Abstract: A mount system, such as for a vehicle antenna, includes a module with a ground. A fastener extends into the module. A retainer clip moves from an undeployed position to a deployed position by operation of the fastener. The fastener extends through a deployment ramp block. The deployment ramp block engages and guides the retainer clip from the undeployed position to the deployed position, by operation of the fastener. The mount system is configured to effect grounding of the ground to the product and to retain the module in position on the product.

Abstract: A battery module includes a first battery cell and a neighboring second battery cell, and an insulating member positioned therebetween. The battery module also includes a battery module enclosure surrounded by an external environment and configured to house each of the first battery cell, the second battery cell, and the insulating member. The battery module additionally includes a battery module cover mounted to the battery module enclosure. The battery module cover includes a vent feature configured to expel high temperature gases from the first battery cell and divert the high temperature gases away from the second battery cell directly to the external environment. The cover is thereby configured to minimize transfer of the high temperature gases from the first battery cell to the second battery cell and control propagation of a thermal runaway event in the battery module.

Abstract: A robotic lifting and orienting system for an overspray-free paint system includes: a base coupled to wheels; and an automated carrier coupled to the base. The automated carrier includes: a fixture assembly configured to hold an object to be painted; one or more manipulators configured to move the fixture assembly relative to a paint robot; a propulsion system connected to the wheels and configured to move the robotic lifting and orienting system; and a control module configured to control the one or more manipulators and the propulsion system to control positioning and orienting of the object relative to at least one of the paint robot and an overspray-free paint applicator of the paint robot.

Abstract: A rotor of an electric machine includes: N pole pieces, each of the N pole pieces including two half pole pieces, where N is an integer greater than 2; apertures through the half pole pieces, respectively; permanent magnets disposed within the apertures, respectively, the permanent magnets including, in each of the N pole pieces, a first permanent magnet of a first magnetic polarity and a second permanent magnet of a second magnetic polarity; and structural non-magnetic portions disposed in gaps of the half pole pieces, respectively, and configured to magnetically disconnect a rotor web from a q-axis flux guide.

Abstract: Systems for detecting movement of a trailer having a rearward facing camera and linked to a tow vehicle. The systems include taking a first image and a second image with the camera and comparing the images. A first amount of trailer movement is determined between the second image and the first image. The systems may also take additional images and determine a second amount of trailer movement occurring between the additional images. Tracking the first amount and the second amount of trailer movement determines an amount of trailer sway. The determined trailer sway may be compared to a maximum allowable sway and, if the movement is greater than the maximum allowable sway, mitigating sway of the trailer with the tow vehicle.

Abstract: A system for evaluating a battery cell includes an imaging device configured to take a first image of at least part of the battery cell when the battery cell is in a first deformation state, and take a second image of the at least part of the battery cell when the battery cell is in a second deformation state. The system also includes a processor configured to analyze the first image and the second image, identify a first region of the first image that represents a suspected discontinuity, the first region corresponding to a portion of the battery cell, compare the first region of the first image to a second region of the second image, the second region corresponding to the portion of the battery cell, and determine that the suspected discontinuity is an actual discontinuity based on a difference between the first region and the second region.

Abstract: A preemptive optimization of a power distribution event associated with providing an electrical power from a battery onboard a vehicle to a charging station offboard the vehicle. The preemptive optimization may include preemptively charging the battery in advance of the power distribution event and/or preemptively configuring the vehicle and the battery, such as with establishment of standby session, to provide electrical power from the battery to the charging station without providing the electrical power to the charging station until the charging station thereafter experiences an outage, interrupt, etc.

Abstract: Aspects of drone-assisted offroad vehicle emergency systems are addressed. In one aspect, a system includes an offroad vehicle having integrated therein a processing system coupled to a user interface. The processing system is configured to respond to a potential emergency situation including a stranded or lost person or a hazardous condition in a path of the vehicle. An aerial drone is equipped with multiple sensors for receiving data. Responsive to a trigger, the processing system may instruct the drone to deploy one or more times to survey a target region. The drone may receive sensor data relevant to an emergency situation and relay the data back to the vehicle. The processing system analyzes the data to provide a remedial response.

Abstract: A system, e.g., an autonomous vehicle, includes a sensor suite, a controller, and a computer-controllable device. The sensor suite collects user data descriptive of the present emotional state of a human user, such as a passenger of the representative autonomous vehicle. The controller executes a method to control the system. In particular, the controller identifies the user's psychological mode of experience in response to the user data. The controller also selects one or more intervening control actions or “interventions” from a list of possible interventions based on the mode of experience, and then controls an output state of the device to implement the intervention(s). In this manner the controller is able to support or modify the mode of experience of the user.

Abstract: A battery module includes a first battery cell and a neighboring second battery cell. The battery module also includes a heat-sink configured to absorb thermal energy from each of the battery cells. The heat-sink includes first and second coolant channels, each associated with and arranged proximate a corresponding first or second battery cell, configured to receive coolant, and defined by a respective cross-sectional area. Each coolant channel cross-sectional area is configured to selectively vary in response to a change in temperature of the associated first or second battery cell. The coolant channel variable cross-sectional areas are configured to bias cooling to a region of the heat-sink proximate to the battery cell experiencing a thermal runaway event and control propagation of the thermal runaway event to the other battery cell.

Abstract: A negative electrode for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium includes a negative electrode including an electroactive material layer disposed on a current collector that has lithiated silicon oxide (LSO) negative electroactive material at ? about 10 weight % to ? about 30 weight % of a total weight of the electroactive material layer and a carbonaceous negative electroactive material, such as graphite. An electrochemical cell that incorporates such a negative electrode may also include a second electrode comprising a porous positive active material layer comprising a positive lithium containing, nickel-rich electroactive material, such as a lithium nickel manganese cobalt aluminum oxide, a porous separating layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and an electrolyte disposed in pores of the separating layer.

Abstract: An electroactive material for an electrochemical cell includes one or more oxygen storage material coatings or layers. The electroactive material may include a plurality of electroactive material particles disposed to form an electroactive material layer. In certain variations, at least a portion of the plurality of electroactive material particles may have a coating that includes an oxygen storage material. In other variations, an oxygen storage material layer may be disposed on one or more surfaces of the electroactive material layer. In still other variations, at least a portion of the plurality of electroactive material particles may have a coating that includes an oxygen storage material, and an oxygen storage material layer may be disposed on one or more surfaces of the electroactive material layer. The one or more oxygen storage material coatings or layers may help to improve the thermal stability of the electroactive materials.

Abstract: An electroactive material for an electrochemical cell includes one or more conductive oxygen storage material coatings or layers. The electroactive material includes a plurality of electroactive material particles disposed to form an electroactive material layer. In certain variations, at least a portion of the plurality of electroactive material particles may have a coating that includes a conductive oxygen storage material. In other variations, a conductive oxygen storage material layer may be disposed on one or more surfaces of the electroactive material layer. In still other variations, at least a portion of the plurality of electroactive material particles may have a coating that includes a conductive oxygen storage material, and a conductive oxygen storage material layer may be disposed on one or more surfaces of the electroactive material layer. The one or more conductive oxygen storage material coatings or layers may help to improve the thermal stability of the electroactive materials.

Abstract: Presented are battery assemblies containing adhesives fixturing internal battery components, methods for making/using such battery assemblies, and vehicles with battery packs securing battery cells inside a pack housing using fast-setting and slow-curing adhesives. A battery assembly includes multiple battery cells disposed inside a protective battery housing. Top and bottom shear plates, which are attached to opposing sides of the battery housing, sandwich therebetween the battery cells. A first adhesive layer, which is disposed between the cells and the top shear plate, includes a first adhesive having a first chemical composition with a first curing time, and a second adhesive having a second chemical composition, distinct from the first chemical composition, with a second curing time, faster than the first curing time. A second adhesive layer is disposed between the cells and the top or bottom shear plate, spaced from the first adhesive layer, and includes the first and second adhesives.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling treatment of exhaust in a emission control system of a platform having an combustion system and one or more selective catalyst reduction catalysts (SCR) is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes: one or more sensors configured to obtain sensor data pertaining to an SCR temperature for the SCR; and a processor that is coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to at least facilitate controlling treatment of the exhaust based on the SCR temperature.

Abstract: Vehicles and related systems and methods are provided for managing an electrical system. One method involves determining an estimated power consumption associated with one or more loads coupled to an electrical grid, obtaining a current voltage associated with the electrical grid, identifying an expected duration associated with an operating state associated with the vehicle electrical system, determining an energy threshold for the expected duration associated with the operating state based at least in part on the current voltage and the estimated power consumption, and autonomously operating the vehicle electrical system in a manner that is influenced by the energy threshold associated with the operating state.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling charging security systems to enable sharing of charging stations, such as by allowing vehicle owners to use their cell phone or other device to request disarming or otherwise disabling a charging security system so that a corresponding charging station can be shared with another vehicle.