Abstract: A radar system for use in a vehicle may include a radar transmitter structured to transmit a radar signal having a waveform; and a controller operably connected to the radar transmitter and configured to control the waveform. The waveform may be characterized by a waveform parameter. The controller may be configured to set a value of the waveform parameter based on a present operational state of the vehicle, thereby generating an updated waveform. The radar transmitter may be structured to transmit an updated radar signal having the updated waveform.

Abstract: A battery system includes high-voltage switches, including a multi-pole contactor. Multiple packs are connectable in a series or parallel configuration via the switches. The contactor includes first and second pairs of electrical terminals separated by a respective circuit gap, with respective contactor arms simultaneously closing or opening the gaps. At all times, internal switches formed by the gaps and arms have the same ON/OFF state corresponding to the circuit gaps both being closed or both being open. Two of the contactors may be used to connect the battery packs to a DC fast-charging station, and to connect electrode terminals of the battery packs to a bus rail, respectively. An electric powertrain includes the battery system and an electrical load, including a rotary electric machine, that is connected to a power inverter and to a mechanical load.

Abstract: A hybrid core for manufacturing a cast component, the hybrid core including a sand core portion having an exterior shape configured to define an interior feature of the cast component. The hybrid core also includes a metal chill element embedded within the sand core portion. The metal chill element is configured to locally absorb heat energy from the cast component during cooling of the cast component and solidification thereof. The metal chill element is constructed and arranged within the sand core portion to be removed during shake out from the cast component subsequent to the solidification thereof. A system and a method for manufacturing a cast component using such a hybrid core are also envisioned.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for navigating a mobile platform in an environment. A processor obtains information about an object in the environment, obtains information about a first satellite, and estimates a probability indicator for a non-line of sight signal transmission between a current satellite location of the first satellite and a current location of the mobile platform using the information about the first satellite and the information about the object. The processor further determines a discrepancy indicator using a movement information of the mobile platform and a movement information of the first satellite such that a weighting indicator can be determined using the estimated probability indicator and the determined discrepancy indicator. The processor then assigns a weighting indicator to a satellite signal transmitted from the first satellite in order to provide a first weighted signal for navigating the mobile platform.

Abstract: A three-state contactor for an electrical system having a battery pack and voltage bus rail includes first and second pairs of electrical terminals. The first pair of terminals is separated by a first circuit gap in a first circuit path extending between the bus rail and an electrode terminal of the battery pack. The second pair of terminals is separated by a second circuit gap in a second circuit path extending between the bus rail and electrode terminal. A contactor arm, in response to a corresponding switch activation signal, translates in an orthogonal direction with respect to its longitudinal axis between a first ON state position, an OFF position, and a second ON position to close the first circuit gap, open both circuit gaps, or close the second circuit gap, respectively. A multi-pack battery system and an electric powertrain may use the contactor.

Abstract: Method for forming prelithiated electroactive materials are provided. Methods include preparing a precursor that includes lithium and silicon and centrifugally distributing the precursor using a centrifugal atomizing reactor. Methods for preparing the precursor include contacting a first mixture including lithium and having a first temperature and a second mixture including silicon and having a second temperature in a mixing chamber to form a precursor. The first mixture and the second mixture each enters the mixing chamber at a pressure greater than or equal to about 10 PSI. The second temperature is greater than the first temperature. The method may further include centrifugally distributing the precursor by contacting the precursor with a rotating surface in a centrifugal atomizing reactor and solidifying the precursor to form a plurality of substantially round solid electroactive particles including lithium and silicon and having D50 diameters of less than or equal to about 30 micrometers.

Abstract: A battery system for a motor vehicle or other system includes a voltage bus with positive and negative bus rails, and first and second battery packs. The battery packs are arranged between and connected to rails. High-voltage switches are collectively configured to selectively interconnect the battery packs in a series or parallel battery arrangement. The switches include a pair of mutually-exclusive three-way/two-position contactors each having a series connection position and parallel connection position corresponding to the respective series and parallel battery arrangements. An electric powertrain includes an electrical load connected to the battery system, and a controller coupled to the switches. In response to a battery mode selection signal, the controller selectively transitions the contactors from the series connection position to the parallel connection position, or vice versa. A motor vehicle includes road wheels, a body, and the electric powertrain.

Abstract: A method to manage thermal propagation in an energy storage device of a battery electric vehicle is provided. The method includes operating the battery electric vehicle with a plurality of distinct battery cell module groups each separately providing electrical power to the battery electric vehicle. The method further includes, within a computerized battery cell module groups controller, monitoring conditions within the distinct battery cell module groups, determining occurrence of an abnormal event within one of a plurality of the distinct battery cell module groups based upon the monitored conditions, and controlling operation of the battery electric vehicle based upon the determined occurrence of the abnormal event.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided herein as well as methods for preparing electrochemical cells. The electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode and a positive electrode. The negative electrode includes a prelithiated electroactive material including a lithium silicide. Lithium is present in the prelithiated electroactive material in an amount corresponding to greater than or equal to about 10% of a state of charge of the negative electrode. The electrochemical cell has a negative electrode capacity to positive electrode capacity for lithium (N/P) ratio of greater than or equal to about 1, and the electrochemical cell is capable of operating at an operating voltage of less than or equal to about 5 volts.

Abstract: A vehicle is described that includes a multi-mode powertrain system having a first drive unit and a second drive unit. A controller is arranged to monitor the high-voltage DC power bus and is in communication with and operatively connected to first and second inverters. The controller is able to detect operation of one of the first inverter or the second inverter in an uncontrolled generating (UCG) mode, determine a driveline torque associated with the operating of the one of the first inverter or the second inverter in the UCG mode, and determine a compensating torque that is needed to counteract the driveline torque associated with the operating of the one of the first inverter or the second inverter in the UCG mode. The controller can further operate to detect a fault that may induce unintended lateral motion (ULM), and control torque outputs of the inverters based thereon.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling additive manufacturing material deposition using a magnetic field. A system may include a build surface; a material depositor through which a magnetically responsive material is deposited on the build surface; an energy source; and a magnet set. The magnet set applies the magnetic field to the build surface and/or to the material depositor. The magnetic field is configured to attract the magnetically responsive material while the energy source melts the magnetically responsive material.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems are provided of a backend server communicating with vehicles equipped with an ePallet to identify delivery damage-causing events by a processor communicating with delivery vehicles with an ePallets in a transport of a package in delivery to customers; receiving location to identify locations that exhibit a likelihood to cause damage to the package; determining a location that exhibits the likelihood to cause package damage by analysis of acceleration data received from a first accelerometer located with the delivery vehicle and a second accelerometer located with the ePallet; compiling a set of events based on acceleration data from the first and second accelerometer indicative of an ePallet's movement desynced to a delivery vehicle's movement that can cause package damage; and notifying the delivery vehicle of an event likely causing package damage so the delivery vehicle can re-route navigation of the package delivery to prevent package damage.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided.

Abstract: The present application relates to a system and method for providing autoregressive based residual echo suppression in the STFT domain in a bidirectional vehicle communications system including receiving, from a communications processor, a speaker signal for coupling to a speaker, receiving, from a microphone, a microphone signal wherein the microphone signal includes a voice signal and a residual echo signal, transforming the signals to the STFT domain generating an estimated power spectral density of the residual echo signal in response to a prior power spectral density of a prior residual echo signal, isolating the voice signal from the microphone signal by multiplying the estimated residual echo gain generated using the estimated power spectral density of the residual echo signal with the microphone signal, transforming the signals back to the time domain and coupling the voice signal to the communications processor.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an interior heating system for occupant seats of a vehicle is provided. The interior heating system uses a weft co-knit fabric combined with at least one conductive electrode to heat selective regions of a vehicle seat. The interior heating system includes the weft co-knit fabric that contains a set of weft knit active or plated emitting yarn configured with at least one conductive electrode. The knit active or plated emitting yarn is co-knit with at least one parent yarn for enhanced uniformity of an electrical current applied to at least one conductive electrode from the weft co-knit fabric, and a plurality of conductive electrodes arranged in an interdigitated layout to combine together each conductive electrode with a set of a plurality of conductive co-knit active emitting yarns which attach to each electrode tine of the conductive electrode in a select region.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system includes a damper top mount including a top mount body defining an interior cavity, a damper coupled to the top mount and including a damping member and a damper rod coupled to the damping member, and a jounce shock assembly including a jounce shock body coupled with the damper top mount and encircling the top mount body. The jounce shock body includes an exterior wall and a dividing wall generally parallel to and interior of the exterior wall, a first chamber defined by the top mount body and the dividing wall, a second chamber fluidly coupled with and parallel to the first chamber and defined by the dividing wall and the exterior wall, a floating piston movably disposed within the second chamber, and a piston configured to translate within the first chamber between an extended position and a compressed position.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly includes a first panel portion rotatably couplable to a vehicle body and pivotable between a closed position and an open position, a second panel portion rotatably coupled to the first panel portion and pivotable between a first position and a second position. The second panel portion is extendable relative to the first panel portion between a retracted position and an extended position. The tailgate assembly includes a third panel portion rotatably coupled to the second panel portion and pivotable between a stowed position and a use position. The third panel portion extends generally parallel with the second panel portion when the third panel portion is in the stowed position and the third panel portion extends generally perpendicular to the second panel portion when the third panel portion is in the use position.

Abstract: A light-emitting assembly configured to generate varied color light includes an assembly housing. The light-emitting assembly also includes a light filter element fixed relative to the assembly housing. The light filter element includes a plurality of transparent nanostructured ElectroChromic (TNEC) layers. When at least one of the plurality of TNEC layers is subjected to voltage, the subject TNEC layer(s) imparts a distinct reflective color to ambient light entering the light-emitting assembly. Such a light-emitting assembly may be specifically adapted for use on a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A gear assembly includes a first gear having a first hub surrounded by a first plurality of teeth. The first plurality of teeth each define a respective first contact region. The gear assembly includes a second gear having a second hub surrounded by a second plurality of teeth. The second plurality of teeth are adapted to mesh with the first plurality of teeth at the respective first contact region in order to drive a respective load in a first direction. The first hub and the first plurality of teeth include respective zones defining a respective elastic modulus. A three-dimensional distribution of the respective physical size and the respective elastic modulus of the respective zones is optimized such that a fluctuation of mesh stiffness along the respective first contact region is at or below a first predefined threshold.

Abstract: A flow conditioning device includes a body portion having first and second ends and an interior surface defining a channel extending from the first end to the second end, and one or more flow conditioning elements disposed within the channel. Each of the one or more flow conditioning elements is integrally formed with the interior surface of the body portion, and may be a respective flow straightening tube, a flow straightening vane, a hole array plate, a turning vane, a swirling vane, a helical ridge formed along a respective longitudinal segment of the interior surface, or another configuration. The body portion and the one or more flow conditioning elements may be formed by an additive manufacturing process, and may optionally be made of the same material.