Abstract: A novel power inverter system for transferring electric power between a DC power source and a multi-phase electric machine is described, and includes a power inverter, a Z-source inverter, a first switch, and a second switch. The first switch is arranged between positive and negative conductors of a high-voltage bus that is electrically coupled to the DC power source, and the second switch is arranged in-line on the positive conductor of the high-voltage bus.

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 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 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: An electrochemical assembly includes a case defining an interior region, an electrochemical cell, a device, and a pressure relief valve. The electrochemical cell is disposed within the interior region. The device includes a spreader component. The spreader component includes a polymer matrix and an additive embedded in the polymer matrix. The additive includes an endothermic phase change material, a flame retardant material, an intumescent material, or any combination thereof. The device defines a device outlet. The pressure relief valve has a valve inlet fluidly connected to the interior region and a valve outlet fluidly connected to the device. The pressure relief valve is configured to transfer a gas from the interior region to the device when a pressure in the interior region exceeds a predetermined pressure. The spreader component is configured to be in fluid communication with the gas and direct the gas to the device outlet.

Abstract: A method for accelerating an explicit finite element analysis (FEA) simulation of a modeled system or process includes performing an initial iteration of the FEA simulation according to a baseline time interval via an FEA computing network, and calculating a criteria ratio of a predetermined set of scaling criteria for the modeled system or process. The method includes determining a time-scaling factor using the criteria ratio via the FEA computing network as a function of the criteria ratio, and then applying the time-scaling factor to the baseline time interval to generate a scaled time interval. The scaled time interval accelerates simulation time of the FEA simulation. The method includes performing a subsequent iteration of the explicit FEA simulation at the scaled time interval using the FEA computing network. The process continues for subsequent iterations, with the time-scaling factor adapting with each iteration.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle configured to perform a lane change maneuver is described herein. The autonomous vehicle includes several different types of sensor systems, such as image, lidar, radar, sonar, infrared, and GPS. The autonomous vehicle additionally includes a computing system that executes instructions on a lane change detection system and a control system. The lane change detection system includes a region of interest module and an object trajectory module for determining whether the autonomous vehicle will collide with another object if the autonomous vehicle maneuvers into an adjacent lane. An instruction module of the lane change detection system is further used to facilitate operational control of a mechanical system of the autonomous vehicle, such as an engine or a steering system.

Abstract: A cup holder assembly includes a stationary upper ring, a lower cup vertically movable relative to the stationary upper ring between a first position and a second position, a flexible sleeve extending between an upper edge of the lower cup and a bottom edge of the stationary upper ring, and an actuator adapted to selectively move the lower cup relative to the stationary upper ring between the first and second positions, thereby simultaneously varying a depth of the cup holder assembly and varying an inner diameter of the cup holder assembly.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel injection system for a motor vehicle includes one or more of the following: operating a fuel injector to perform a fuel injection, the fuel injector being in fluid communication with a fuel rail; sampling a rail pressure in the fuel rail during the fuel injection; regulating the rail pressure at a desired injection pressure, Pinj, to the fuel injector; measuring an overall leakage on variations of the rail pressure across an engine cycle for the motor vehicle and between two engine positions of an internal combustion engine for the motor vehicle; and restarting a new measurement cycle for a new pressure measurement target.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery is provided that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. One or more of the separator, positive electrode, and negative electrode includes a transition metal compound capable of catalyzing any gaseous reactants formed in the lithium ion battery to form a liquid. The transition metal compound may include ruthenium (Ru). In certain variations, the lithium ion battery includes an electrolyte that is a conductive medium for lithium ions to move between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The electrolyte comprises a transition metal compound capable of catalyzing a reaction of any gaseous reactants to form a liquid.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for aiding an operator in operating a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes a sensor system configured to generate sensor data sensed from an environment of the vehicle. The system further includes a control module configured to, by a processor, generate a bowl view image of the environment based on the sensor data, identify at least one of a double object and a missing object in the bowl view image, generate a second bowl view image of the environment by re-stitching the sensor data based on the at least one of double object and missing object, and generate display data based on the second bowl view image.

Abstract: A method and system of diagnosing and suggesting least probable faults for an exhibited vehicle failure. The method includes initiating a vehicle health management (VHM) algorithm to monitor a state of health (SOH) for at least one vehicle component at each vehicle operating event over a predetermined time period. The VHM algorithm determines at least one of a Green SOH, a Yellow SOH, and a Red SOH designation with a confidence level for the at least one vehicle component; calculating a number of Green SOH designations (Ncalculated) over the predetermined time period; and upon an exhibited vehicle failure, providing a least probable cause indication for the at least one component when a set of conditions are met. The set of conditions includes (i) Ncalculated is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of Green SOH designations and (ii) no Yellow SOH and Red SOH designations are present.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicles are provided controlling a vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, a method includes: monitoring an eye gaze of a driver of the vehicle; monitoring current traffic conditions surrounding the vehicle; predicting an intention of the driver to perform a lane change maneuver based on the eye gaze, a history of the eye gaze of the driver, and the current traffic conditions; and controlling, by the processor, the vehicle based on the predicted intention of the driver to perform a lane change maneuver.

Abstract: Robotic systems are provided for flexibility in assembly operations. A robotic system includes a suction module having a front side with a face shaped to match a mating component and a rear side with a coupling for a suction line. Openings extend through the face. The suction module defines internal passages connecting the coupling with the at least one opening through the face. An end-effector has a base plate, a mounting plate selectively moveable relative to the base plate, and a clamp. The suction module is selectively mounted to the mounting plate and releasably secured by the clamp. An actuator is mounted to selectively move the mounting plate and the suction module relative to the base plate.

Abstract: A port-door release assembly includes a door and a linkage coupled to the door to support the door during movement between open and closed positions. The port-door release assembly includes a drive shaft coupled to the linkage to drive movement of the linkage. The port-door release assembly includes a motor configured to rotate the drive shaft which moves the linkage and the door to the open and/or closed positions. The port-door release assembly includes a back-up release assembly movable relative to the linkage to disconnect the drive shaft from the linkage which allows the door to move to the open position without actuation of the motor. A door assembly includes the port-door release assembly as described above and a housing defining a port in which the door is movable relative to the housing between the open position that uncovers the port and the closed position that covers the port.

Abstract: A virtual lane estimation system includes a memory device, a sensor and a computer. The memory device is configured to store a road map that corresponds to a portion of a road ahead of a vehicle. The sensor is configured to observe a plurality of trajectories of a plurality of neighboring vehicles that traverse the portion of the road. The computer is configured to initialize a recursive self-organizing map as a plurality of points arranged as a two-dimensional grid aligned with the road map, train the points in the recursive self-organizing map in response to the trajectories, generate a directed graph that contains one or more virtual lanes through the road map in response to the points trained to the trajectories, and generate a control signal that controls navigation of the vehicle through the portion of the road in response to the virtual lanes in the directed graph.

Abstract: A method for operating an advanced driver assistance (ADAS) system of a motor vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving, from side and end cameras mounted to the vehicle, camera signals indicative of real-time images of outboard-facing side and end views of the vehicle. The controller determines a region of interest (ROI) inset within each end/side view within which is expected foreign objects and/or hazards. These ROIs are analyzed to detect if a foreign object/hazard is present in the vehicle's end and/or side views. Responsive to detecting the foreign object/hazard, movement of the foreign object/hazard is tracked to determine if the foreign object/hazard moves towards or away from the vehicle's underbody region. If the foreign object/hazard moves to the underbody region, control signals are transmitted to the vehicle's propulsion and/or steering system to automate preventative action that prevents collision of the vehicle with and/or removes the foreign object/hazard from the underbody.

Abstract: A high heat-absorption casting core for manufacturing a cast component includes a core body. The core body has at least a portion thereof defined by metal powder. The metal powder is configured to absorb heat energy from the cast component during cooling of the component and solidification thereof. The core body may be additionally defined by a sand fraction in contact with the metal powder fraction. A system and a method for manufacturing a cast component using the high heat-absorption casting core are also envisioned.

Abstract: A method for controlling transient operation of a variable flux machine (VFM) includes, during a shunt angle transition, receiving a commanded and measured shunt angle when operating in a predetermined operating region, e.g., maximum torque per ampere or field weakening. The method includes calculating d-axis and q-axis delta current terms (?Id and ?Iq) required to maintain an output torque level of the VFM through a duration of the shunt angle transition, then applying the required ?Id and ?Id terms as feed-forward terms to adjust a d-axis current (Id) term and a q-axis current (Iq) term from a respective lookup table. In this manner the controller maintains the output torque level of the VFM during the shunt angle transition. An electric powertrain includes the VFM, a TPIM, and the controller. A PM machine may be controlled by substituting temperature for shunt angle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, real-time lane width data based on a current location of the vehicle; computing, by the processor, an in-path threshold based on the real-time lane width; receiving, by the processor, real-time distance data based on a distance between a center of the vehicle and a lane edge; computing, by the processor, an offset value based on the real-time distance data; applying, by the processor, the offset value to the in-path threshold; tracking, by the processor, a position of objects within the field of view of the vehicle sensor system based on the in-path threshold; and controlling, by the processor, the vehicle based on the tracking of the objects.