The spoiler includes a support surface and a cover attachable to the support surface to form a cavity with the support surface. The antenna assembly includes a circuit board, antenna and support beam. The circuit board is attachable to the support surface. The support beam extends from the circuit board and the antenna is at an end of the support beam opposite the circuit board. The antenna is disposed within the cavity.

Abstract: A wear-resistant component includes a substrate formed from a metal, defining a bore, and having a bore surface. The substrate includes a first region having a first microstructure adjacent the bore surface and a first average particle size. The substrate also includes a second region having a second microstructure adjacent the first microstructure and a second average particle size. The first average particle size is larger than the second average particle size. A system and a method of forming the wear-resistant coating are also described.

Abstract: A spatial monitoring system for a vehicle includes a LiDAR sensor, sensors arranged to monitor ambient environmental states, sensors arranged to monitor vehicle operating conditions, and a controller. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to monitor the ambient environmental states and the vehicle operating conditions. The LiDAR sensor captures a point cloud, and the instruction set is executable to determine point cloud metrics. Desired control parameters for the LiDAR sensor are determined based upon the ambient environmental conditions, the vehicle operating conditions, and the point cloud metrics, and the LiDAR sensor is controlled based upon the desired control parameters. The LiDAR sensor is controlled to capture an image of a field-of-view proximal to the vehicle based upon the desired control parameters.

Abstract: A system is configured to mitigate hydroplaning of a vehicle having an adjustable aerodynamic-aid element configured to generate a selectable downforce on the vehicle body in response to a movement of ambient airflow relative thereto. The system includes a mechanism for varying a position of the adjustable aerodynamic-aid element relative to the body to regulate the downforce and sensor(s) configured to detect a vehicle dynamic parameter indicative of hydroplaning of the vehicle. The system additionally includes an electronic controller in communication with the sensor(s) and programmed to regulate the mechanism. The controller is configured to determine a target position for the adjustable aerodynamic-aid element in response to signal(s) from the sensor(s). The controller is also configured to set the adjustable aerodynamic-aid element to the target position via the mechanism to regulate the downforce on the vehicle body and mitigate the hydroplaning of the vehicle.

Abstract: A scanning and perception system for a vehicle camera having an instantaneous field of view (iFOV) and configured to capture an image of an object at a saturation level in the camera's iFOV. The system also includes a light source configured to illuminate the camera's iFOV. The system additionally includes a radar configured to determine the object's velocity and the object's distance from the vehicle, and a mechanism configured to steer the radar and/or the camera. The system also includes an electronic controller programmed to regulate the mechanism and adjust illumination intensity of the light source in response to the saturation level in the image or the determined distance to the object. The controller is also programmed to merge data indicative of the captured image and data indicative of the determined position of the object and classify the object and identify the object's position in response to the merged data.

Abstract: A self-cleaning film system includes a substrate and a film. The film includes a monolayer formed from a fluorinated material, and a first plurality of regions disposed within the monolayer and spaced apart from one another such that each of the regions abuts, is surrounded by, and is not covered by the fluorinated material. Each of the regions includes a photocatalytic material. The system may include a wave guide disposed adjacent the substrate. The wave guide includes a first light source configured for emitting a first portion of electromagnetic radiation towards the film having an ultraviolet wavelength of from 10 nm to 400 nm, and a second light source configured for emitting a second portion of electromagnetic radiation towards the film having an infrared wavelength of from 700 nm to 1 mm. A method of forming a self-cleaning film system configured for reducing a visibility of a contaminant is disclosed.

Abstract: A tooling system is configured to align and assemble a battery module having a plurality of battery cells arranged in a stack. Each battery cell has a flexible electrical terminal arranged along a respective terminal axis, and wherein the terminal axes are parallel to one another. The system includes a tooling fixture defining at least one Y-shape slit having a V-collector culminating in a slot arranged along a slot axis. Each V-collector is configured to capture the terminals of at least two battery cells. Each slot is configured to group the captured terminals when the slot axis is parallel to the terminal axes and the fixture engages the battery module. The system also includes a mechanism configured to apply a first force to the fixture along the slot axis to engage the battery module with the fixture. The mechanism thereby groups and aligns the captured terminals within the slot.

Abstract: A multi-assistant controller includes an audio recorder and a detector. The audio recorder is configured to receive a sampled audio from a microphone, store the sampled audio in a circular buffer, and transfer the sampled audio from the circular buffer to a particular voice-activated assistant. The detector is configured to store multiple wake-up phrases that are recognizable by multiple voice-activated assistants, search the sampled audio to determine multiple probabilities that the sampled audio includes the wake-up phrases, select a particular wake-up phrase that has a highest probability among the probabilities, and send a callback to the particular voice-activated assistant that the particular wake-up phrase has been detected. The sampled audio that is transferred to the particular voice-activated assistant includes the particular wake-up phrase that was detected.

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 system for vehicular power shade control is provided. The system includes a power shade operable to selectively deploy and retract in relation to a corresponding window of a vehicle, a sensor providing data related to the vehicle, and a computerized power shade controller. The computerized power shade controller operates programming to monitor the data from the sensor, compare the data to a threshold value, and generate a command to the power shade based upon the comparing.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a system is provided that includes one or more first sensors, one or more second sensors, and a processor. The one or more first sensors are disposed onboard a host vehicle, and are configured to at least facilitate obtaining first sensor data with respect to the host vehicle. The one or more second sensors are disposed onboard the host vehicle and configured to at least facilitate obtaining second sensor data with respect to a target vehicle that is in proximity to the host vehicle. The processor is coupled to the one or more first sensors and the one or more second sensors, and is configured to at least facilitate: creating an adaptive prediction horizon that includes a probabilistic time-to-event horizon with respect to possible vehicle events between the host vehicle and the target vehicle; and controlling the host vehicle based on the probabilistic time-to-event horizon.

Abstract: The present application generally relates to battery powered door unlock mechanisms. More specifically, the application teaches an unlock system including a door unlock mechanism, a capacitive circuit having a first time response, a resistive-capacitive circuit having a second time response wherein the second time response is longer than the first time response, a battery for coupling a battery charge to the capacitive circuit and the resistive capacitive circuit in response to a door unlock authentication signal, and a relay for coupling a first charge from the capacitive circuit to the door unlock mechanism in response to the relay being activated by a second charge from the resistive-capacitive circuit after the second time response.

Abstract: Presented are battery assemblies with integrated fuel tanks, methods for making/using such battery assemblies, and fuel cell electric vehicles having rechargeable traction battery packs with integrated fiber-composite hydrogen fuel tanks. A rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) assembly includes a battery pack housing with an internal battery module compartment located between two tank mounting cavities. Each mounting cavity is recessed into a respective lateral side of the battery pack housing. Multiple rechargeable battery modules are electrically interconnected with one another and mounted inside the battery module compartment. Each battery module contains multiple battery cells, such as a stack of series-connected lithium-ion pouch cells. A fuel tank is mounted in each of the tank mounting cavities on the lateral sides of the battery pack housing.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method for adaptive control of electronic power steering (EPS) including sending, a torque control to an EPS that is based on input control signals from a vehicle trajectory control unit and a steering assistive control unit when the vehicle is coupled to a trailer engaging in a trailering action; configuring the steering assistive control unit, to generate a control signal based on an algorithm using an adaptive factor that models steering dynamics impacted by the trailer while engaging in the trailering action and modeling by the steering assistive control unit, an adaptive damping factor modeled on a tongue weight of a trailer coupled to a hitch of the vehicle wherein the hitch reduces a force applied to a vehicle front axle.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method for estimating a Hitch Articulation Angle (HAA) using Ultra-Sonic Sensors (USSs) while ensuring quality detected echo signal performance using plausibility filtering, generating at least one set of USS data based on detecting a set of echo signals generated by a plurality of USSs configured about a vehicle coupled to a trailer; determining based on a set of USS data using a selected set of geometric equations in a plausibility filtering process for an arbitrary frontal shape of the trailer; and generating at least one comparison based on at least one set of USS data estimations to a kinematic model at low speeds for ensuring that results of the kinematic model to the HAA associated with the determined trailer shape is based on a pair of detected echo signals that are deemed to have a higher signal performance.

Abstract: Methods and system for training a neural network for depth estimation in a vehicle. The methods and systems receive respective training image data from at least two cameras. Fields of view of adjacent cameras of the at least two cameras partially overlap. The respective training image data is processed through a neural network providing depth data and semantic segmentation data as outputs. The neural network is trained based on a loss function. The loss function combines a plurality of loss terms including at least a semantic segmentation loss term and a panoramic loss term. The panoramic loss term includes a similarity measure regarding overlapping image patches of the respective image data that each correspond to a region of overlapping fields of view of the adjacent cameras. The semantic segmentation loss term quantifies a difference between ground truth semantic segmentation data and the semantic segmentation data output from the neural network.

Abstract: Presented are control systems for operating dual-independent drive unit (DIDU) powertrains, methods for making/operating such systems, and electric-drive vehicles with fault management and mitigation for DIDU axles. A method of operating a motor vehicle with a DIDU axle includes monitoring first and second drive units (DU) that are independently operable to drive respective road wheels via respective axle shafts of the DIDU axle. A vehicle controller receives an indication of a fault condition in the first DU from a fault sensing module and responsively determines a fault type for the fault condition. The controller ascertains the vehicle's current speed and determines a respective torque limit for each of the DIDU drive units based on the fault type and current vehicle speed. Torque output of the first DU is concomitantly constrained to a first torque limit while torque output of the second DU is constrained to a second torque limit.

Abstract: A sunroof panel and sunshade assembly system includes a moveable sunroof panel operable to selectively move to a first closed position within a sunroof opening of a vehicle and a sunshade operable to selectively move to a second closed position within the sunroof opening. The sunshade includes a leading-edge portion and a spring force displacement member within the leading-edge portion of the sunshade, wherein the spring force displacement member is operable to deform when the sunshade contacts an obstruction while the sunshade is moving. The system further includes an electric machine providing motive force to the sunshade and a computerized sunroof panel and sunshade controller. The controller operates programming to monitor operation of the electric machine, determine a presence of the obstruction based upon the monitored operation, and command the electric machine to stop and reverse the sunshade based upon the determined presence.

Abstract: A method of making a reference electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes providing a subassembly including a separator layer and a current collector layer coupled to the separator layer. The method further includes providing an electrode ink including an electroactive material, a binder, and a solvent. The method further includes creating a reference electrode precursor by applying an electroactive precursor layer to the current collector layer. The electroactive precursor layer covers greater than or equal to about 90% of a superficial surface area of a surface of the current collector layer. The electroactive precursor layer includes the electrode ink. The method further includes creating the reference electrode assembly by drying the electroactive precursor layer to remove at least a portion of the solvent, thereby forming an electroactive layer. The electroactive layer is solid and porous.