Abstract: A method to create a battery cell is provided. The method includes, within a vacuum or an inert atmosphere, utilizing an etching process to remove a passivation layer from a primary surface of a solid electrolyte. The method further includes applying a surface coating to the primary surface. The method further includes, within the battery cell, disposing the solid electrolyte including the surface coating between an anode and a cathode.

Abstract: A system for vehicle trajectory planning. The system may include a polarized camera system configured to generate polarized images of a roadway to be driven over with a vehicle, a prior controller configured to generate a prior for the roadway based at least in part on the polarized images, and a driving assistance system configured to provide a driving assistance according to the prior.

Abstract: Methods and systems for joining multiple workpieces are provided. In one example, the method includes dispensing adhesive on a first workpiece. A second workpiece is contacted with the adhesive such that the adhesive is disposed between the first and second workpieces. Resistance heating is produced in the first and second workpieces at first processing conditions to partially cure the adhesive and affix the first and second workpieces together to form a partially cured, adhesive-joined workpiece assembly. The partially cured, adhesive-joined workpiece assembly is exposed to heat at second processing conditions to substantially fully cure the adhesive.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle. The systems and methods receive image data from at least one camera of the vehicle, detect a 2D measurement location of a static object in an image plane of the camera using the image data, receive an input vector of measurements from a sensor system of the vehicle, predict a predicted 3D location of the static object using a Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) that incorporates a motion model for the vehicle and further using the 2D measurement location of the static object, and the input vector, and control at least one vehicle feature based on the predicted 3D location of the static object.

Abstract: A system and method for locating a trailer coupler on a trailer to assist with the coupling of the trailer coupler to a vehicle hitch on a vehicle. The system includes a human-machine interface, a camera, a global positioning system, a remote computing system, a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication network, controllers, a memory, sensors, and a trailer coupler labeling application. The trailer coupler labeling application includes: sensing at least one of a hitched state and an unhitched state of the trailer coupler, capturing an optical data with the camera when the vehicle hitch is in the hitched and unhitched state, determining a distance of the trailer coupler relative to the camera when the vehicle hitch is in the hitched state, identifying the location of the trailer coupler on an image defined by the captured data and creating a label on the image of the trailer coupler.

Abstract: A mounting rail for a vehicle comprises a housing attached to the vehicle and including a first portion and a second portion, a first channel extending along the first portion of the housing between a first end and a second end, the first end defining an opening to the first channel, and a lock located proximate to the opening to the first channel, the lock disposed in a lock housing and movable relative to the lock housing between a locked state blocking entry into the opening of the first channel and an unlocked state spaced apart from the opening of the first channel.

Abstract: An electric generation system for vehicular applications including a vehicle tire having a tread portion, a hub portion and a plurality of semi-rigid spokes extending radially from the hub portion to the tread portion, a plurality of piezoelectric devices affixed to at least one surface of each of the plurality of semi-rigid spokes such that a deformation of the tread portion of the vehicle tire results in a deformation of at least one of the plurality of spokes and at least one of the plurality of piezoelectric devices, and a charge accumulator for receiving an electric current generated in response to the deformation of the at least one of the plurality of spokes and for storing an electric charge accumulated in response to the electric current.

Abstract: A charging system for a passenger door includes an arm rest, a receptacle disposed in the arm rest and defining a pocket including a charging panel configured to provide wireless charging to an electronic device, a charging system actuator configured to selectively bias the electronic device against the charging panel and including an electronic device presence sensor, and a charging system controller in communication with the electronic device presence sensor. The charging system controller is configured to execute operations including receiving an electronic device presence signal from the electronic device presence sensor, determining whether the electronic device is disposed within the receptacle based on the electronic device presence signal, and instructing the charging system to generate a notification signal when the electronic device is disposed within the receptacle.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a battery module in a vehicle includes selecting an upper cut-off voltage and a lower cut-off voltage for the battery module. The method includes charging the battery cell from an original state to a first benchmark voltage greater than an upper cut-off voltage, via a first charging process. The method includes discharging the battery cell from the first benchmark voltage to a second benchmark voltage less than a lower cut-off voltage, via a first discharging process. The battery module is then charged from the second benchmark voltage to the first benchmark voltage, via a second charging process. The method includes obtaining a ratio of a discharging capacity to a charging capacity of the battery module. Operation of the vehicle is controlled based in part on the ratio, including taking at least one remedial action if the ratio is less than a predefined threshold.

Abstract: A glovebox for a vehicle is disclosed. The glovebox includes a frame and a storage bin translatable between a first position and a second position relative to the frame. Additionally, the storage bin is also rotatable between a closed position and an open position relative to the frame.

Abstract: A seatbelt assembly for a vehicle includes a seatbelt and a base retractor coupled to the seatbelt and configured to allow the seatbelt to extend to a desired length. The base retractor includes a first end portion including a biasing device, a second end portion disposed opposite the first end portion and including a speed-based locking mechanism, and a third portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion and including a spindle coupled to the seatbelt. The seatbelt assembly also includes a pretensioner coupled to the base retractor and configured to tighten slack of the seatbelt to ensure proper position of the vehicle passenger. Additionally, the seatbelt assembly includes an electromagnet disposed within or adjacent to the base retractor and configured to enable adjustment of rotational resistance applied to the spindle based on vehicle passenger size.

Abstract: Vehicle systems and methods are provided for controlling converters of a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS). An exemplary method involves identifying an active subset of converters to supply an expected current consumption for one or more electrical loads supplied by the RESS, configuring droop control settings of active converters based at least in part on the expected current consumption, and configuring reserve converters with respective droop control settings different from the respective droop control settings of the active converters. The droop control settings are configured to achieve a desired distribution of the expected current consumption across the active converters and activate the reserve converters to supply supplemental current in response to transient fluctuations where current demand exceeds the expected current consumption.

Abstract: Presented are electric machines with rotor shaft-mounted heat pipes/vapor chambers thermally coupled to endcap-integrated heat sinks, methods for making/using such machines, and vehicles equipped with such machines. An electric machine includes an outer housing, a stator assembly mounted to the housing, and a rotor assembly rotatably mounted adjacent the stator assembly. The stator assembly includes one or more stator windings mounted to an annular stator core. The rotor assembly includes one or more electromagnetic rotor windings mounted to a cylindrical rotor core. A rotor power transfer circuit (PTC) is electrically connected to the rotor assembly to electrify the rotor winding(s). A rotor shaft is attached to the rotor core to rotate in unison therewith. One or more heat pipes are mounted on the rotor shaft's outer surface and project axially between the rotor PTC and rotor core. Each heat pipe passively extracts and transfers thermal energy from the rotor PTC.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a user device configured to produce acoustic sounds at varying frequencies. The vehicle system also includes a vehicle microphone for collecting acoustic data from the user device. Additionally, the vehicle system includes a vehicle processor for storing vehicle data including the acoustic data and a server communicatively coupled to the vehicle processor. In some examples, the server is configured to determine if the acoustic data match one or more predetermined frequencies of sound.

Abstract: A movable duct includes an inlet duct segment including an inlet duct wall extending from a first inlet duct end to an opposite second inlet duct end and including at least one first elongate guide extending between the first inlet duct end and the second inlet duct end. The movable duct further includes a first telescopic duct segment having a first telescopic duct wall extending from a first telescopic duct end to an opposite second telescopic duct end and including at least one protrusion slidingly engaged with the at least one elongate guide of the inlet duct segment.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing driving assistance in a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining, by a processor, curvature data associated with a roadway ahead of the vehicle; determining, by the processor, velocity data based on the curvature data, steering data of the vehicle, and set speed data associated with a semi-autonomous control system of the vehicle; and generating, by the processor, control commands to the semi-autonomous control system to control the vehicle to a speed other than a set speed of the set speed data based on the velocity data.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises a Wi-Fi network including at least one Wi-Fi antenna module including a Wi-Fi antenna in communication with a Wi-Fi Integrated Circuit (IC) and a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) network including at least one BLE antenna module including a BLE antenna and a BLE IC, the BLE IC configured to detect in-band noise, characterize the in-band noise, and transmit the characterization of the in-band noise to the Wi-Fi IC.

Abstract: A fuel cell system, e.g., of a motor vehicle, includes a fuel cell stack having fuel cells and non-repeating hardware components, the latter including wet and dry end units. The cells are positioned between the end units. The dry end unit includes an end plate and a compression plate assembly that uniformly compresses the cells against the end plate, and a terminal plate surrounded by a seal plate. An insulator frame disposed adjacent to the compression plate assembly is engaged with the insulator frame via a frictional interface provided by o-ring compression seals having a respective post connected to the terminal plate and the seal plate, and a pocket connected to the insulator frame. The post and pocket of at least one of the compression seals together define a fluid passage. One or more shim plates may be disposed between the end plate and insulator frame.

Abstract: An exhaust liquid treatment assembly for a fuel cell system (FCS). The FCS includes a fuel cell stack and an FCS exhaust pipe fluidly connected to the fuel cell stack and configured to expel an exhaust stream from the FCS. The exhaust liquid treatment assembly includes a liquid tank having a liquid inlet in fluid communication with the FCS exhaust pipe and a liquid outlet. A liquid treatment filter separates the liquid inlet from the liquid outlet and includes a pH controlling material configured to mix with a liquid passing through the liquid treatment filter. A liquid level sensor configured to determine a level of liquid in the liquid tank. A controller is in communication with the liquid level sensor and configured to regulate a level of the liquid within the liquid tank by selectively opening and closing an outlet valve in fluid communication with the liquid outlet.