Abstract: A multi-phase power inverter for an electric propulsion system includes a plurality of T-type multilevel power converters arranged between a high-voltage direct current (DC) power supply and an electric machine. Each of the plurality of T-type multilevel power converters is a solid-state integrated circuit that includes a positive DC power bus, a negative DC power bus, a neutral bus, and a plurality of semiconductor switches disposed in a stacked arrangement. The plurality of semiconductor switches is interconnected via the positive DC power bus, the negative DC power bus, and the neutral bus.

Abstract: An axial flux motor includes: a ring-shaped stator, a ring-shaped rotor and a planetary gear set. The ring-shaped stator includes a stator core and segments arranged on the stator core, where each of the segments includes a laminated stack and windings wrapped around the laminated stack. The ring-shaped rotor defines an inner open area and including a body and permanent magnets arranged on the body adjacent to and spaced from the segments. The planetary gear set is disposed within the inner open area and configured to receive an input torque from the rotor and provide an output torque, which is greater than the input torque.

Abstract: A trajectory planning system for an autonomous vehicle includes one or more controllers in electronic communication with one or more external vehicle networks that collect data with respect to one or more moving obstacles located in an environment surrounding the autonomous vehicle. The one or more controllers determine, based on the discrete-time relative vehicle state, a position avoidance set representing relative lateral positions and longitudinal positions that the autonomous vehicle avoids while bypassing the one or more moving obstacles when performing a maneuver. The one or more controllers select a trajectory from the plurality of relative state trajectories for the autonomous vehicle, where the autonomous vehicle follows the trajectory while performing the maneuver.

Abstract: A system for charging an electric vehicle in a facility includes a current sensor adapted to obtain an input current signal for a power source in the facility. An electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) is configured to charge the electric vehicle through the power source based at least partially on a control pilot signal. A controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded for dynamically adjusting the control pilot signal based on the input current signal. The control pilot signal is set to a predefined maximum when the input current signal is less than a main circuit breaker rating of the facility. The controller is configured to reduce the control pilot signal from the predefined maximum when the input current signal is at or above the main circuit breaker rating.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for vehicular data collection and analysis. The system may include a vehicle and a remote computing system. The vehicle may include a sensor system, a communication system, a controller configured to: receive vehicle data including sensor data that includes an observable condition of the vehicle as sensed with the sensor system, process the vehicle data to produce collected data, store the collected data as stored data in a data storage device of the vehicle, and upload the stored data through a communication network. The remote computing system may include a controller configured to, by a processor: receive the vehicle data, and perform statistical analysis thereof to quantify a change of the observable condition relative to historical data associated with the vehicle and relative to other vehicles within a fleet.

Abstract: An automobile includes an electronic control unit (ECU), at least one fiber optical cable, and a sensor unit. The ECU is operational to generate an optical power signal and a first optical communications signal. The fiber optical cable transports the optical power signal and the first optical communications signal. The sensor unit is operational to convert the optical power signal into an electrical power, convert the first optical communications signal into an electrical control signal, measure a first parameter related to the automobile, and generate a second optical communications signal that conveys the first parameter as measured. The fiber optical transports the second optical communications signal to the electronic control unit. The ECU is further operational to convert the second optical communications signal into a first electrical sensed signal that conveys the first parameter, and take an action based on the first parameter in the first electrical sensed signal.

Abstract: A system for utilizing human machine interfaces to engage at least one passenger when a driver of a vehicle is distracted includes a system controller in communication with a plurality of passenger human machine interfaces and adapted to modify a display screen of a front seat passenger HMI, and an occupant monitoring system adapted to monitor the driver of the vehicle and the at least one passenger within the vehicle, the system controller adapted to determine, with a distracted driver algorithm within the system controller and data from the occupant monitoring system that the driver of the vehicle is distracted, and, when the driver of the vehicle is distracted, to actuate the plurality of passenger HMIs to engage the at least one passenger and encourage the at least one passenger to engage with the driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for vehicular computation management. The system includes, onboard a vehicle, electric control units (ECUs), a battery, a communication system, and a controller. The controller is configured to monitor energy consumption, operate the vehicle as a computational hub when the energy consumption is less than a threshold, including providing computational resources to an external node, determine whether the vehicle has excess energy and computational capacity when the energy consumption is equal to or greater than the threshold, including determining a usage of each of the ECUs and determining an energy consumption of tasks executing thereon, and operate the vehicle as a hybrid computational hub when the vehicle has excess energy and computational capacity, including providing excess computational capacity of the ECUs to the external node.

Abstract: Locking differential systems, vehicles and methods are provided. An electric vehicle includes an electric motor including a stator and a rotor, wherein the rotor is configured to rotate about a rotor axis; a rotor shaft connected to the rotor for rotation about the rotor axis; a differential located within the rotor shaft; a first input shaft connected to first side of the differential; a second input shaft connected to second side of the differential; a locking system configured to selectively lock rotation of the first input shaft to rotation of the rotor shaft; a control system configured to determine when to lock rotation of the first input shaft to rotation of the rotor shaft; and an actuation system configured to operate the locking system to lock rotation of the first input shaft to rotation of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: A method to assemble and orchestrate elemental value components to accomplish a meaningful higher value. The method including the steps of detecting, by a first sensor, a first vehicle operating parameter, generating, by the first sensor, a first sensor output indicative of the first vehicle operating parameter, populating, by a data pump, a first data repository entry indicative of the first sensor and the first vehicle operating parameter. The method is further operative for generating, by a first processor, a first micro-value output in response to the first data repository entry and a first micro-value algorithm associated with the first sensor, generating, by a concurrent second processor, a first vehicle control signal in response to the first data repository entry, the first micro-value output and a first decision repository table entry associated with the first micro-value output, and controlling, by a vehicle controller, a vehicle in response to the first vehicle control signal.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for controlling braking of a trailer that is coupled to a vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, a system is provided that includes: one or more sensors configured to obtain sensor data for a vehicle coupled to a trailer, the sensor data including: a measure of engagement of a brake pedal of the vehicle; and a deceleration of the vehicle; and a processor that is coupled to the one or more sensors and that is configured to at least facilitate dynamically controlling braking of the trailer, via instructions provided by the processor to a braking system of the trailer, based on both the measure of engagement of the brake pedal and the deceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that include one or more sensors configured to obtain sensor data pertaining to both a driver of a vehicle and an environment surrounding the vehicle; and a processor that is coupled to the one or more sensors and that is configured to at least facilitate determining, using the sensor data, when the driver is incapacitated; determining, using the sensor data, when a threat is detected for the vehicle; and taking action to avoid the threat when the driver is incapacitated and the threat is detected, via instructions provided by the processor.

Abstract: A system for a host vehicle operating on a road surface includes a polarimetric camera, a global positioning system (“GPS”) receiver, a compass, and an electronic control unit (“ECU”). The camera collects polarimetric image data of a drive scene, including a potential driving path on the road surface. The ECU receives the polarimetric image data, estimates the Sun location using the GPS receiver and compass, and computes an ideal representation of the road surface using the Sun location. The ECU normalizes the polarimetric image data such that the road surface has a normalized representation in the drive scene, i.e., an angle of linear polarization (“AoLP”) and degree of linear polarization (“DoLP”) equal predetermined fixed values. The ECU executes a control action using the normalized representation.

Abstract: A method of providing information related to a charge status of an electric vehicle includes monitoring, with a system controller in communication with an electrical system within the vehicle, information related to a charge status of the vehicle, and, displaying, with the system controller, for a person in proximity of the vehicle, information related to a charge status of the vehicle.