Abstract: Systems are provided for gripping one or more workpieces. A tooling system includes a plurality of grippers configured to engage and grip the workpieces. An arm is connected with each gripper. A lock releasably locks each arm in a number of positions, including a home position. A pneumatic circuit is coupled with the grippers. A valve is disposed in the pneumatic power supply circuit and is positionable in an open state and in a closed state. When the arm is moved to the home position, in response the valve is mechanically moved to the closed state, idling the gripper.

Abstract: Detecting systems configured to detect airborne viruses, and methods of forming the same, are provide. A method for preparing a system for detecting an airborne virus includes preparing a thin-film coating on a surface of a substrate; ablating the coating to form an optical grating structure; and associating a plurality of receptors having an affinity and specificity for the virus with the optical grating structure so that the structure is capable of indicating the presence of the virus. A detecting system includes the optical grating structure and an optical component. The optical component includes a cavity defined by two opposing reflecting surfaces and configured to receive the optical grating structure, and a light source disposed adjacent to an exterior surface of a first reflecting surface. The light source may be configured to direct light towards the first reflecting surface so that light in resonance enters the cavity.

Abstract: Presented are segmented hairpin bar conductors for electric machines, methods for making/using such segmented bar conductors, electromagnetic motors using such segmented bar conductors, and vehicles equipped with an induction motor generator unit using segmented hairpin bar conductors. An electric machine includes a stator that defines multiple circumferentially spaced, radially elongated stator slots. A rotor is located adjacent and movable with respect to the stator. One or more permanent magnets are mounted to the rotor, and one or more U-shaped hairpin windings are mounted to the stator in juxtaposed spaced relation to the magnet(s). Each hairpin winding is formed from an array of collimated, electrically conductive wires that are bundled together into a unitary bar conductor. The segmented hairpin winding has a pair of hairpin legs, each of which adjoins and projects from a respective end of a hairpin crown. Each hairpin leg inserts into a respective one the stator slots.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for behavior planning for an autonomous vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving navigation data including a navigation route; converting the navigation route to road segment data including a plurality of road segments; assigning lane attributes to the plurality road segments of the road segment data; computing cost data for each of the road segments; evaluating the cost data of each of the road segments to determine at least one driving behavior; and generating a display signal for displaying the driving behavior to a user of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: Presented are multilayer composite panels for motor vehicles, methods for making/using such panels, and motor vehicles with transparent composite roof panels having localized reinforcement features. A sandwich-type multilayer composite panel contains one or more exterior layers each including a transparent rigid material, one or more bonding layers each including a transparent adhesive material, and one or more structural reinforcement layers each including a fiber-reinforced polymer material. Each structural reinforcement layer may be attached directly to a bonding layer and/or exterior layer. The composite panel may also include one or more IR-reflective layers, one or more light-absorbing sunshade layers, and one or more insulating low-k layers.

Abstract: Presented are multilayer composite panels for motor vehicles, methods for making/using such panels, and motor vehicles with transparent composite roof panels having localized reinforcement features. A sandwich-type multilayer composite panel contains one or more exterior layers each including a transparent rigid material, one or more bonding layers each including a transparent adhesive material, and one or more structural reinforcement layers each including a fiber-reinforced polymer material. Each structural reinforcement layer may be attached directly to a bonding layer and/or exterior layer. The composite panel may also include one or more IR-reflective layers, one or more light-absorbing sunshade layers, and one or more insulating low-k layers. The fibers of each structural reinforcement layer are localized to a discrete region within the composite panel's plan-view profile.

Abstract: A method is usable for cooling portions of a vehicle having a plurality of low temperature radiators (LTR), a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), an i-condenser coolant circuit, and a RESS coolant circuit. Cooling the RESS occurs by comparing ambient temperature to target low and high temperatures. If the ambient temperature is below the target low temperature, coolant flow is routed through a first flow path placing the first and second LTR in the RESS coolant circuit. If the ambient temperature is between the target low and high temperatures, coolant flow is routed through a second flow path placing the first LTR in the RESS coolant circuit and the second LTR in the i-condenser coolant circuit. If the ambient temperature is above the target high temperature, coolant flow is routed through a third flow path placing the first and second LTR in the i-condenser coolant circuit.

Abstract: A conical mount includes a housing defining an axis of rotation, a base member enclosed within the housing, a main rubber element coupled to the base member and enclosed within the housing, an upper metal portion positioned within the housing such that the main rubber element is positioned between the base member and upper metal portion, a radial snubber extending circumferentially around the upper metal portion, and a bearing assembly coupled with the radial snubber and positioned between the radial snubber and the upper metal portion. The bearing assembly enables the radial snubber to rotate freely about the axis of rotation to reduce a tangential load on the radial snubber.

Abstract: A system for controlling purge operation of a fuel cell assembly includes a controller and one or more sensors configured to obtain respective sensor data. The fuel cell stack is configured to receive a stack coolant. The controller is configured to execute a first purge mode when at least one of a first enabling condition and a second enabling condition is met. The first purge mode defines a first group of setpoints, including a relatively low cathode stoichiometric ratio. The controller is configured to switch to a second purge mode when the coolant temperature is above a minimum warm-up temperature and a third mode when a relative humidity value of a stack cathode output falls below a threshold humidity. The second purge mode defines a second group of setpoints, including a relatively high cathode stoichiometric ratio.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for controlling an auto high beam functionality for headlights of a vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, a method includes: obtaining camera data pertaining to an object in front of the vehicle; identifying, via a processor, a radial gradient of pixels in a region of interest from the camera data; and automatically controlling, via the processor, the auto high beam functionality for the headlights based on the radial gradient.

Abstract: Systems and methods implemented in a vehicle involve obtaining elevation information and determining a change in elevation of the vehicle. A method includes determining that the change in elevation indicates an increase or a decrease in the elevation of the vehicle. The method also includes adjusting, for a radar system of the vehicle, a range of detection or a detection threshold that defines a minimum reflected energy required to declare a detection based on the determining that the change in elevation indicates the increase or the decrease in the elevation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system for estimating a range and a velocity of an object includes a processing device configured to perform, for each return pulse of a return signal including reflections of a radar signal, applying a first Fourier transform to the return pulse to transform the return pulse into a range spectrum and calculate a range intensity value for each of a plurality of range hypotheses, calculating a range variation for each of a plurality of hypothesized Doppler frequency values, and for each hypothesized Doppler frequency value, applying a second Fourier transform to the series of return pulses based on the range intensity values and the range variation. The processing device is further configured to perform outputting range and Doppler frequency data including a range-Doppler intensity value for each range hypothesis and hypothesized Doppler frequency, and estimating a range and a velocity of the object based on the range-Doppler intensity values.

Abstract: A hybrid lithium ion capacitor battery and method of making the same is disclosed. The hybrid lithium ion capacitor battery includes a positive electrode separated from a negative electrode by a separator layer. A first activated carbon layer is disposed between the separator layer and one of the positive and negative electrodes. The first activated carbon layer is coated on a first surface of the separator layer. A second activated carbon layer is disposed between the separator layer and the other of the positive and negative electrodes. The second activated carbon layer is coated on a second surface of the separator layer. A first current collector coextensively contacts the first electrode and a second current collector coextensively contacts the second electrode. An electrolytic solution carries lithium cations between the positive and negative electrodes through the activated carbon coated separator layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for actively controlling a derailleur. A derailleur system includes a cassette including a number of sprockets, a drive unit that drives the cassette, and a chain linking the drive unit with the cassette. A derailleur is configured to guide the chain around the cassette, the derailleur including a swing arm rotatable at a pivot assembly to maintain tension on the chain. A lock selectively locks the swing arm from rotating.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides hybrid stator core components for an axial flux motor stator and methods for making the same. The hybrid stator core component includes a molded soft magnetic composite material and a laminated component. In one variation, a laminated insert comprising a plurality of insulated layers is non-releasably seated within a molded soft magnetic composite material. In another variation, a hybrid stator core component has a molded soft magnetic composite core and a laminated shell comprising a plurality of layers disposed around at least a portion of the molded soft magnetic composite core.

Abstract: Methods for preparing catalytic systems include passivating a gamma-phase alumina support body to yield a theta-phase alumina support body and applying catalytic metal to passivated theta-phase alumina support body. Passivating can include heating, optionally in the presence of steam. The gamma-phase alumina can be lanthanum-doped gamma-phase alumina and can be about 0.1-55 wt. % lanthanum. The catalytic metal can include rhodium, copper, or nickel. The catalytic metal can be rhodium or nickel, and the catalytic metal can be applied to the passivated theta-phase alumina support body at a loading of about 0.1-10 wt. %. The catalytic metal can be copper, and the catalytic metal can be applied to the passivated theta-phase alumina support body at a loading of about 0.1-30 wt. %. The gamma-phase alumina support body can be at least about 90 wt. % gamma-phase alumina. The passivated theta-phase alumina support body can be at least about 80 wt. % theta-phase alumina.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus for intelligent wireless protocol optimization including receiving, by a processor, a request from a first media access controller to transmit a first data signal, transmitting, by the processor, a ready to send packet to the second media access controller in response to the second media access controller being currently transmitting a second data signal, transmitting the first data signal by the first media access controller, transmitting a clear to send packet by the second media access controller to the second media access controller in response to the transmitting of the first data signal by the first media access controller, and continuing transmission of the second data signal in response to a completion of the transmission of the first data signal by the first media controller.

Abstract: A method to detect a roadway edge includes calculating a first likelihood of a roadway edge from an aerial image of a roadway by shifting a centerline of the roadway perpendicular to the centerline and overlapping the centerline with image gradients. A second likelihood of the roadway edge is determined using a vehicle telemetry fitting a probability distribution to telemetry points along the roadway. The first likelihood of the roadway edge and the second likelihood of the roadway edge are fused to identify a final likelihood of the roadway edge.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is described herein. The autonomous vehicle comprises a first sensor and a second sensor having limited fields of view, an articulation system, and a computing system. The computing system determines a first region and a second region external to the autonomous vehicle based on a sensor prioritization scheme comprising a ranking of regions surrounding the autonomous vehicle. The computing system then causes the articulation system to orient the first sensor towards the first region and the second region towards the second region. Responsive to receiving a sensor signal from the first sensor indicating that an object has entered a field of view of the first sensor, the computing system determines a third region having a higher ranking than the second region within the sensor prioritization scheme. The computing system then causes the articulation system to orient the second sensor towards the third region.

Abstract: Vehicles and methods for detecting a three-dimensional (3D) position of a traffic sign and controlling a feature of the vehicle based on the 3D position of the traffic sign. An image is received from a camera. The image is processed using a neural network. The neural network includes a traffic sign class block regressing a traffic sign class for a traffic sign included in the image and a rotation block regressing an orientation for the traffic sign. Dimensions for the traffic sign are retrieved from an information database based on the traffic sign class. A 3D position of the traffic sign is determined based on the dimensions of the traffic sign and the orientation of the traffic sign. A feature of the vehicle is controlled based on the 3D position of the traffic sign.