Abstract: A motor vehicle drivetrain features an input shaft, an output shaft, a continuously variable transmission for coupling the input shaft to the output shaft with a variable transmission ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft, and a bypass transmission with at least one bypass gearing, which has a fixed transmission ratio, in order to couple the input shaft to the output shaft. A value of a transmission ratio of the bypass gearing is less than or equal to half the sum of a value of the maximum forward motion and a value of the minimum forward motion of the variable transmission ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft driven of the continuously variable transmission and/or less than or equal to 1.0. The bypass transmission is configured for driving the motor vehicle with a driving speed of at least 50 km/h or 31 mph.

Abstract: A rotor for an induction motor includes a first shorting end ring, a second shorting end ring, and a plurality of conductor bars. Each conductor bar has a first end and a second end and is coated with an electrically conductive material. The first end of each conductor bar is in electrical and mechanical contact with the first shorting end ring, and the second end of each conductor bar is in electrical and mechanical contact with the second shorting end ring. The conductive material is disposed between each conductor bar and the respective shorting end rings.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a vehicle is provided that includes a body, a propulsion system, a hood, a sensor, and a processor. The propulsion system is configured to generate movement of the body. The sensor is disposed onboard the vehicle and configured to provide sensor data pertaining to one or more components of the vehicle. The processor is disposed onboard the vehicle, coupled to the sensor, and is configured to: determine whether the hood is closed via a latching mechanism, using the sensor data; and provide instructions to a drive system of the vehicle, to take a control action to adjust movement of the vehicle when it is determined that the hood of the vehicle is not closed via the latching mechanism.

Abstract: Methods of selectively cooling and quenching surface regions of high-strength transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steel are provided. The method may comprise selectively cooling at least one region of an exposed surface of a hot-formed press-hardened component comprising a high-strength steel. Prior to selective cooling, the component has a microstructure comprising ?about 5% by volume retained austenite in a matrix of martensite. The selective cooling is conducted at a temperature of ?about ?40° C. and forms at least one quenched region comprising ?about 2% by volume austenite. The TRIP steel may be zinc-coated and having a surface coating comprising zinc and substantially free of liquid metal embrittlement (LME). Zinc-coated hot-formed press-hardened components, including automotive components, formed from such methods are also provided.

Abstract: A high performance electrode for an electrochemical cell including electroactive materials having a large charge capacity and that undergo substantial volumetric expansion and contraction during cycling of the electrochemical cell and a method for making the high performance electrode are provided. The electroactive material of the high performance electrode may have a thickness greater than or equal to about 1 ?m. Methods of forming the high performance electrodes includes patterning the electroactive material to form a plurality of void spaces using a high-speed process selected from the group consisting of: laser ablation, electron beam machining, ion beam milling, roll forming, embossing, lithography, and combinations thereof. The plurality of void spaces accommodates the volumetric expansion and contraction to minimize cracking and damage to the electrode during cycling of the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A number of variations may include products and methods for estimating the state of an energy system. At least one sensor may monitor a voltage and a current of the energy storage system. An electronic controller may be communicatively coupled with the energy storage system and may receive input from the sensor. A circuit may be representative of the energy storage system and may be appropriately defined in the electronic controller. The circuit may estimate a state of the energy storage system from a reading of the voltage and the current.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing assembly includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a first polymer and a first plurality of reinforcing fibers. The first component includes a first peripheral wall defining a first interior compartment. A first interior portion of the first peripheral wall includes a first corrugated surface. A second component includes a second polymer and a second plurality of reinforcing fibers. The second component includes a second peripheral wall. A second interior portion of the second peripheral wall includes a second corrugated surface. The first corrugated surface is complementary to the second corrugated surface. The first corrugated surface is joined to the second corrugated surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that adjust audio output are provided. The method includes detecting a position of a wing of a headrest, adjusting an audio signal based on the detected position of the wing of the headrest, and outputting the adjusted audio signal.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure deflector system for small overlap frontal impact includes a first shock tower and a second shock tower. A cross member is positioned between each of the first shock tower and the second shock tower. A first deflector is connected to the first shock tower and a second deflector is connected to the second shock tower. If one of the first deflector or the second deflector is contacted by a barrier during forward travel of the vehicle a portion of an energy of impact with the barrier is transferred through one of the first shock tower or the second shock tower, through the cross member and into the other shock tower. The portion of the energy of impact with the barrier generates a vehicle lateral displacement to dissipate the portion of the energy of impact.

Abstract: Systems and methods of mapping traffic related objects. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving image sensor data relating to an environment associated with a vehicle; receiving lidar sensor data relating to the environment associated with the vehicle; selecting, by a processor, at least one image region including a traffic related object from the image sensor data; selectively filtering, by a processor, the at least one image region based on the lidar sensor data; and generating, by a processor, a composite map including a representation of the traffic related object superimposed upon a defined map of the environment based on the selectively filtering.

Abstract: Methods of forming a high-strength metal alloy precursor by tailor-casting strips having a tailored thickness across a width of a strip material are provided. The tailor-cast strips have varying thickness throughout the width, which can then be further tailor rolled to a final required thickness profile/tailored thickness. Such tailor-casting method can be conducted by contacting a patterned surface of a casting roller or a casting block with a liquid high-strength metal alloy in a continuous casting process. The present disclosure provides methods of continuously casting a strip having varying thickness across the width allows for improved product in subsequent processing, like tailor rolling. Methods of making a high-strength metal alloy structural automotive component from a tailor-cast blank having a tailored thickness are also provided.

Abstract: A method of adjusting deceleration dependent shift points to maintain a target minimum turbine speed includes calculating a vehicle speed offset based on vehicle acceleration rate a predicted downshift delay for the target minimum turbine speed and converting the target minimum turbine speed to a target vehicle speed based on the deceleration condition. Thereafter, the method continues with determining a target gear based on the vehicle speed offset and the target vehicle speed, and downshifting to the target gear having vehicle speed less than or equal to a vehicle speed corresponding to the current turbine speed. The method ends with maintaining the target gear until a shift delay period is greater than a predetermined delay threshold.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a body. A movable member with first and second positions having distinct aerodynamic profiles is disposed on an exterior portion of the body. An actuator is coupled to the movable member and configured to actuate the movable member between the first and second positions. A sensor is configured to, during a drive cycle, detect a relative road load between the second aerodynamic profile and the first aerodynamic profile. A controller is configured to, during a drive cycle, control the actuator to move the movable member to the first position in response to satisfaction of a first operating condition, to control the actuator to move the movable member to the second position in response to satisfaction of a second operating condition, and to, in response to the relative road load being positive, control the actuator to move the movable member to the first position.

Abstract: A method, control system, and propulsion system use model predictive control to control and track several parameters for improved performance of the propulsion system. Numerous sets of possible command values for a set of controlled variables are determined. Initial constraints for the controlled variables are determined, which include upper and lower limits for each controlled variable and upper and lower rate-of-change limits for each controlled variable. A set of consolidated constraint limits for the controlled variables is then determined. Each consolidated constraint limit is determined by consolidating one of the upper and lower limits with one of the upper and lower rate-of-change limits. A cost for each set of possible command values is determined, and the set of possible command values that has the lowest cost and falls within the set of consolidated constraint limits is selected for use in controlling the propulsion system.

Abstract: A battery cell system and an associated monitoring system is provided which includes at least an anode, a cathode, a separator formed from a base layer, first and second contacts and a reference component. The anode and cathode are disposed in a lithium ion non-aqueous solution within a housing. The base layer of the separator includes a first side and a second side. The base layer is operatively configured to separate the anode and the cathode within the housing. The first contact of the separator is affixed to the first side of the base layer between the base layer and an anode. The second contact is affixed to the second side of the base layer with the reference component disposed on the second contact.

Abstract: In an example of a method for making a sulfur-based positive electrode active material, a carbon layer is formed on a sacrificial nanomaterial. The carbon layer is coated with titanium dioxide to form a titanium dioxide layer. The sacrificial nanomaterial is removed to form a hollow material including a hollow core surrounded by a carbon and titanium dioxide double shell. Sulfur is impregnated into the hollow core.

Abstract: An anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coating is provided that includes a continuous phase and a discrete phase defining a plurality of domains distributed therein. Each domain has an average size of ? about 100 nm to ? about 5,000 nm. The continuous phase includes a fluorine-containing polymer component formed from a fluorine-containing polyol precursor having a functionality of greater than 2. The discrete phase includes a fluorine-free component. At least a portion of the fluorine-free component in the discrete phase is bonded together with a moiety selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen-containing moiety, an oxygen-containing moiety, an isocyanate-containing moiety, and a combination thereof. Methods of treating an article to form such anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coating are provided, as are liquid precursors to form the coating.

Abstract: Methods of producing a continuous carbon fiber for use in composites having enhanced moldability are provided. A continuous precursor fiber is formed that has a sheath and a core. The sheath includes a first polymer material. The core includes a second polymer material and a plurality of discrete regions distributed within the second polymer material. The discrete regions include a third polymer material. After the continuous precursor fiber is heated for carbonization and graphitization, the continuous precursor fiber forms a continuous carbon fiber having a plurality of discrete weak regions corresponding to the plurality of discrete regions in the core. Carbon fiber composites made from such modified continuous carbon fibers having enhanced moldability are also provided.