Abstract: Presented are battery assemblies with gas manifold liners and support tray seals for optimized gas venting, methods for making/using such battery assemblies, and vehicles equipped with such battery assemblies. A battery assembly, such as a rechargeable high-voltage traction battery pack, includes a support tray that seats thereon a cold plate. The cold plate is formed with a thermally conductive material and includes a gas manifold that exhausts gases from the battery assembly. At least one battery cell is supported on the cold plate and includes a cell case that contains a galvanic electrochemical cell and has a cell vent fluidly coupled with the gas manifold. A manifold liner is located within and abuts opposing walls of the gas manifold. The manifold insert includes one or more thermal barrier layers, each formed with a thermally insulating material, and one or more electrical barrier layers, each formed with an electrically insulating material.

Abstract: A voice-biometrics based solution for unwanted self-invocations by virtual assistant applications is proposed. In various embodiments, a processing system is configured to control a virtual assistant. The processing system may have stored in a memory at least one voiceprint created using voice biometrics based on recorded utterances of synthetic speech from the virtual assistant. The at least one voiceprint may be used to prevent self-invocation of a virtual speech session by matching the voiceprint created using the synthetic speech utterances with the incoming audio stream.

Abstract: Method and system for safety monitoring of a rechargeable lithium battery powering an electrical device. Primary parameters of battery are measured during a normal operation of the electrical device. Primary parameters may include: DC current; DC voltage; state of charge; measurement timestamps; battery temperature and ambient temperature. Primary parameters are processed to derive secondary parameters, and to determine a state of risk (SOR) of battery based on primary parameters and secondary parameters, during normal operation of electrical device. Processing may apply resistors-capacitors model and/or machine learning model. SOR determination may be based on comparison with baseline value reflecting baseline condition of battery. SOR may include categories of No Fault Found (NFF); Potential Fault Found (PFF); and Fault Found (FF). Alert of a potential short circuit derived hazard may be provided and/or countermeasure may be implemented responsive to determined SOR, such as when SOR category is PFF or FF.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that include obtaining camera images from a camera of a vehicle; obtaining weather data as to a location in which the vehicle is travelling; processing the camera images, via a processor, generating one or more processed frames from the camera images, based on the weather data; and performing a control action for the vehicle, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor, based on the one or more processed frames.

Abstract: A propulsion system for an electric vehicle includes an induction electric motor configured to generate torque for propulsion. The system includes a controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded for a method of suppressing tonal noises in a predefined motor speed range of the electric motor. The controller is adapted to simultaneously inject flux harmonics through respective injections in a rotor reference frame, a first flux reference frame and a second flux reference frame. The rotor reference frame is based in part on a rotor bar order and a rotor position. The first flux reference frame is based in part on a first induction order, the rotor position and a slip position. The second flux reference frame is based in part on a second induction order, the rotor position and the slip position.

Abstract: A dual-function, combined thermal/structural structure for simultaneously holding and cooling one or more battery cells that are stacked inside of a battery pack. The dual-function structure comprises: (1) a first cooling plate with a first plurality of parallel internal coolant channels; (2) a second cooling plate with a second plurality of parallel internal coolant channels; (3) a first structural side plate; (4) a second structural side plate; and (5) fasteners for joining the first cooling plate, the second cooling plate, the first structural side plate, and the second structural side plate together into an rectangular, box-like, cooled structure. The first and second cooling plates simultaneously structurally support and thermally cool one or more battery cells on at least two opposite sides. Additional horizontal cooling plates can be used to thermally cool and structurally support the underside of each battery cell, thereby providing a 3-sided cooling effect.

Abstract: A method in a vehicle, includes: providing, via an HMI, a request to be followed indication responsive to receipt of a request to be followed from a following vehicle; providing, via the HMI, a request to enter a tether operating mode; entering the tether operating mode and selecting a tether goal between the lead vehicle and the following vehicle; providing, via the HMI, a tether mode indication that indicates that the lead vehicle is in the tether operating mode; monitoring a headway between the lead vehicle and following vehicle; adjusting a preplanned trajectory calculated by a driver assistance system to facilitate the following vehicle obtaining and maintaining the tether goal; modifying driver assistance system operation based on a level at which the headway is greater than the tether goal; and generating control signals for vehicle actuators to control the lead vehicle to facilitate the following vehicle maintaining the tether goal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing a product include a mixing station for preparing a solution containing a base material and a performance modifier. The base material is configured to deliver performance characteristics of the product that are preselected and the performance modifier is configured to enhance the performance characteristics. An encapsulation station produces particles of the performance modifier in a coating of the base material as an encapsulate powder. An additive manufacturing cell includes an energy source and is used to build the product from the encapsulate powder by an application of energy from the energy source.

Abstract: A device for discharging a high-voltage (“HV”) battery pack in an electrical system having a low-voltage (“LV”) bus and a high-voltage (“HV”) bus includes a resistive load and an electronic control unit (“ECU”). The ECU transmits electronic control signals to the resistive load to change an output state of the resistive load. As part of a related method, the ECU receives a state of charge (“SOC”) of the battery pack and an auxiliary voltage level of the LV bus. The ECU then selectively adjusts the electronic control signals in response to the SOC and auxiliary voltage level to optimize the output state of the resistive load. This continues until the SOC is within a specified SOC range.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a transmission of a vehicle that has a selectable one-way clutch. The system includes a sensor system, an anti-lock brake system (ABS), and a controller configured to, by a processor: monitor for a deceleration event wherein an estimated output speed acceleration of the vehicle is reduced below a first threshold, receive a status of the ABS, and output one or more control signals to command the transmission to inhibit the application of the selectable one-way clutch in response to detection of the deceleration event when the selectable one-way clutch is not applied, and the estimated output speed acceleration of the vehicle is either: (i) below the first threshold while the anti-lock brake system ABS of the vehicle is active, or (ii) below a second threshold while the ABS is inactive, wherein the first threshold is greater than the second threshold.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery pack enclosure surrounded by an external environment and housing battery cells. The battery pack enclosure includes a tray having a first compartment housing the battery cells and a second compartment configured to collect high-temperature gas emitted by the battery cell(s) during a thermal runaway and expel the gas to the external environment. The battery pack enclosure also includes a cover configured to engage the tray and seal the enclosure. The first compartment is arranged between the second compartment and the cover. The battery pack also includes a temperature-sensitive component arranged inside the enclosure between the second compartment and the cover. The battery pack additionally includes a vent channel fluidly connecting the first and second compartments and configured to direct the high-temperature gas from the first compartment to the second compartment, thereby diverting the gas away from the temperature-sensitive component.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively augmenting information in a vehicle includes receiving a scene information from at least one sensor. identifying a region of interest from the scene information, analyzing the scene information to determine whether the region of interest is occluded, and augmenting the region of interest using a display system when the region of interest is occluded. The region of interest includes an object identified within the scene information that is classified as related to vehicle safety.

Abstract: A solar loading-based system includes a memory, a disturbance prediction module, a cabin temperature estimation module and a thermal control module. The memory stores a cabin thermal load model of an interior cabin of a host vehicle and a solar load prediction model. The disturbance prediction module: receives signals indicative of states of cabin thermal actuators and comfort metrics; and predicts an effect of solar loading over a known portion of a predicted route including predicting cabin temperatures based on the solar load prediction model, the states of the cabin thermal actuators, and the comfort metrics. The cabin temperature estimation module, based on the cabin thermal load model, determines a first comfort metric based on the predicted cabin temperatures. The thermal control module controls cabin thermal actuators to adjust cabin states, including the first comfort metric, to respective target values based on the predicted effect of solar loading.

Abstract: A vehicle trim component, a vehicle including a vehicle trim component, and method of making a vehicle trim component. The vehicle trim component includes a substrate including a first polymer. The substrate includes a first surface, and the first polymer includes bisphenol-A based polycarbonate. The vehicle trim component also includes an exterior layer including a second polymer. The second polymer includes isosorbide-based polycarbonate. The exterior layer includes an exterior surface, and the exterior layer is laminated to the first surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Low waste methods for three-dimensional printing techniques are provided. A method includes performing a preceding additive infusion process including: solubilizing an additive into a medium in a supercritical fluid state; contacting a preceding material with the medium to infuse a portion of the additive into the preceding material to form a preceding additive-infused material; and separating remaining additive from the medium. Further, the method includes performing at least one succeeding additive infusion process including: solubilizing the remaining additive and, optionally, additional additive, into the medium in a supercritical fluid state; and contacting a succeeding material with the medium to infuse at least a portion of the remaining and additional additive into the succeeding material to form a succeeding additive-infused material, wherein the medium from the preceding additive infusion process is reused in the at least one succeeding additive infusion process.

Abstract: A button assembly for a release system comprises a housing and an actuator coupled to the housing and translatable along a first axis. The actuator comprises a contact surface configured for engagement by an operator to translate the actuator along the first axis, and a rack gear extending along the first axis and away from the contact surface. The button assembly further comprises a pinion gear coupled to the housing and rotatable about a second axis, orthogonal to the first axis. The pinion gear is meshed with the rack gear and with the extension member coupled to the pinion gear. The mesh between the pinion gear and the rack gear facilitates rotation of the pinion gear as the rack gear translates, with the rotation of the pinion gear facilitating movement of the extension member and movement of the latch between the engagement and disengagement positions.

Abstract: An antenna system includes a first antenna operational to transmit a first radio-frequency signal, a second antenna operational to receive a second radio-frequency signal and receive the first radio-frequency signal, a first electromagnetic polarizer disposed between the first antenna and the second antenna and operational to change a polarization of the first radio-frequency signal, a second electromagnetic polarizer disposed between the first electromagnetic polarizer and the second antenna and operational to further change the polarization of the first radio-frequency signal, and a conductive ground plane disposed on a ground side of the first antenna and the second antenna. The conductive ground plane defines a gap between the first antenna and the second antenna. The gap extends under the first electromagnetic polarizer. The gap extends under the second electromagnetic polarizer. A horizontal component of the second polarization of the first radio-frequency signal is maintained across the gap.