Abstract: A vehicle includes a platform, a first axle beam attached to a front end of the platform at a first pivot, and a second axle beam attached to a rear end of the platform at a second pivot. The first axle beam is rotatable independently of the platform. The second axle beam is rotatable independently of the platform. The vehicle includes a plurality of first wheels fixed to the first axle beam and configured to move the platform. The vehicle includes a plurality of second wheels fixed to the second axle beam and configured to move the platform. The vehicle includes a link attached to one side of the platform at a third pivot. The link is movable about the third pivot independently of the beams to constrain movement of the platform in response to articulation of the first axle beam and/or the second axle beam.

Abstract: A method of joining first and second layers of polymeric composite material includes disposing a portion of a molded insert having a bottom end into a top surface of a first layer of material and then applying a layer of adhesive between the top surface of the first layer and a bottom surface of a second layer of material to create a bond-line thickness. Next, a top surface of the second layer is pierced with a headless end of a fastener and interlocked into the molded insert. A layer of protective coating is then applied to the top surface of the second layer of material to cover the interlocked fastener.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing secured wireless communications between electromagnetic communication devices.

Abstract: An occupant airbag system for use in a vehicle with a retractable steering wheel includes a first airbag assembly located in the retractable steering wheel. The first airbag assembly is configured to deploy a first airbag cushion between an occupant and a rigid structure of the vehicle. The occupant airbag system also includes a second airbag assembly configured to deploy a second airbag cushion between the occupant and the rigid structure of the vehicle. The occupant airbag system also includes an airbag control module configured to suppress deployment of the first airbag cushion and to enable deployment of the second airbag cushion when the retractable steering wheel is in a retracted position.

Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle includes a cylinder control module configured to: determine a target sequence for at least activating and deactivating cylinders of an engine based on a torque request; and activate and deactivate the cylinders of the engine according to the target sequence. A values module is configured to determine, based on the target sequence, a plurality of coefficients and an offset value. An indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) determination module is configured to determine an IMEP of a first cylinder based on: the plurality of coefficients; the offset value; and a plurality of engine speeds at a predetermined crankshaft positions, respectively.

Abstract: A method of forming a seatbelt buckle assembly comprises forming a housing by injection molding with a first mold cavity, allowing the injection molded housing to cool and cure, placing the housing into a second mold cavity, forming a debris shield by over-molding the debris shield directly onto portions of an outer surface of the housing within the second mold cavity, allowing the over-molded debris shield to cool and cure, and removing the housing with the over-molded debris shield from the second mold cavity.

Abstract: An authentication system for V2X communication systems includes a first node having a V2X communication module with a processor, a memory, and input/output ports communicating a request to join and periodically communicating a first data packet to the V2X communication system. The authentication system having a private blockchain including a plurality of participant nodes within a predefined optimized area of one another, the blockchain receiving and validating the request to join the V2X communication system, and upon successfully validating the request to join the V2X communication system, periodically sending a second data packet from the plurality of participant nodes to the first node. The input/output ports receiving the second data packet, the processor executing a first control logic stored in the memory to extract the second data packet and a second control logic selectively generating a notification based on the contents of the second data packet.

Abstract: A battery pack assembly includes a battery cell and a plurality of walls that surround the battery cell. The battery pack assembly also includes a heat exchanger coupled to the battery cell. The heat exchanger is configured to cool the battery cell. The heat exchanger includes a first frame and at least one channel supported via the first frame. The channel is configured to guide a liquid fluid through the channel to cool the battery cell. In certain configurations, the battery pack assembly includes a tray and a plurality of first battery cells electrically connected to each other to present a first cell stack. In certain configurations, the battery pack assembly includes a plurality of first walls that surround the first cell stack to define a first battery module coupled to the tray. The heat exchanger may be coupled to the tray and coupled to the first cell stack.

Abstract: A method of operating a powertrain system during coasting operation, wherein the powertrain system includes a driveline component (e.g., a transmission, drive shaft, differential, axle or wheel) having an output torque profile. The method includes: (i) determining a desired output torque transition profile for the driveline component between a first transition point before an end of a first state, and a second transition point after a beginning of a second state; and (ii) in response to a braking torque request, generating a friction braking torque command to operate a friction braking system, and adjusting the friction braking torque command during a transitional state between the first and second transition points by an amount corresponding to a difference between a magnitude of the output torque profile and a magnitude of the desired output torque transition profile.

Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission includes determining a transmission kinematic state based on a commanded transmission gear range, a transmission input speed, and a transmission output speed, determining a transmission input torque, determining a first rotational acceleration of a first portion of the transmission rotationally disposed at a first reference point in the transmission, determining a second rotational acceleration of a second portion of the transmission rotationally disposed at a second reference point in the transmission, and determining a transmission output torque as a sum of a gear ratio of the commanded transmission gear range multiplied by the transmission input torque, a first aggregate inertia multiplied by the first rotational acceleration, and a second aggregate inertia multiplied by the second rotational acceleration, wherein the first and second aggregate inertias are based on the transmission kinematic state.

Abstract: A thin, conformable electrochemical device according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes an electrically-insulating housing, a plurality of current collectors, a plurality of electrochemical cells, and positive and terminals. The housing includes first and second film portions that cooperate to at least partially define an interior region. The current collector and electrochemical cells are disposed within the interior region. The electrochemical cells are electrically connected to one another via the current collectors. The plurality of electrochemical cells includes a first electrochemical cell and a second electrochemical cell. Each electrochemical cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. The positive and negative terminals are electrically connected to the electrochemical cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a temperature of a thermal system that includes fluid conduits. A sensor monitors a current state of the temperature. A controller receives a signal from the sensor that is representative of the current state; determines a flow in the fluid conduits; determines a noise covariance of the thermal system; processes a thermal model of the thermal system; predicts a next-step state of the parameter at a time after the current state; and corrects the next-step state based, at least in-part, on the noise covariance resulting in a corrected next-step state.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for training an autonomous vehicle. In various embodiments, a method includes: storing, in a data storage device, real world data including a sequence of images of a road environment, the sequence of images generated based on a vehicle traversing the road environment; processing, in an offline simulation environment, the sequence of images with a deep reinforcement learning agent associated with a control feature of the autonomous vehicle to obtain an optimized set of control policies; and training the autonomous vehicle based on the optimized set of control polices.

Abstract: An automatic transmission assembly for mounting to a power-source includes a torque converter operatively connected to the power-source. The transmission assembly also includes a turbine shaft for receiving power-source torque from the torque converter. The transmission assembly additionally includes a torque transfer system, having a gear-train and a hydraulic pressure operated torque-transmitting device, for receiving the torque from the turbine shaft and selecting an input-to-output speed-ratio of the transmission. The transmission assembly also includes an output member for receiving torque from torque transfer system and outputting the torque to drive a load. The turbine shaft defines a first passage configured to supply hydraulic pressure to the torque-transmitting device and a second passage configured to vent to atmosphere.

Abstract: System and method of controlling operation of a device having multiple rechargeable packs configured to store energy. The multiple rechargeable packs include at least one primary pack characterized by a first capacity and at least one auxiliary pack characterized by a second capacity, the first capacity being greater than the second capacity. A controller is configured to selectively command one or more of the multiple rechargeable packs to begin at least one of discharging and charging. When an estimated end of trip time is less than or equal to a discharging time of the at least one auxiliary pack, the discharging of the at least one auxiliary pack is begun. When the estimated end of trip time is greater than the discharging time, the discharging is delayed until the respective state of charge of the at least one primary pack reaches a first threshold.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to controlling an autonomous vehicle to provide indicators to distinguish the autonomous vehicle from other autonomous vehicles in a fleet. The autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle propulsion system, a braking system, a notification system, and a computing system. The notification system outputs an indicator that is perceivable external to the autonomous vehicle. The computing system receives data specifying an identity of a passenger to be picked up by the autonomous vehicle. Moreover, the computing system controls at least one of the vehicle propulsion system or the braking system to stop the autonomous vehicle for passenger pickup. Further, the computing system controls the notification system to output the indicator; a characteristic of the indicator outputted by the notification system is controlled based on the identity of the passenger to be picked up and whether the autonomous vehicle is stopped for passenger pickup.

Abstract: A disambiguating system for disambiguating between ambiguous detections is provided. The system includes a plurality of modules, wherein each module is configured to disambiguate between ambiguous detections by selecting, as a true detection, one candidate detection in a set of ambiguous detections and wherein each module is configured to apply a different selection technique. The system includes: one or more modules configured to select as the true detection, the candidate detection whose associated position is closer to a position indicated by other data and one or more modules configured to select as the true detection, the candidate detection with the highest probability of being true based on other sensor data.

Abstract: A method of identifying air flow faults within a cooling system of an automobile comprises measuring the temperature of coolant entering a heat exchanger for the cooling system, measuring the temperature of coolant leaving the heat exchanger, and measuring the temperature of ambient air that is flowing into the heat exchanger, calculating Actual Delta T by subtracting the temperature of coolant leaving the heat exchanger from the temperature of coolant entering the heat exchanger, calculating Expected Delta T, wherein Expected Delta T is a pre-determined value of an expected difference between the temperature of the coolant entering the heat exchanger and the temperature of the coolant leaving the heat exchanger, calculating Effective Delta T by subtracting Expected Delta T from Actual Delta T, and identifying a fault in the air flow through the heat exchanger based on the value of Effective Delta T.

Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle includes a transceiver and a telematics control module. The transceiver receives data from a network device using first antennas disposed external to a vehicle and second antennas disposed internal to the vehicle. The transceiver receives the data using a first antenna combination including two antennas, which include one or more of the first antennas or one or more of the second antennas. The telematics control module: reads channel state information including reference signal received power (RSRP) and rank indicator (RI) values; determines if the RSRP value is greater than a threshold value and the RI value is less than a minimum number of antennas being used to transfer the data; and based on the first RSRP value being greater than the threshold value and the RI value being less than the number of antennas, switches from the first to a second antenna combination.

Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system includes a radiator receiving a liquid coolant in a coolant supply line and discharging the coolant into a coolant pump supply line. A coolant pump receives the coolant from the coolant pump supply line and discharges the coolant into multiple engine components. A transmission oil heat exchanger defining a first transmission oil heat exchanger receives the coolant after being discharged from the multiple engine components. An air-to-coolant sub-cooling heat exchanger defines a second transmission oil heat exchanger. The sub-cooling heat exchanger receives a portion of the coolant bypassing the multiple engine components.