Abstract: A vehicle seat cushion for a vehicle that includes a seat cushion support structure, and a lattice-structured support that is supported by the seat cushion support structure. The lattice-structured support provides a first resistive force in response to a vertically applied force that is less than a second resistive force in response to a force aligned with an H-point travel path of the vehicle occupant during a vehicle impact event.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle including a sensor system that outputs a sensor signal indicative of a condition of the autonomous vehicle. The vehicle also includes a user interface device with a display. A computing system determines, based upon a profile of the passenger, that support is to be provided textually to the passenger when the support is provided to the passenger. The computing system further detects occurrence of an event that has been identified as potentially causing discomfort to the passenger. The computing system yet further sets a predefined support message defined in an account corresponding to the event maintained in a database prior to occurrence of the event as a support message to be presented to the passenger. The computing system additionally causes the display to present the support message textually, wherein the textual support message solicits feedback from the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A latching assembly includes a hinge defining a slot, the slot having a slot length and a slot width, wherein the slot length is greater than the slot width, and a latching actuator having a housing and a plunger partially disposed in the housing, the plunger configured to translate and rotate relative to the housing, the plunger having a distal end with a plunger end length and a plunger end width, wherein the plunger end length is greater than the plunger end width, the plunger configured to be inserted into the slot. The plunger end length is greater than the slot width and the plunger end length is less than the slot length by a clearance amount.

Abstract: A restraint harness for a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a seat having a structural support that is attached to a main support structure of the vehicle. The restraint harness includes a body constructed of a restraint material. The body is shaped to secure an occupant body. The restraint material is configured to withstand loads exerted upon the restraint harness by the occupant during operation of the vehicle. The restraint harness also includes an attachment portion that is configured to attach to the structural support of the seat.

Abstract: A method of operating an engine having an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold, a crankshaft, a plurality of working cylinders each having at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve, and an exhaust gas recirculation conduit providing fluid communication between the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold. The method includes: while the engine is operating, in response to a no engine torque request, deactivating a number of the working cylinders such that none of the deactivated working cylinders are fired and no air is pumped through the deactivated working cylinders as the crankshaft rotates, operating at least one of the plurality of working cylinders that is not deactivated to pump air through the non-deactivated working cylinder, and controlling gas flow through the exhaust gas recirculation conduit to circulate air pumped through the non-deactivated working cylinder to the intake manifold.

Abstract: A plasma actuator includes a first electrode disposed on a substrate, covered by a dielectric layer, and a second electrode disposed on the dielectric layer. In operation, the plasma actuator creates a plasma region, altering air flowing over the actuator. The plasma actuator in various embodiments: has no moving parts, helps to improve fuel economy by reducing aerodynamic drag, improves vehicle stability control under severe unsteady flow environments, reduces wind noise around a vehicle on which the actuator is used, and reduces emission and CO2 foot print through the fuel economy improvement.

Abstract: A method to automate detection of a vehicle light degradation or failure includes generating a distinct pattern to be executed by at least one vehicle light, and sending a command to a light control module operative to cause the at least one vehicle light to emit the distinct pattern. The method continues with extracting features from camera images of the distinct pattern emitted by the at least one vehicle light, and then comparing the features extracted from the camera images with features from the commanded distinct pattern to determine degradation or failure of the at least one vehicle light's state of health.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a transmission clutch assembly having a drum, a brake band, a smart material band and an electrical circuit. The brake band substantially encircles the drum and includes first and second ends, a high friction inner surface, and a low friction outer surface. The smart material band includes a beginning end and a terminating end wherein the beginning end of the smart material band is coupled to the second end of the brake band while the terminating end of the smart material band is coupled to the first end of the brake band. The electrical circuit transfers an electrical current to the smart material band. The smart material band contracts when the electrical current is applied to the smart material band thereby drawing the first and second ends of the brake band closer and contracting the brake hand against the drum to restrict drum movement.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is described herein. The autonomous vehicle comprises a first sensor and a second sensor having limited fields of view, an articulation system, and a computing system. The computing system determines a first region and a second region external to the autonomous vehicle based on a sensor prioritization scheme comprising a ranking of regions surrounding the autonomous vehicle. The computing system then causes the articulation system to orient the first sensor towards the first region and the second region towards the second region. Responsive to receiving a sensor signal from the first sensor indicating that an object has entered a field of view of the first sensor, the computing system determines a third region having a higher ranking than the second region within the sensor prioritization scheme. The computing system then causes the articulation system to orient the second sensor towards the third region.

Abstract: An obstacle detection sensor system for a movable panel of a motor vehicle includes an obstacle detection sensor disposed on an articulating mount, the obstacle detection sensor and articulating mount being hidden from view by an exterior surface of the motor vehicle in a first position, and the articulating mount providing the obstacle detection sensor with a sensor detection range including an exterior surface of the movable panel in a second position. Movement of the articulating mount from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position is coupled to movement of the movable panel.

Abstract: A highly-concentrated electrolyte system for an electrochemical cell is provided, along with methods of making the electrolyte system. The electrolyte system includes a bound moiety having an ionization potential greater than an electron affinity and comprising one or more salts selected from the group consisting of: lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, sodium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, and combinations thereof bound to a solvent comprising one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of: dimethyl carbonate, dimethyl dicarbonate, and combinations thereof. The salts have a concentration in the electrolyte system of greater than or equal to about 4 M. A molar ratio of the salts to the dimethyl carbonate is about 0.5. A molar ratio of the salts to the dimethyl dicarbonate is about 1.

Abstract: An access system is provided and includes a memory and a control module. The memory stores a local DNS server VM, LLPS VM and local landing page, where the local DNS server VM is programmed with an IP address and a domain name of the LLPS VM. The control module: transmits a HTTP request from an in-vehicle device to a network application server via a PDN gateway or GGSN; based on a network event, receives a redirect response signal to redirect the in-vehicle device from accessing the network application server to receiving the landing page; based on a URI of the landing page, provides a query request signal to the local DNS server VM for the IP address and the domain name of a network or local landing page server; receives a query response signal from the local DNS server VM and the landing page from the LLPS VM.

Abstract: A thin film, flexible antenna that has particular application to be adhered to vehicle glass, where the antenna has a wideband antenna geometry and is operable to receive right-hand or left-hand circularly polarized signals from, for example, GPS and SDARS satellites. The antenna is a printed planar antenna formed to the substrate and includes a ground plane having a slot formed therein and a tuning sleeve having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The planar antenna further includes a radiating element positioned adjacent to the tuning sleeve and including a feed portion positioned within the slot, where the radiating element includes a first horizontal portion and a second horizontal portion extending from a vertical portion towards the vertical portion of the sleeve. The ground plane is operable to generate circularly polarized signals to be received by the radiating element where the sleeve provides phase tuning of the signals.

Abstract: A system and method to achieve angular ambiguity resolution in a two-dimensional Doppler synthetic aperture radar system include transmitting pulses using a plurality of transmit elements during movement of a platform on which the system is mounted. Reflections are received from a target resulting from the pulses and the reflections are processed to determine a Doppler measurement. The processing includes isolating movement of the target in the Doppler measurement, and determining a target azimuth angle and a target elevation angle to the target based on an iterative process that includes estimating the target elevation angle or the target azimuth angle and then determining the target azimuth angle or the target elevation angle, respectively, based on a beamforming matrix. The beamforming matrix indicates amplitude and phase at each azimuth angle and each elevation angle among a set of azimuth angles and a set of elevation angles.

Abstract: Components for an automatic motor vehicle transmission including a band brake drum, a clutch housing or hub having a seal surface or a clutch housing or hub utilized in a friction clutch assembly having a spline set. All of these components are fabricated of aluminum and the outer surface of the band brake drum, the housing or hub sealing surface and the area of the spline set includes a thin coating of a thermally sprayed steel material. The thermally sprayed steel material may be a low carbon steel such as SAE 1008 or 1010, a similar alloy, iron or other metal. The resulting components thus exhibit the weight saving of aluminum while providing excellent service life due to the enhanced strength and wear resistance provided by the thermally sprayed steel coating.

Abstract: In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method includes projecting, by a processing device, tracked targets onto a virtual cylindrical omni-directional camera (VCOC). The method further includes projecting, by the processing device, detected targets onto the VCOC. The method further includes computing, by the processing device, a two-dimensional intersection-over-union (2D-IOU) between the tracked targets and the detected targets. The method further includes performing, by the processing device, an association between the tracked targets and the detected targets based at least in part on the computed IOU. The method further includes controlling, by the processing device, a vehicle based at least in part on the association.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a method to receive and deliver media content during a designated time slot, the method including: receiving, via a processor, a first type of media content over a first wireless communication channel; detecting, via the processor, the designated time slot in the first type of media content; receiving, via the processor, a second type of media content over a second wireless communication channel when in proximity of a device configured to wirelessly provide media content; and delivering during the designated time slot, via the processor, the second type of media content to a user.

Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system includes a first pump having an inlet for receiving fuel from a fuel reservoir and an outlet for providing pressurized fuel to a fuel feed line at a first pressure, a fuel feed line pressure sensor, a second pump having an inlet for receiving fuel from the fuel feed line and an outlet for providing pressurized fuel to an engine fuel rail at a second pressure, the second pressure being higher than the first pressure, a fuel temperature sensor, and a controller controlling the first pump to reduce the pressure of the fuel in the fuel feed line and determining whether the pressure of the fuel in the fuel feed line has reached a vaporization pressure of a component in the fuel.

Abstract: A clutch assembly and a torque converter assembly having a clutch assembly, for an automotive transmission, are provided. The clutch assembly includes a clutch plate and a piston or pressure plate configured to selectively engage the clutch plate, the piston being movable between an applied position and a released position. An annular seal is disposed adjacent to the piston, wherein movement of the piston and hydraulic pressure causes the annular seal to move between a sealed position and an open position.