Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode that contains lithium and an electrolyte system. In one variation, the electrolyte system includes a first liquid electrolyte, a solid-dendrite-blocking layer, and an interface layer. The solid dendrite-blocking layer is ionically conducting and electrically insulating. The dendrite-blocking layer includes a first component and a distinct second component. The dendrite-blocking layer has a shear modulus of greater than or equal to about 7.5 GPa at 23° C. The interface layer is configured to interface with a negative electrode including lithium metal on a first side and the dendrite blocking layer on a second opposite side. The interface layer includes a second liquid electrolyte, a gel polymer electrolyte, or a solid-state electrolyte. The dendrite-blocking layer is disposed between the first liquid electrolyte and the interface layer.

Abstract: A method of determining the state of a pedal actuator system within a vehicle includes receiving a position sensor signal indicative of a position of an actuator pedal within the pedal actuator system, receiving a force sensor signal indicative of a compressive force applied to the actuator pedal, and determining, with a processor, a state of the actuator pedal based on the position sensor signal and the force sensor signal. The state of the actuator pedal is one of a normal operating state and a fault state.

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 pictorially 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 pictorial support message defined in an account corresponding to the event maintained in a database prior to occurrence of the event as a pictorial support message to be presented to the passenger. The computing system additionally causes the display to present the pictorial support message, wherein the pictorial support message solicits feedback from the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: Catalysts that are resistant to high-temperature sintering and methods for preparing such catalysts that are resistant to sintering at high temperatures are provided. The catalyst may be prepared by contacting a solution comprising an ionic species with one or more charged surface regions of a catalyst support. A surface of the catalyst support further includes one or more catalyst particles disposed adjacent to the one or more charged surface regions. The ionic species has a first charge opposite to a second charge of the one or more charged surface regions. Next, the ionic species is associated with the one or more charged surface regions to form a layer on the one or more select surface regions. The layer is calcined to generate a coating comprising metal oxide on the one or more select surface regions, where the coating is formed adjacent to the one or more catalyst particles.

Abstract: A method and system to perform dynamic demosaicing for a camera in a vehicle involve an array of image sensors of the camera to obtain light intensity values. Each image sensor of the array of image sensors represents a pixel. An array of filters of the camera overlays the array of image sensors and restricts a wavelength range for which the one image sensor of the array of image sensors obtains the light intensity value. The array of filters includes at least two different types of filters corresponding with two different wavelength ranges. A processor estimates a current state associated with the vehicle and selects a demosaicing algorithm based on the current state such that, for each pixel, the demosaicing algorithm facilitates an estimate of the light intensity value at a different wavelength range than the wavelength range for which the corresponding image sensor obtained the light intensity value.

Abstract: A system and method to perform target tracking with a radar system that uses a Kalman filter include predicting a predicted target position of a target detected by the radar system in a frame. The frame is a period of time to transmit from every transmit element of the radar system in turn and receive the reflections from a range of the target. The method also includes determining an actual target position of the target detected by the radar system based on reflections received by the radar system for the frame, and computing a process noise covariance matrix Q for a next frame, immediately following the frame, based on the predicted target position and the actual target position. Predicting a position of the target in the next frame is based on the process noise covariance matrix Q.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring a filter object for a controller area network is disclosed. The method includes determining, by a processor, a plurality of message identifiers of messages that are to be captured by a filter object. The method also includes performing factorization of a function that represents the plurality of message identifiers to generate a simplified function. The method also includes configuring at least one filter object based on the generated simplified function.

Abstract: A brake temperature monitoring system configured to monitor at least one of a rotor and hydraulic fluid of a brake mechanism for a vehicle. The system including a controller including a processor and an electronic storage medium, a vehicle velocity sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, and a pre-programmed module. The vehicle velocity sensor is configured to output a velocity signal to the processor. The ambient temperature sensor is configured to output an ambient temperature signal to the processor. The model is pre-programmed into the electronic storage medium, and is adapted to estimate the temperature of at least one of the rotor and the hydraulic fluid. The estimation is based on an ambient air temperature, and a pre-established relationship between a conductive heat transfer factor and a convective heat transfer factor. The convective heat transfer factor is a function of vehicle velocity.

Abstract: A system and method of facilitating wireless charging of an electric vehicle (EV) include the EV performing service discovery and negotiation via a neighborhood aware network (NaN) to determine charging compatibility of a WiFi enabled charging station or another EV with the EV. The method also includes the EV requesting a reservation from the charging station or a charge from the another EV based on determining that the EV is compatible with the charging station or the another EV by broadcasting a request message that includes a packet with the request via the NaN.

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 communication system including a speaker. Based upon a profile of the passenger, the autonomous vehicle can determine that support is to be provided audibly to the passenger when the support is provided to the passenger. Moreover, the autonomous vehicle can detect occurrence of an event that has been identified as potentially causing discomfort to the passenger based upon the sensor signal output by the sensor system. Responsive to detecting the occurrence of the event, and in accordance with the profile of the passenger, the autonomous vehicle can cause the speaker to output an audible support message. Content of the audible support message is based on the detected event, and the audible support message solicits feedback from the passenger of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A LIDAR system, optical coupler for a LIDAR system and method of optical communication. The LIDAR system includes an optical coupler having a chip-side face in optical communication with a photonic chip and a scanner-side face in optical communication with a scanner, the optical coupler comprising a polarization rotator and a birefringent wedge. A first beam of light is transmitted from the first location toward a chip-side face of an optical coupler to direct the first beam of light, via the optical coupler, along an optical path at a scanner-side face of the optical coupler. A second beam of light is received along the optical path at the scanner-side face and directed the second beam of light toward a second location.

Abstract: Systems, Apparatuses and Methods for implementing a neural network system for controlling an autonomous vehicle (AV) are provided, which includes: a neural network having a plurality of nodes with context to vector (context2vec) contextual embeddings to enable operations of the of the AV; a plurality of encoded context2vec AV words in a sequence of timing to embed data of context and behavior; a set of inputs which comprise: at least one of a current, a prior, and a subsequent encoded context2vec AV word; a neural network solution applied by the at least one computer to determine a target context2vec AV word of each set of the inputs based on the current context2vec AV word; an output vector computed by the neural network that represents the embedded distributional one-hot scheme of the input encoded context2vec AV word; and a set of behavior control operations for controlling a behavior of the AV.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling an autonomous vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving sensor data from one or more sensors of the vehicle; processing, by a processor, the sensor data to determine object data indicating at least one element within a scene of an environment of the vehicle; processing, by the processor, the sensor data to determine a ground truth data associated with the element; determining, by the processor, an uncertainty model based on the ground truth data and the object data; training, by the processor, vehicle functions based on the uncertainty model; and controlling the vehicle based on the trained vehicle functions.

Abstract: An example electrolyte includes a solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive selected from the group consisting of a mercaptosilane, a mercaptosiloxane, and combinations thereof. The electrolyte may be used in a method for making a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a surface of an electrode. A negative electrode structure may be formed from the method.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for thermal control using vascular channels. Vascular channels are incorporated in a network within a component. The component is a part of a manufactured environment configured for occupants. A fluid circuit is connected with the vascular channels and circulates a fluid through the component to alter a thermal state of the component.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for testing a first computer device of a vehicle. A method includes selecting an operational component of the first computer device and selecting a test operation that is configured to utilize an entire capacity of the operational component. The method further includes instructing the first computer device to perform the test operation and to generate a first result. The method further yet includes retrieving a second result of the test operation and comparing the first result of the test operation from the first computer device with the second result. The method further yet includes indicating that the first computer device is faulty based at least in part on a difference between the first result and the second result.

Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a coolant flow request module and a pump control module. The coolant flow request module is configured to determine a coolant flow request based on at least one of (i) an outlet temperature of a compressor disposed upstream of a heat exchanger of a charge air cooler, and (ii) an efficiency of a radiator of the charge air cooler. The pump control module is configured to control an output of a pump based on the coolant flow request. The pump circulates coolant through the radiator of the charge air cooler and through the heat exchanger of the charge air cooler when the pump is activated. The heat exchanger is disposed upstream of an intake manifold of an engine.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling an aftertreatment system of a vehicle. A system operating mode is determined for an aftertreatment device having an electrical heating element. A weighting coefficient is set based on the determined system operating mode. An optimized electrical heat input and an optimized engine heat input are determined based on the weighting coefficient. The aftertreatment device is then controlled to a target temperature based on the optimized electrical heat input and the optimized engine heat input.

Abstract: An idler assembly includes a cam, an idler pulley, a baseplate, an idler pulley bracket, and a belt. The cam is pivotally mounted to an idler pulley bracket, the cam may pivot between a first position and a second position via a first pivot. The idler pulley is mounted to a baseplate. The baseplate is pivotally mounted to an idler pulley bracket. The baseplate may therefore pivot between a first position and a second position relative to the idler pulley bracket. The belt may be easily mounted on the idler pulley when the baseplate and cam are in the second position. The belt is in tension when the baseplate and cam are moved from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: A self-cleaning film system includes a substrate and a film. The film includes a monolayer formed from fluorinated material and a first plurality of regions disposed within the monolayer and spaced apart from one another such that each of the first plurality of regions abuts, is surrounded by, and is not covered by the fluorinated material. Each of the first regions includes a photocatalytic material. A method of forming a self-cleaning film system includes depositing a monolayer formed from fluorinated material onto a substrate. After depositing, the method includes ablating the monolayer to define a first plurality of cavities therein, wherein each of the first cavities is spaced apart from an adjacent one of the first cavities along the monolayer. After ablating, the method includes embedding a photocatalytic material into each of the first plurality of cavities to form a film on the substrate and thereby form the film system.