Abstract: A vacuum cup assembly and a method of lifting an object are provided. The vacuum cup assembly includes a cup structure defining an opening at a proximal end, a recess at a distal end, and a cavity region between the proximal and distal ends, where the cavity region includes at least one cavity. The opening is in fluid communication with the recess and with the cavity region. Inner structures are disposed in the cavity region. The inner structures are configured to hold the cup structure in a gripping position when a negative pressure is applied to the cavity region through the opening in the cup structure. The cup structure is configured to be in a resting position without the negative pressure being applied to the cavity region. The vacuum cup assembly has a first shape in the resting position and a second shape in the gripping position.

Abstract: A system and method to eliminate false detections in a radar system involve arranging an array of antenna elements into two or more sub-arrays with a spacing between adjacent ones of the antenna elements of one of the two or more sub-arrays being different than a spacing between adjacent ones of the antenna elements of at least one other of the two or more sub-arrays. The method includes receiving reflected signals at the two or more sub-arrays resulting from transmitting transmit signals from the antenna elements of the two or more sub-arrays, and processing the reflected signals to distinguish an actual angle from the radar system to an object that contributed to the reflected signals from ambiguous angles at which the false detections of the object are obtained. A location of the object is determined as a result of the processing.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a torque-transmitting assembly includes turning an inner component and machining an outermost surface of the inner component such that the outermost surface of the inner component has a continuous convex shape. The method further includes turning an external component and machining an innermost surface of the external component such that the innermost surface of the external component has a continuous convex shape. The method also includes heating the innermost surface of the external component to expand a size of the innermost surface after machining the innermost surface of the external component and placing the heated external component onto the inner component while the inner component is maintained at room temperature.

Abstract: A system and method to integrate metric collection with vehicle request fulfillment include obtaining a vehicle request from a vehicle requestor, the vehicle request including one or more vehicle criteria, and obtaining a data request from a data requestor, the data request including one or more data criteria corresponding with vehicle metrics. The method includes suggesting to the vehicle requestor one or more suggested vehicles from a fleet of vehicles based on their match with the one or more vehicle criteria and the one or more data criteria. The method also includes obtaining the vehicle metrics based on usage of one of the one or more suggested vehicles by the vehicle requestor, and providing the vehicle metrics to the data requestor.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for controlling and regulating operation of a permanent magnet rotary electric machine including a stator and a rotor includes determining a first reactive power term associated with the electric machine based upon voltage, and determining a second reactive power term associated with the electric machine based upon flux. A first motor temperature associated with the electric machine is determined based upon the first and second reactive power terms, and power output from the permanent magnet electric machine is controlled based upon the first motor temperature.

Abstract: A method of controlling a thermal runaway event in a battery system having first and second battery modules. The method includes detecting a thermal runaway event in the first battery module, and, in response to the detection of the thermal runaway event, determining whether an electrical current is flowing through the first battery module. The method also includes electrically decoupling the first battery module from the second battery module in response to the detection of the thermal runaway event, if the current is not flowing through the first battery module. Furthermore, the method includes electrically connecting the second battery module to an electrical load to discharge the second module through the load, if the current is determined to be flowing through the first battery module or after decoupling the first module. Discharging the second battery module is intended to control propagation of the thermal runaway event through the second module.

Abstract: A vehicle hood latching mechanism is disclosed. The latching mechanism includes a housing securable to the vehicle body, a latch member pivotally connected to the first side of the housing, the latch member includes an external surface defining an abutment surface, a fork bolt adjustably connected to the second side of the housing and movable between a fully latched position, and an actuator assembly pivotally connected to the second side of the housing. The actuator assembly includes a first lever configured to selectively abut against the engagement surface of the fork bolt and a second lever configured to selectively engage the abutment surface of the latch member. The first lever is pivotally connected proximal to a first end of the mounting plate and the second lever is pivotally connected proximal to a second end of the mounting plate.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, systems and computer readable storage medium for a method for collision avoidance by a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes installing a vehicle system into a vehicle, wherein the vehicle system provides collision avoidance guidance based on training data using movement information from one or more agents and behaviors associated with one or more individuals associated with the one or more agents or the vehicle. The method further includes detecting, by a processor, a collision course between the vehicle and the one or more mobile agents and/or one or more stationary agents. The method further includes calculating, by the processor, one or more decisions that avoid a collision in response to detecting a collision course. The method further includes selecting, by the processor, a decision from the one or more decisions and controlling, by the processor, operation of the vehicle based on the selected decision.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor configure the processor to receive an image of a metallographic sample of a product from a microscope, the image including dendritic structures in the metallographic sample; select a portion of the image; and perform morphological operations on the selected portion of the image to transform the image. The instructions configure the processor to overlay a plurality of concentric circles on the transformed image, measure circumferences of the circles, and count the number of intercepts of the circles and boundaries of the dendritic structures in the transformed image. The instructions configure the processor to determine parameters of the dendritic structures based on the measured circumferences and the number of intercepts. The instructions configure the processor to determine structural properties of the product based on the parameters of the dendritic structures.

Abstract: Methods of pretreating an electroactive material comprising lithium titanate oxide (LTO) include contacting a surface of the electroactive material with a pretreatment composition. In one variation, the pretreatment composition includes a salt of lithium fluoride salt selected from the group consisting of: lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4), and combinations thereof, and a solvent. In another variation, the pretreatment composition includes an organophosphorus compound. In this manner, a protective surface coating forms on the surface of the electroactive material. The protective surface coating comprises fluorine, oxygen, phosphorus or boron, as well as optional elements such as carbon, hydrogen, and listed metals, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An FM LIDAR system is described that includes a frequency modulated LIDAR system that incorporates a laser source that is optically coupled to a whispering gallery mode optical resonator. Light from the laser that is coupled into the whispering gallery mode optical resonator is coupled back out as a returning counterpropagating wave having a frequency characteristic of a whispering gallery mode of the optical resonator. This returning wave is used to reduce the linewidth of the source laser by optical injection. Modulation of the optical properties of the whispering gallery mode optical resonator results in modulation of the frequency of the frequencies supported by whispering gallery modes of the resonator, and provides a method for producing highly linear and reproducible optical chirps that are highly suited for use in a LIDAR system. Methods of using such an FM LIDAR system and vehicle assisting systems that incorporate such FM LIDAR systems are also described.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus for determining a preferred off-road vehicle path including a lidar operative to generate a depth map of an off road surface, a camera for capturing an image of the off road surface, a processor operative to receive the depth map, determine a vehicle path in response to the depth map and a host vehicle characteristic, combine a graphical representation of the vehicle path with the image to generate an augmented image, and a display to display the augmented image to a host vehicle operator.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable storage medium for processing coherent data are provided. In an embodiment, a method for processing coherent data includes dividing the coherent data into two separate frames. Further, the method includes applying a same coherency number to the two separate frames and transmitting a signal including the two separate frames to a receiving module. The method also includes determining whether the two separate frames match based on the same coherency number. When the two separate frames match, the method outputs the two separate frames to downstream logic. The method may include adding the two separate frames to a buffer populated with a selected number of most recently received frames and, when the two separate frames do not match, identifying a selected frame from the two separate frames and searching the buffer for a matching frame from the most recently received frames.

Abstract: Selective catalytic reaction (SCR) failure detection systems and methods for propulsion systems. The method includes obtaining (a) an upstream (of the SCR unit) NOx concentration value, and (b) a downstream NOx concentration value, and caching (a) and (b). The obtaining and caching is repeated until N cached values are obtained, where N is a preprogrammed number. Using the N cached values, an upstream average of NOx, an upstream standard deviation, a downstream average of NOx, and a downstream standard deviation are calculated. The calculated values are input for a failure detection algorithm pertaining to nitrogen oxides (NOx) that generates a linear correlation factor. A best performing unacceptable (BPU) part is detected when the linear correlation factor is greater than a preprogrammed fail threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for loading and unloading an item onto a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes: a loading system configured to receive a locker configured to store the item; a shuttle transfer system configured to transfer the locker to a storage position within the vehicle; and a swing arm system that couples to the loading system and the shuttle transfer system, the swing arm system configured to adjust a position of the loading system relative to the vehicle.

Abstract: A cup plug insertion tool comprises a cylindrical base and a cylindrical collet extending from the base and including at least two longitudinal slots that divide the collet into at least two flexible segments adapted to flex radially inward under force, an annular groove formed adjacent the base, the annular groove adapted to allow the flexible segments to flex radially inward, further wherein, the force necessary to flex the flexible segments radially inward is tunable based on a width and depth of the annular groove, a first section defining a circumferential outer diameter and a circumferential inner diameter, a second section defining a circumferential outer diameter that is larger than the circumferential outer diameter of the first section, a tip positioned at the distal end of the collet, and a chamfer formed between the outer diameter of the first section and the tip.

Abstract: An electric propulsion system includes a battery pack and a DC-DC converter. The converter has a bypass switch and semiconductor switches. A traction power inverter module (“TPIM”) rectifies a DC bus voltage on the voltage bus to produce an AC bus voltage. An electric machine is connected to the TPIM and energized via the AC bus voltage. A controller calculates required output power from the converter based on a requested operating mode, and speed and torque of the electric machine. When the output power exceeds a threshold, the bypass switch closes to bypass the converter. When the output power is less than the threshold, the controller uses a minimum loss voltage from a loss map as a target control voltage of the converter to optimize efficiency of the electric propulsion system.