Abstract: A vehicle system comprising a steering wheel that includes: i) a hub adapted to be mounted on a steering column of the vehicle system; ii) a steering wheel rim coupled to the hub; and iii) a first control movably coupled to the hub. The first control moves from a first position proximate a first location on the steering wheel rim to a second position proximate a second location on the steering wheel rim. This maintains the first control in proximity to a first hand of a driver as the first hand moves from the first location to the second location on the steering wheel rim. The vehicle system further comprises a control module configured to move the first control from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: In one example implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, by a host processing device, timestamps from a vehicle processing system of a target vehicle, the timestamps being determined based at least in part on parking area data for a target parking area and vehicle data for the target vehicle. The method further includes calculating, by the host processing device, an arrival rate and a service rate based on the timestamps. The method further includes calculating, by the host processing device, a probability of parking availability for the target parking area based at least in part on the arrival rate and the service rate. The method further includes controlling, by the host processing device, the vehicle based at least in part on the probability of parking availability for the target parking area.

Abstract: A porous carbon material includes a hierarchical porous structure including a primary microporous structure and at least one of a secondary mesoporous structure and a secondary macroporous structure. The porous carbon material is formed by combining a halogenated-hydrocarbon, an aprotic hydrocarbon solvent, and a reductant to initiate a reaction that forms intermediate particles having a microporous framework; and subjecting the intermediate particles to a heat treatment at a heat treatment temperature ranging from about 300° C. to less than 1,500° C. for a heat treatment time period ranging from about 20 minutes to about 10 hours to thereby form the porous carbon material. The aprotic hydrocarbon solvent is selected from the group consisting of toluene, hexane, cyclohexane, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method for reshaping an electric drive signal of a real-time damper in a sprung mass system includes detecting a periodic frequency and magnitude of a target periodic vibration of a sprung mass. The periodic vibration has velocity and elasticity components that are 90 degrees out-of-phase. An electric drive signal to the real-time damper is reshaped by a controller depending on polarity of the velocity component to thereby generate a composite drive signal. The damper is energized using the composite drive signal to modify a damper force. Reshaping the electric drive signal includes injecting a force and/or an intermittent drive suppression component onto the electric drive signal based on the frequency and magnitude. The sprung mass system may have a frame and body, motion and wheel speed sensors, the real-time dampers, road wheels, and a controller programmed to perform the method.

Abstract: A method of joining parts, where at least one of the parts has a faying surface defining grooves therein. One of the parts is formed of a majority of titanium, and the other part is formed of a majority of iron. The method includes providing a set of opposed welding electrodes disposed on a side of each part and applying pressure to and heating the parts via the set of electrodes to form a joint between the parts. A bonded assembly includes a first part formed of a majority of titanium and a second part formed of a steel alloy. The first and second parts having a bond that includes a portion of the first part directly in contact with and attached to a portion of the second part. The parts may be a titanium-containing differential carrier case bonded to a steel gear.

Abstract: A method for controlling a process for manufacturing a bevel gear includes forming, via a first process, a ring gear and determining a first set of parameters associated with the ring gear, and forming, via a second process, the pinion gear, and determining a second set of parameters associated with the pinion gear. The ring gear and the pinion gear are paired, and a single-flank test is executed on the paired ring gear and pinion gear to determine a third set of parameters. The paired ring gear and pinion gear are assembled into a final assembly, and an end-of-line noise/vibration analysis of the final assembly is executed. The noise/vibration analysis, the first set of parameters, the second set of parameters, and the third set of parameters are evaluated, and one of the first process, the second process, the pairing process, and the assembly process are adjusted based thereon.

Abstract: A variable displacement pump for supplying fluid to a system is described. Controlling the variable displacement pump is determined based upon inputs from a fluidic pressure sensor and an accelerometer, and includes determining a desired fluidic pressure and monitoring, via the fluidic pressure sensor, an actual fluidic pressure. A pressure error term is determined based upon a difference between the actual fluidic pressure and the desired fluidic pressure. A time-integrated pressure error term is determined based upon the pressure error term, and a g-force is determined based upon an input signal from the accelerometer. The variable displacement pump is controlled in response to the time-integrated pressure error term when the g-force is greater than a threshold g-force.

Abstract: A cylinder head having a cast-in-place valve seat for an automobile vehicle includes a valve seat having an inner wall. At least one retaining feature integrally and homogeneously extends from the inner wall. The valve seat when positioned into a casting mold has the at least one retaining feature assisting in retaining the valve seat in the casting mold. A metal in a molten form is received in the casting mold. A cast component formed after cooling of the metal has the valve seat cast-in-place.

Abstract: A method and system involve obtaining reflected signals in a radar system using a first one-dimensional array of antenna elements and a second one-dimensional array of antenna elements. The reflected signals result from reflection of transmitted signals from the radar system by one or more objects. The method includes processing the reflected signals obtained using the first one-dimensional array of antenna elements to obtain a first array of angle of arrival likelihood values in a first plane, and processing the reflected signals obtained using the second one-dimensional array of antenna elements to obtain a second array of angle of arrival likelihood values. A four-dimensional image indicating a range, relative range rate, the first angle of arrival, and the second angle of arrival for each of the one or more objects is obtained.

Abstract: A system and method for actuating a vehicle system tracks approach to the vehicle and determines propriety of system actuation based upon trajectory information and other conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a road segment includes determining a geographic position of a vehicle in context of a digitized roadway map. A perceived point cloud and a mapped point cloud associated with the road segment are determined. An error vector is determined based upon a transformation between the mapped point cloud and the perceived point cloud. A first confidence interval is derived from a Gaussian process that is composed from past observations. A second confidence interval associated with a longitudinal dimension and a third confidence interval associated with a lateral dimension are determined based upon the mapped point cloud and the perceived point cloud. A Kalman filter analysis is executed to dynamically determine a position of the vehicle relative to the roadway map based upon the error vector, the first confidence interval, the second confidence interval, and the third confidence interval.

Abstract: A plate includes a planar portion and a circular bead, or circular bead seal, that is offset from the planar portion. An axis is substantially perpendicular to the planar portion, and the circular bead arcs about the axis. The axis may be defined by a hole through the planar portion that is substantially surrounded by the circular bead. One or more displacement absorption tunnels is offset from the planar portion and extends radially relative to the axis. Each of the displacement absorption tunnels intersects the circular bead. In some configurations the displacement absorption tunnels may have an arcuate shape, and in some configurations the displacement absorption tunnels may have a trapezoidal shape. A plurality of plates having similar, though not identical, features may be stacked together.

Abstract: Presented are Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) systems for vehicle powertrains, methods for making/operating such BTSI systems, and vehicles equipped with a BTSI system. A BTSI system for a motor vehicle includes a shifter solenoid with a solenoid body that mounts to the vehicle body, and a solenoid armature that is movably attached to the solenoid body to transition back-and-forth between locked and unlocked positions. The shifter solenoid is selectively operable via a brake control module to move the solenoid armature between the locked and unlocked positions to thereby block and unblock movement of a gear shifter from the park position, respectively. A position switch mounts to the vehicle body adjacent the shifter solenoid and detects the vehicle transmission being in a park mode. The position switch selectively mechanically engages with the shifter solenoid such that the solenoid armature, upon moving to the locked position, pushes closed the position switch.

Abstract: A system for controlling a fan of a vehicle engine. The system comprises: i) a fan configured to selectively cool the vehicle engine; and ii) an engine control module configured to: a) turn on the fan when the engine temperature exceeds a selected temperature threshold; b) determine when the vehicle engine is operating in an engine braking mode; and c) in response to the engine operating in the engine braking mode, turn on the fan when the engine temperature is below the selected temperature threshold. The engine control module turns the fan off as a means of hardware protection of the fan clutch even during engine braking modes.

Abstract: A light assembly and method of forming light assemblies includes a flexible light layer, a thermoplastic housing, and an IMC layer. The flexible light layer has a flexible substrate, a printed circuit, and a plurality of LEDs extending outward from the flexible substrate. The IMC layer is formed opposite the flexible light layer from the thermoplastic housing and covers the LEDs. Forming may include placing the flexible light layer within a mold cavity, injecting the thermoplastic structure on one side of the flexible light layer, and injecting the IMC layer on the opposite side of the flexible light layer from the thermoplastic structure. Injecting the thermoplastic structure into the mold cavity may change the shape of the flexible light layer. Datum features of the flexible light layer may align the thermoplastic structure relative to the datum features.

Abstract: An adhesive-reinforced rotor for a rotary electric machine includes rotor lamination layers (“rotor lams”) having axial inner surfaces collectively defining rotor openings through the rotor lams. The rotor also includes reinforcement blocks disposed within a respective one of the rotor openings. A polymer primer/adhesive layer of the rotor having a bond line thickness of less than 1 mm is disposed between the one or more reinforcement blocks and the axial inner surfaces of the rotor lams. The reinforcement blocks and the primer/adhesive layer each have a tensile strength of at least 50 MPa. A modulus of elasticity of the reinforcement blocks is at least three times greater than that of the materials of the polymer primer/adhesive layer. A method of constructing an adhesive-reinforced rotor is also described herein.

Abstract: A millimeter wave communication system for enhanced downlink beamforming and pairing is described. This includes a beamforming system for pairing with a mobile UE, using a base station with a MIMO antenna and a controller. The controller transmits first downlink beams from the MIMO antenna, including channel state information (CSI) reference signals. The mobile UE identifies a provisional downlink beam having a highest intensity CSI reference signal at the mobile UE. The controller receives a CSI reference signal resource indicator (CRI) feedback from the mobile UE that is responsive to the downlink beams and includes the provisional downlink beam, a present geographic position and trajectory of the mobile UE. A refined downlink beam is determined based upon the provisional downlink beam, the present geographic position, and trajectory of the mobile UE. The MIMO antenna transmits the refined downlink beam to execute a pairing with the mobile UE.

Abstract: Presented are hybrid metal and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite wheels for vehicle wheel assemblies, methods for making/using such wheels, and motor vehicles equipped with such wheels. A wheel for a motor vehicle wheel assembly includes a wheel face with multiple spokes that are circumferentially spaced about and project radially outward from a central hub. The central hub rotatably attaches to the vehicle's body, e.g., via a corner module. The wheel face is fabricated, e.g., as a one-piece structure, from an FRP material. A wheel barrel, which circumscribes the wheel face, includes an annular rim that mounts thereon an inflatable tire. The wheel barrel is fabricated, e.g., as a one-piece structure, from a metallic material. Multiple overmold through holes and/or inset tabs are circumferentially spaced about the annular rim. The FRP material extends through and/or surrounds the overmold through holes/inset tabs and thereby mounts the wheel face to the wheel barrel.

Abstract: An electrolyte is provided. The electrolyte includes a solvent containing propylene carbonate (PC); a lithium salt dissolved in the solvent; a first additive dissolved in the solvent, the first additive being configured to stabilize an anode solid electrolyte interphase; a second additive dissolved in the solvent, the second additive being configured to stabilize at least one of an anode, a cathode, or the lithium salt; and a third additive dissolved in the solvent, the third additive being configured to stabilize at least one of an anode, a cathode, or the lithium salt. The first, second, and third additives are chemically distinct. Electrochemical cells including the electrolyte are also provided.