Abstract: A cross-traffic warning system for a motor vehicle includes first and second input devices transmitting associated first and second input signals for first and second detected objects positioned on the roadway. The system further includes a computer having one or more processors and a computer readable medium storing instructions. The processor is programmed to determine that the first object is a Vulnerable Road User (“VRU”) travelling on a first path based on the first input signal. The processor is further programmed to determine that the second object is a third party vehicle and further that the VRU and the third party vehicle are travelling on an associated one of first and second paths to imminently collide with one another based on the first and second input signals. The processor is further programmed to generate an actuation signal in response to the processor determining the imminent collision.

Abstract: A system for adaptive in-drive updating, for a vehicle travelling on a route, includes a controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory. The vehicle is carrying a load. The controller is adapted to obtain one or more dynamic parameters pertaining to the load. A plurality of adaptive predictors is selectively executable by the controller at a timepoint during the route at which a completed portion of the route has been traversed by the vehicle and a remaining portion remains untraversed. The plurality of adaptive predictors includes a speed predictor configured to generate a global speed profile. The plurality of adaptive predictors includes a driving consumption predictor is configured to predict a driving consumption profile for the remaining portion of the route based in part on the dynamic parameter, the route features, the global speed profile, and a past drive consumption.

Abstract: Methods and systems for additive manufacturing are provided. An exemplary method includes calculating a slice area distribution of a desired 3D design including slice areas of slices of the desired design, wherein the slices have an initial slice area differential. The method further includes obtaining a slice area distribution of a sacrificial 3D design comprising slice areas of slices of the sacrificial design. The method includes planning a 3D layout of the desired and sacrificial design, wherein at each respective parallel plane in the layout a total slice area includes a respective slice area of the desired design and a respective slice area of the sacrificial design, and wherein the layout has a total slice area differential that is less than the initial slice area differential. Also, the method includes generating instructions for printing slices of the desired design and the sacrificial design according to the layout.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a head-up display system includes training a neural network to predict warp maps for an occupant perspective of a single graphical image projected onto a windshield of the vehicle, projecting, with a digital light projector, a graphical image onto the windshield, capturing, with a camera in proximity to the digital light projector, the graphical image projected onto the windshield, locating, with an occupant monitoring system, an occupant eye ellipse position, predicting, with the neural network, a warp map for an occupant perspective of the projected graphical image based on the location of the digital light projector, the occupant eye ellipse position and a shape of the windshield, applying, with the controller, the warp map to the graphical image projected by the digital light projector, and projecting, with the digital light projector, a corrected graphical image based on the predicted warp map.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an interfacial lithium fluoride layer for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is disclosed. In the method, a substrate is positioned in a reaction chamber of an atomic layer deposition reactor and a lithium fluoride (LiF) precursor is introduced into the reaction chamber such that the LiF precursor contacts and chemically reacts with functional groups on the substrate. Then, an oxidant is introduced into the reaction chamber to form a single molecular layer of lithium fluoride on the substrate. The lithium fluoride layer is formed on the substrate at a temperature of greater than or equal to about 110 degrees Celsius to less than or equal to about 250 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: An anode-free electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions includes a positive electrode assembly having a positive current collector and a positive electroactive material layer, a negative current collector that includes a surface configured to receive a negative electroactive material after one or more formation cycles of the anode-free electrochemical cell, and a separating layer disposed between the positive electroactive material layer and the surface of the negative current collector. The separating layer includes an electrolyte that includes greater than or equal to about 20 wt. % to less than or equal to about 99.5 wt. % of a concentrated electrolyte having a lithium salt concentration greater than or equal to about 2 M to less than or equal to about 6 M, and greater than or equal to about 0.5 wt. % to less than or equal to about 80 wt. % of an ionic liquid.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling alignment of a vehicle during parking that include obtaining sensor data via one or more sensors of a vehicle, as to passenger occupancy of the vehicle and as to a parking location for the vehicle; identifying, via a processor of the vehicle, which passenger seats of the vehicle are occupied, based on the sensor data; identifying, via the processor, the parking location based on the sensor data; and determining, via the processor, an offset for parking of the vehicle in the parking location, based at least in part on which passenger seats of the vehicle are occupied.

Abstract: Presented are hybrid fixture assemblies with integrated additive manufactured features, methods for making/using such fixtures, and manufacturing systems equipped with such fixtures. A manufacturing fixture assembly includes a fixture support frame formed, at least in part, from a first material, and a fixture support shell formed, at least in part, from a second material distinct from the first material. The support frame, which seats on/mounts to a work surface, includes a skeletal substructure with multiple male connectors projecting therefrom. The skeletal substructure contains multiple first frame walls that are removably intermeshed with multiple second frame walls in a collapsible format. The support shell includes a support surface that holds a workpiece, an interface surface that abuts the skeletal substructure, and multiple female connectors that project from the interface surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for vehicular computation management. The system includes, onboard a vehicle, electric control units (ECUs), a battery, a communication system, and a controller. The controller is configured to monitor energy consumption, operate the vehicle as a computational hub when the energy consumption is less than a threshold, including providing computational resources to an external node, determine whether the vehicle has excess energy and computational capacity when the energy consumption is equal to or greater than the threshold, including determining a usage of each of the ECUs and determining an energy consumption of tasks executing thereon, and operate the vehicle as a hybrid computational hub when the vehicle has excess energy and computational capacity, including providing excess computational capacity of the ECUs to the external node.

Abstract: An electrode assembly includes a current collector, a lithium metal foil, and an alloyed interface that chemically binds the current collector and the lithium metal foil. In certain variations, the alloyed interface includes an intermediate layer disposed between the current collector and the lithium metal foil, a portion of the current collector adjacent to the intermediate layer is alloyed with the indium, gallium, or alloy of indium and gallium defining the intermediate layer, and a portion of the lithium metal foil adjacent to the intermediate layer is alloyed with the indium, gallium, or alloy of indium and gallium defining the intermediate layer. In other variations, the alloyed interface includes a copper-lithium alloy.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides electrode assemblies for safe nondestructive testing in ambient conditions. In certain variations, the electrode assembly includes a current collector and a non-reactive lithium mimic material disposed on or near one or more surfaces of the current collector or embedded in the current collector. In other variations, the electrode assembly includes include a current collector, a lithium metal material disposed on or near one or more surfaces of the current collector or embedded in the current collector to form an electrode assembly, and a non-conductive pouch holding the electrode assembly.

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: A coated polymer separator for a battery cell is provided. The coated polymer separator includes a polymer separator including a first primary surface and a second primary surface. The coated polymer separator further includes a ceramic-based composite coating disposed on the first primary surface and the second primary surface. The ceramic-based composite coating includes lithiated zeolite particles and particles of a second ceramic material including an oxide.

Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of embossments in a sheet of metal includes: (i) placing the sheet onto a first surface of a die having a plurality of embossment cavities thereon, wherein the sheet has a bottom surface in contact with the first surface of the die and a top surface having an ablative coating formed thereon; and (ii) directing a laser beam at the ablative coating at one or more loci on the top surface of the sheet which correspond to the plurality of embossment cavities on the first surface of the die, so as to locally ablate the ablative coating at the one or more loci and turn the ablative coating at the one or more loci into plasma, thereby causing a plasma pressure shock wave at each of the one or more loci which presses the sheet into the embossment cavities to form the embossments.

Abstract: An apparatus including a battery cell includes an electrode stack. The electrode stack includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and a separator disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. The apparatus further includes an enclosure configured for encasing and mechanically protecting the electrode stack. The apparatus further includes an electrolyte. The apparatus further includes a thermally conductive and electrically insulated inert fill material located between the electrode stack and the enclosure configured for providing a thermally conductive connection between the electrode stack and the enclosure.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions includes a positive electrode that includes a positive electroactive material, a negative electrode that includes a negative electroactive material, and a free-standing separating layer disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The free-standing separating layer includes a gel membrane that includes a polymer host and a liquid electrolyte and an integrated structural component disposed within the gel membrane. The integrated structural component may be selected from the group consisting of: a plurality of solid-state electrolyte particles, a nonwoven material, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: Method of using a vehicle to alert to potential risks includes determining that a user of the vehicle will be absent; determining an estimated absence time; and sending an alert to authorities, via a control system, if the user does not return within the estimated absence time. The method may include receiving the estimated absence time from the user, or the control system of the vehicle determines the absence and the estimated absence time. The user may define the absence and input the estimated absence time through a centralized location, such that the alert is sent from the centralized location. Following expiration of the estimated absence time, detecting a pedestrian near the vehicle, and then playing a pre-recorded emergency message through speakers, such that the pedestrian is made aware of the pre-recorded emergency message. Vehicle lights/horn may operate to guide the user, possibly in decaying fashion.

Abstract: Vehicles and related systems and methods are provided for managing an electrical system. One method involves identifying a current condition associated with an energy source coupled to an electrical grid, identifying a current operating state associated with the vehicle electrical system, determining an adjusted control target for the energy source to increase availability of the energy source based at least in part on the current condition and the current operating state, identifying a control scheme for the energy source based at least in part on the current condition associated with the energy source, and autonomously operating the vehicle electrical system in a manner that is influenced by the adjusted control target in accordance with the identified control scheme.

Abstract: An electroactive material for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The electroactive material includes a plurality of atomic layers and a plurality of cations disposed between the atomic layers. The plurality of atomic layers includes an atom selected from the group consisting of: silicon, germanium, boron, and combinations thereof. The plurality of cations is selected from the group consisting of: calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, nickel, potassium, sodium, and combinations thereof. A ratio of the cations to atoms that define the atomic layer may be less than about 1:2.

Abstract: An object detection and predictive motion warning system for a vehicle. The system may include a plurality of weight sensors configured to generate weight values in response to pressure being applied thereto and an object detection and predictive motion controller configured to detect an object within the vehicle and to predict a motion assessment for the object as function thereof.