Abstract: Methods and devices for processing tubular workpieces are provided. An exemplary method for processing a tubular workpiece includes providing instructions, with a computing device, for cutting the tubular workpiece according to a desired design; loading the tubular workpiece into a processing machine including a laser-cutting device and a punch bit; and operating the laser-cutting device, based on the instructions, to cut the tubular workpiece to form an opening and a slug in the opening. Further, the method includes operating the punch bit, based on the instructions, to punch the slug to remove the slug from the opening.

Abstract: Methods and systems determine resistance related constants for use by a vehicle towing a trailer. A system for controlling functions of the vehicle and the trailer includes sensors that provide sensor data. A processor performs a readiness check, based on the sensor data, by determining whether the sensor data exceeds predetermined thresholds. When the readiness check is passed, meaning the thresholds are not exceeded, and based on the sensor data, the processor computes values for constants that represent aerodynamic resistance and rolling resistance of the vehicle and the trailer. Based on the constants, the processor controls functions of the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing one or more powders each formed of two or more materials. The system includes a housing having an enclosure, a crucible configured to produce a melt of a first material, a droplet device configured to receive the melt of the first material and produce a flow of droplets thereof within the enclosure, a distribution device configured to propel a second material into the droplets to mix therewith, wherein the droplets solidify to form particles of the first material, the second material, and/or a reaction product thereof, a platform within the enclosure configured to intercept the particles, and one or more generators configured to produce electromagnetic waves and/or acoustic waves to form a fluidized bed of the particles on the platform. The platform and/or the one or more generators are configured to produce, from the fluidized bed, a powder including the particles.

Abstract: An electrode for a fuel cell system is provided. The electrode includes a carbon support. The carbon support includes carbon particles each functionalized with one or more sulfur and oxygen-containing moieties. Platinum-based catalyst particles are disposed on the carbon support. Ionomer is disposed on the carbon support. A weight ratio of the ionomer to the carbon support is about 0.4 or less.

Abstract: Vehicles and related systems and methods are provided for assisting vehicle operation. A detection service obtains a current object location derived from one or more sensors onboard a vehicle, determines a current deviation metric associated with the current object location based on a relationship between the current object location and a preceding object location derived from the one or more sensors, and classifies the current object location into one of a plurality of different classifications based on the current deviation metric value, where a primary subset of object locations has respective values for the deviation metric that are less than a threshold. The detection service monitors a predicted path associated with the vehicle with at least the most recent object location of the primary subset to generate an alert in response to a predicted intersection with the predicted path.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle communications (comm) systems provisioning enhanced vehicle-to-everything (V2X) wireless mesh network (WMN) hop propagation, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method of controlling operation of a host vehicle includes a vehicle controller determining the host vehicle is incapacitated and then detecting the host vehicle's wireless comm device is unable to connect to a cellular or satellite communications system. Responsive to such insufficient connectivity, the controller broadcasts a V2X WMN distress message containing data specific to the host vehicle and data specific to the host vehicle's incapacitating event. Upon receipt of the distress message, a recipient vehicle's controller determines if a prior distress message for the incapacitating vehicle event was previously received and if the distress message exceeds any preset multi-hop restrictions.

Abstract: A vehicle having a Lidar system includes a cleaning apparatus that performs a method of cleaning the Lidar system. The cleaning apparatus includes a nozzle for spraying a gas onto a window of the Lidar, a pump for controlling a flow of the gas through the nozzle, and a processor. The processor is configured to control the pump to control the flow of the gas through the nozzle at a variable flow rate.

Abstract: A vehicle seat system includes a seat including a seat base and a seat back having a first end pivotally connected to the seat base and a second end. A belt guide system is mounted adjacent to the second end. The belt guide system includes a guide mechanism supportable in a vehicle. The guide mechanism including a guide track having a first end section, a second end section, and an intermediate section extending between the first end and the second end. A shuttle arranged at the guide track. The shuttle is shiftable between the first end section and the second end section. An actuator is operatively connected to the shuttle. The actuator is operable to shift the shuttle between the first end section and the second end section. A belt guide is mounted to the shuttle.

Abstract: Fuse configurations for a distributed power architecture of a vehicle is provided. The distributed power architecture includes a high-voltage battery pack having a plurality of batteries and a plurality of converters, each of the plurality of converters being configured to receive high-voltage power from one of the plurality of batteries and to provide low-voltage power to a low-voltage bus. The distributed power architecture also includes a plurality of fuses disposed on one or more of an input side and an output side of each of the plurality of converters and a vehicle controller with at least one communication link to each of the plurality of power converters. Each of the plurality of fuses are configured to selectively prevent current flow through one of the plurality of converters.

Abstract: A system includes a reference speed module and a motor control module. The reference speed module is configured to determine a reference speed range based on a speed of a left wheel of a pair of front or rear wheels of a vehicle and a speed of a right wheel of the pair of front or rear wheels. The right wheel is disconnected from the left wheel. The motor control module is configured to control at least one of a first electric motor and a second electric motor based on the reference speed range. The first electric motor is connected to the left wheel. The second electric motor is connected to the right wheel.

Abstract: A method of repairing an ultra-large single-piece cast component of a vehicle body. The method includes the steps of locating a damaged portion of the cast component, determining an extent of the damaged portion of the ultra-large cast component, defining a cut-line sectioning off the damaged portion from an undamaged portion of the ultra-large cast component, cutting along the cut-line to excise the damaged portion from the undamaged portion of the ultra-large cast component, and joining a replacement piece to the undamaged portion of the ultra-large cast component. The replacement piece is fabricated based on the original manufacturer's geometry and dimensional data of the excised damaged portion. The undamaged portion of the ultra-large cast component remains on the vehicle body during the repair.

Abstract: A system comprises a computer including a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions such that the processor is programmed to: determine, via a trained neural network model, a route for a vehicle to traverse based on vehicle sensor data, and update the trained neural network model based on data received from at least one of an edge computing device or an infrastructure (V2I) device.

Abstract: A system in a vehicle includes a controller to implement a neural network to provide current commands based on inputs. The inputs include a torque input. The system also includes a current controller to provide a three-phase voltage through an inverter based on the current commands from the controller. An electric traction motor provides drive power to a transmission of the vehicle based on injection of the three-phase voltage. The current commands resulting from implementation of the neural network are corrected based on estimated torque resulting from the injection of the three-phase voltage to the electric traction motor.

Abstract: A system for sharing sensor data between a vehicle and a plurality of remote system generally includes a vehicle communication system, a three-dimensional (3D) sensor, and a controller. The controller is programmed to generate an initial 3D point cloud using the 3D sensor, generate an occupancy grid map based on the initial 3D point cloud, and select a producer remote system to provide data for a cell of the occupancy grid map classified as a first blindspot. The controller is further programmed to send a data request to the producer remote system using the vehicle communication system, receive data from the producer remote system including information about the cell of the occupancy grid map classified as the first blindspot, generate a merged 3D point cloud by merging the data received from the producer remote system with the initial 3D point cloud, and identify objects using the merged 3D point cloud.