Abstract: A method of joining two ferrous alloy component parts. The method includes hot metal casting a portion of a first ferrous alloy component part onto a first joining surface of a low carbon intermediate element; friction fitting a joining surface of a second ferrous alloy component part against a second joining surface of the low carbon intermediate element; and fusion welding with a concentrated energy source the intermediate element to the second ferrous alloy component part. The hot metal casting includes flowing a molten ferrous alloy onto the textured first joining surface, wherein the molten ally encompasses tabs extending from the first joining surface and filling apertures defined in the intermediate element. Then cooling the molten ferrous alloy such that a metallurgical and mechanical bond is formed between the portion of the first ferrous alloy component part and the first joining surface of the low carbon intermediate element.

Abstract: A module test machine includes a frame, a fixture, at most two actuators coupled to the fixture, and a controller. The frame is couplable to a first end of a strut module. The fixture is couplable to a second end of the strut module. The fixture includes a plurality of arms with a plurality of adjustable lengths. The at most two actuators are coupled to two of the plurality of arms and configured to impart a plurality of loads along six axes of force at the second end of the strut module. The controller is configured to control the at most two actuators in response to at most two actuator vectors. The plurality of adjustable lengths and the at most two actuator vectors are configured to replicate road load data at the second end of the strut module while under test.

Abstract: A controller of a host system executes a method for detecting an external AC electrical device. While an AC charging inlet of the host system is electrically connected to the device via different vehicle-to-live (V2L) and jump-charge connections, the controller detects a control pilot voltage and a proximity voltage. When the control pilot voltage is 0V, the controller determines whether entry conditions are satisfied indicative of a desire to offload power from the host system to the device. When the entry conditions are satisfied, the proximity or control pilot voltage are modulated to generate a modulated voltage signal, which the controller compares to an expected voltage indicative of the device. Power is offloaded to the device when the modulated voltage signal matches the expected voltage.

Abstract: Vehicles and methods for tracking an object and controlling a vehicle based on the tracked object. A Radar-Doppler (RD) map is received from the radar sensing system of the vehicle and relative acceleration of an object with respect to the vehicle is detected based on the RD map so as to provide acceleration data. A current frame of detected object data is received from a sensing system of the vehicle. When the relative acceleration has been detected, a tracking algorithm is adapted to reduce the influence of the predictive motion model or the historical state of the object and the object is tracked using the adapted tracking algorithm so as to provide adapted estimated object data based on the object tracking. One or more vehicle actuators are controlled based on the adapted estimated object data.

Abstract: A system for assessing health of a cell group within a module of a battery pack includes a controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. One or more sensors are configured to obtain a series of respective average cell group voltages at different stages. The controller is adapted to obtain a measured voltage (VM) of the cell group at a calibration event occurring after the third stage. The controller is adapted to calculate a predicted voltage (VP) of the cell group based in part on a sum of a disparity factor (?V) and a third stage cell group voltage (V3). The cell group is controlled based at least partially on a difference between the measured voltage (VM) and the predicted voltage (VP).

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to motion-generating particles for desulfation of lead-acid batteries, lead-acid batteries including such motion-generating particles, and methods of making and using the same. For example, the present disclosure provides a lead-acid battery including one or more electroactive plates disposed within a casing; an electrolyte disposed within the casing and surrounding the electroactive plates; a plurality of ferromagnetic particles disposed with the electrolyte within the casing; and one or more electromagnets. The one or more electromagnets may be configured to direct a magnetic field towards the electrolyte to selectively cause movement of the plurality of ferromagnetic particles so as to agitate the electrolyte.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to composite battery covers including one or more integral vent members configured to release pressure. An example composite battery cover includes a continuous sheet having a first stiffness and one or more vent members defined in the continuous sheet. Each of the one or more vent members may include a first area having a second stiffness and/or a second area having a third stiffness. The second stiffness may be different from the first stiffness. The third stiffness may be different from the second stiffness and/or the first stiffness. The stiffness and strength of the continuous sheet and/or one or more vent members may be controlled by variable thicknesses and/or fiber loadings.

Abstract: A door latch for a motor vehicle compartment includes a latch pawl having a locked position and an unlocked position, the locked position preventing access to the compartment, the unlocked position providing access to the compartment, and an actuator that rotates about a first pivot point. The actuator selectively engages with the latch pawl to move the latch pawl from the locked position to the unlocked position.

Abstract: A battery system and a method include an auxiliary power module configured to support auxiliary loads. A first contactor switch connected between first and second battery packs, and a second contactor switch is in series with the first contactor switch. A controller determines whether to open or close first and second contactor switches depending on whether the battery packs are being charged in a high voltage mode or a low voltage mode. The contactor switches are both closed when in the high voltage mode and at least one of the contactor switches is opened when in the low voltage mode. At least one of the first and second battery packs operate to power the auxiliary power module while charging at least one of the first and second battery packs regardless of whether the battery packs are in the high voltage mode or the low voltage mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for radiant heating by PTC radiant patches. A radiant heating system for warming an occupant of an enclosed space includes patches to radiate heat into the enclosed space toward the occupant. A power supply supplies electric power to the patches. A controller controls the electric power supplied to the patches based on a temperature in the enclosed space and locations of the patches within the enclosed space.

Abstract: An electrical system includes a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and a controller. The RESS includes first and second battery packs connected to a voltage bus, each pack having a respective plurality of battery cells and a corresponding cell balancing circuit. The RESS further includes switches that selectively connect or disconnect the packs to or from each other to achieve series and parallel modes. The controller executes a method by detecting a requested series to parallel mode transition. Responsive to a threshold imbalance being present in a state of charge or pack voltage of the packs relative to each other, the controller balances the state of charge/voltage using open/closed state control of the cell balancing circuits, and possibly a switching block having PWM-controlled switches and a circuit element. The controller may execute the requested mode transition upon balancing.

Abstract: A tubular structure comprises a first end and a second end, a cylindrical outer structure, and at least one inner cavity defined by the cylindrical outer structure and the first and second ends. The first and second ends each include a recess and a cap press fit within the recess. The caps provide a connection point for the ends of the tubular structure. Each end includes a vent in fluid communication with the inner cavity during manufacturing of the tubular structure, prior to insertion of the caps. An isotropic internal support structure extends longitudinally between the ends within the cylindrical outer structure and defines an oil flow channel extending through the tubular structure, each cap includes a cap orifice aligned with the oil flow channel, and the cylindrical outer structure, the first and second ends, and the internal support structure are continuously and unitarily formed.

Abstract: A child restraint seat sensing device for a vehicle including a structural element at least partially defining a volume, wherein the structural element is located in a vehicle passenger seat between a seat base and seat back or is located behind the vehicle passenger seat, a stationary anchor in the vehicle, wherein the stationary anchor is located within the volume defined by the structural element, and a sensor mounted to the structural element, wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether a child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor.

Abstract: A method of controlling an exhaust system for a diesel engine comprises providing an aftertreatment system comprising a first catalyst and a diesel exhaust fluid injection system, determining a preliminary dose of a diesel exhaust fluid of the diesel exhaust fluid injection system based on an incoming exhaust gas flow and an exhaust gas temperature, determining an NH3 factor based on incoming exhaust gas oxygen concentration and the incoming exhaust gas flow temperature, and determining a final dose of diesel exhaust fluid by multiplying the preliminary dose of diesel exhaust fluid by the NH3 factor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining a hitch articulation angle including a camera for capturing a first image and a second image, a steering sensor configured to detect a steering angle, a velocity sensor configured to detect a vehicle velocity, a processor configured to for generating a bird's eye view of the first image and the second image through a perspective transform, generating a trailer hitch model from the first image in response to the steering angle and the vehicle velocity indicating a vehicle is traveling in a straight forward direction, generating a current hitch model from the second image, determining a hitch articulation angle in response to an angular difference between the trailer hitch model and the current hitch model, and a vehicle controller controlling the vehicle in response to the hitch articulation angle.

Abstract: A method for cargo management in a motor vehicle includes identifying the motor vehicle. The method gathers dimensional information of at least one object and gathers internal dimensions of a volume within the motor vehicle. The dimensional information of the at least one object is compared to the internal dimensions of the volume, and feedback is provided to a user. The feedback is one of: yes, the at least one object will fit; or no, the at least one object will not fit.

Abstract: Presented are structurally reinforced components for vehicle body structures, methods for making/using such components, and motor vehicles equipped with such components. A vehicle body structure includes an elongated support rail (e.g., a pair of lateral roof rails) with an inner contoured rail panel joined to an outer contoured rail panel to define an internal rail cavity. An elongated support pillar (e.g., front, side, and/or back vehicle pillars) adjoins the support rail and includes an inner contoured pillar panel joined to an outer contoured pillar panel to define an internal pillar cavity coupled to the internal rail cavity. The inner rail and pillar panels may be integrally from as a single-piece structure, and the outer rail and pillar panels may be integrally from as a single-piece structure. A structural reinforcement insert is located inside the support pillar and support rail, filling a discrete region within the rail cavity and pillar cavity.

Abstract: A fused filament deposition head is employed for depositing filament materials on workpieces to join the workpieces together. The workpieces can be of an automotive application, aerospace application, or something else. The fused filament deposition head, in an example, has a feed end, a dispensing end, and a heater. The feed end introduces more than one filament in the fused filament deposition head, as demanded in the larger application. The dispensing end delivers materials of the filaments to the underlying workpieces. The materials are delivered together. The heater serves to heat the filaments as they travel through the fused filament deposition head. The filaments can include a filament having a core portion of liquid-crystal polymer material.

Abstract: An alloy composition is provided. The alloy composition includes silicon (Si) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 0.55 wt. % to less than or equal to about 0.75 wt. %, magnesium (Mg) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 0.55 wt. % to less than or equal to about 0.75 wt. %, chromium (Cr) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 0.15 wt. % to less than or equal to about 0.3 wt. %, and a balance of the alloy composition being aluminum (Al). The alloy composition has an intermetallic phase content of less than or equal to about 3 wt. %. Methods of preparing the alloy composition and of processing the alloy composition are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an aftertreatment assembly includes a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) device configured to receive an exhaust gas. One or more sensors are configured to obtain respective sensor data relative to the exhaust gas and DOC device. A controller is in communication with the sensors and configured to obtain respective sensor data relative to the exhaust gas. The controller is configured to determine if one or more enabling conditions are met, including reaching a predefined temperature range in the DOC device. A rich event is induced targeting a predetermined range of a lambda value for a predefined maximum time duration. When the rich event has ended, an exotherm index is obtained for an observation window immediately after the rich event. The controller is configured to control operation of the aftertreatment assembly based at least partially on the exotherm index.