Abstract: Lithium-ion cells and methods for producing such cells are provided. The lithium-ion cells include a lithium metal anode (LMA), a cathode, and an electrolyte between the LMA and the cathode. The LMA includes a current collector and a deformable layer on a surface of the current collector. The deformable layer is lithium-ion conductive and includes a polymeric material. The cathode has a lithium intercalation material. In some examples, lithium metal is plated on the deformable layer during charge of the lithium-ion cell to define a plated lithium layer between the deformable layer and the electrolyte, and a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer forms on the plated lithium layer separating the plated lithium layer from the electrolyte.

Abstract: A method of optimizing energy consumption includes receiving vehicle route information, generating a baseline vehicle route profile including a baseline energy consumption and a baseline travel time, and processing the baseline vehicle route profile by detecting one or more changes in a road grade. For each detected change in the road grade, the method includes triggering a breakpoint to divide the baseline vehicle route profile into a plurality of segments, each segment in the plurality of segments having a baseline vehicle velocity, and for each segment in the plurality of segments, performing local optimization to generate a modified vehicle velocity. The method also includes generating an updated vehicle route profile and performing global optimization on the updated vehicle route profile to generate an optimized vehicle route profile, the optimized vehicle route profile having a different energy consumption than the baseline energy consumption.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle having a vehicle drive system and a plurality of torque sources connected to the vehicle drive system instructs a first torque source of the plurality of torque sources to provide an instantaneous torque to the vehicle drive system. The data processing hardware further receives a vehicle drive requested torque output and obtains a first available torque source output of the first torque source. The data processing hardware calculates a first torque error based on the requested torque output and the first available torque source output for the first torque source. The data processing hardware determines whether the first torque error exceeds a torque error threshold, and, when the first torque error exceeds the torque error threshold, activates a first supplemental torque source of the plurality of the torque sources to provide a first supplemental torque output to the vehicle drive system.

Abstract: A torque converter management system includes a torque converter having a clutch and a torus. The torque converter management system includes memory hardware that stores instructions, that, when executed on data processing hardware of the system, cause the system to perform operations for protecting the torque converter. The operations include receiving torque converter temperature associated with the torque converter. The operations further include obtaining a torque converter protection schedule including one or more torque converter protective action initiation threshold temperatures each having an associated torque converter protective action and determining whether the torque converter temperature(s) exceeds a first one of the torque converter protective action initiation threshold temperatures.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame that defines an opening, and a structural panel assembly coupled to the opening. The structural panel assembly includes a first material, a second material opposite the first material, and a third material positioned between the first material and the second material. The third material has an undulating shape that includes a peak and a valley, and the first material is coupled to the peak and the second material is coupled to the valley.

Abstract: Lithium ion cells and methods for producing such cells are provided. The lithium ion cells include a lithium metal anode that includes a current collector and a lithium metal layer, a cathode having a lithium intercalation material, and a solid-state electrolyte (SSE) having a lithiophilic layer on a surface of the SSE. The lithiophilic includes a metal oxide. In one example, the lithiophilic layer is formed by depositing a non-aqueous precursor solution on the surface of a solid-state electrolyte (SSE), wherein the precursor solution includes a metallic nitrate, and decomposing the precursor solution to form the lithiophilic layer.

Abstract: A modular multi-cell rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) includes a RESS enclosure surrounded by an external environment and having an enclosure tray and an enclosure cover. The RESS also includes a plurality of battery cell blocks arranged in the RESS enclosure. Each battery cell block includes a cell case including a cell vent and at least one electrically insulated structural connector configured to link the cell case with an adjacent battery cell block. Each battery cell block also includes a thermal mitigation barrier (TMB) segment fixed to the cell case and configured to contact the adjacent battery cell block. Each battery cell block additionally includes a thermal insulator configured to line the cell vent. Furthermore, each battery cell block includes a bus bar segment configured to interconnect with a bus bar segment of the adjacent battery cell block.

Abstract: A method of predictively charging a vehicle including a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) includes providing a telematics system including a telematics module, at least one external data source, a utility data source, and at least one user interface. The telematics system receives weather forecast data from the at least one external data source; monitors the weather forecast data for a predicted weather event; compares the predicted weather event to historical weather events during which power disruptions occurred; determines whether the predicted weather event is indicative of a potential power disruption based upon the comparison; generates a power status report via the telematics system based upon a determination that the predicted weather event may be indicative of the potential power disruption; sends the power status report to the at least one user interface; and commands a charging of the vehicle based on the power status report.

Abstract: A steering control assembly including: a base configured to couple with a steering shaft; a ring mounted to the base and configured to rotate independent of the base; a locking member movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, in the locked configuration the locking member locks the ring to the base to restrict rotation of the ring independent of the base, and in the unlocked configuration the ring is free to rotate independent of the base; and a handle mounted to the ring and rotatable with the ring independent of the base when the locking member is in the unlocked configuration to adjust a radial position of the handle relative to the base, the handle configured to be grasped by a user to rotate the steering control assembly and the steering shaft when the locking member is in the locked configuration.

Abstract: A reconfigurable storage bin for a vehicle includes a storage bin portion including a base wall, a plurality of side walls including a first end wall, a second end wall opposite the first end wall, a first lateral side wall, and a second lateral side wall. The base wall and the plurality of side walls defining a storage zone. A rail member has a first end arranged at the first end wall, a second end arranged at the second end wall, and an intermediate portion extending between the first end and the second end. The intermediate portion extending at a non-zero angle relative to the first end wall, the second end wall, the first lateral side wall, and the second lateral side wall. A retaining device is mounted to the rail member. The retaining device is shiftable between the first end and the second end.

Abstract: In accordance with exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for controlling regenerative braking of a vehicle is provided that include: obtaining, via one or more sensors of the vehicle, sensor data pertaining to a load on the vehicle during a particular vehicle drive; determining, via a processor of the vehicle, a maximum regenerative braking torque for the vehicle for the particular vehicle drive based on the load on the vehicle; and controlling the regenerative braking of the vehicle during the particular vehicle drive, via instructions provided by the processor, based on the maximum regenerative braking torque for the vehicle for the particular vehicle drive.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition for electrochemical cells including a silicon-containing electrode is provided herein as well as electrochemical cells including the electrolyte composition. The electrolyte composition includes a lithium salt, fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), a linear carbonate, vinylene carbonate, and a fluorosilane additive. The FEC and the linear carbonate are present in the electrolyte composition in a ratio of about 1:3 v/v to about 1:9 v/v.

Abstract: A method for attestation of electronic components includes operating a system including the components. The components are configured for electronic communication with each other. A first electronic component provides plug-in hardware and/or configurable software. The method includes utilizing a second electronic component to perform attestation upon the first component using asymmetric key cryptography to verify authenticity. When using the asymmetric key cryptography successfully verifies the authenticity, the method includes selectively enabling one of power or data to the first component and communicating between the first component and the plurality of components to achieve tangible functions. When the cryptography fails to successfully verify the authenticity, the method includes selectively withholding one of power or data connection the first component.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bending a material to a target resultant bending parameter using a bend forming tool are disclosed. The systems and methods receive values for parameters of properties of the material and of a bending process to be performed by the bend forming tool, creating or retrieving a calibration curve relating input bending parameter and resultant bending parameter based on the values from a database of calibration curves, determining a first springback compensated input bending parameter based on the target resultant bending parameter using the calibration curve, inputting the first springback compensated input bending parameter to the bend forming tool, and in a first step of bending the material, bending the material to the first springback compensated input bending parameter by applying the bending process using the bend forming tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a sensor device includes a cover mounted on the sensor device, the cover including a cover portion made from a transparent material that is transparent to sensor signals, the cover portion including an external surface having a wettability that varies according to a wettability gradient in a selected direction along the surface.

Abstract: Vehicles, oil intake systems for vehicles, and methods for manufacturing oil intake systems for vehicles are provided.

Abstract: A method for deblurring a blurred image includes dividing the blurred image into overlapping regions each having a size and an offset from neighboring overlapping regions along a first direction as determined by a period of a ringing artifact in the blurred image, or by obtained blur characteristics relating to the blurred image and/or attributable to the optical system, or by a detected cause capable of producing the blur characteristics, stacking the overlapping regions to produce a stacked output, wherein the overlapping regions are sequentially organized along the first direction, convolving the stacked output through a first convolutional neural network (CNN) to produce a first CNN output having reduced blur as compared to the stacked output, and assembling the first CNN output into a re-assembled image, and processing the re-assembled image through a second CNN to produce a deblurred image having reduced residual artifacts as compared to the re-assembled image.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming an extruded billet from a coarse-grained magnesium alloy billet. The method includes extruding the coarse-grained magnesium alloy biller at temperatures greater than or equal to about 300° C. to less than or equal to about 360° C. to from the extruded billet. The coarse-grained magnesium alloy billet has an average grain size greater than or equal to about 800 ?m, and has a low aluminum content. The coarse-grained magnesium alloy billet includes greater than or equal to about 0.5 wt. % to less than or equal to about 3 wt. % of aluminum. The extruded billet may have a plurality of twins with lenticular morphology, which occupies an area fraction greater than or equal to about 20% of a total area of the extruded billet.