Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a rotor shaft and a rotor core supported by the rotor shaft and surrounded by a plurality of windings. The rotor assembly also includes a first brush engaging a first slip ring fixed relative to a first distal end of the rotor shaft. The first brush includes one of a first conical projection or a first convex receptacle and the first slip ring includes the other of the first conical projection or the first convex receptacle. A first electrical connection extends between the first slip ring and the plurality of windings. A second brush is configured to engage a second slip ring with the second slip ring fixed relative to the rotor shaft. A second electrical connection extending between the second slip ring and the plurality of windings.

Abstract: A power transfer system for a separately excited machine includes a positive slipring and a negative slipring. One or more positive brushes and one or more negative brushes. A rotor winding attached to rotor laminations and a stator winding attached to stator laminations, such that the stator winding is outside of the rotor winding. The power transfer system may have a hollow shaft. The power transfer system may also have the negative brush and the negative slipring being exterior to the hollow shaft, and one or more position sensors. A shaft ingress separator may be within the hollow shaft and may act as a barrier between wet areas and dry areas. The power transfer system may also include a positive wire and a negative wire, which may be reversed.

Abstract: A propulsion system for a vehicle includes an electric motor configured to generate torque to propel the vehicle. The electric motor has a stator assembly with a plurality of stator slots defining slot layers along a respective slot axis. A first plurality of conductors is at least partially positioned in the plurality of stator slots and forming a first winding set. A second plurality of conductors is at least partially positioned in the plurality of stator slots and forms a second winding set. A first inverter is adapted to drive the electric motor, the first winding set being coupled to the first inverter. A second inverter is adapted to drive the electric motor, the second winding set being coupled to the second inverter. The system includes a controller adapted to control operation of the first and second inverters based in part on a motor speed of the electric motor.

Abstract: A rotor power transfer circuit for an electric machine. The rotor power transfer circuit may include a multiple leaf direct current (DC)-to-DC (DC-DC) converter having a plurality of branches connected in parallel to a source of DC power. The branches may include a plurality of switches operable for selectively controlling DC power transfer therethrough according to a plurality of rotor winding excitations modes. The rotor power transfer circuit may include an electrical interface configured for electrically connecting each branch with one of a one or more rotor windings wrapped around a plurality of circumferentially spaced rotor protrusions of the electric machine.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a rotor assembly having a rotor shaft disposed along a central axis. The electric machine includes an inductive position sensor having a sensor target that is operatively connected to the rotor shaft. The sensor target is fixed relative to the rotor shaft such that the sensor target rotates with the rotor shaft. The electric machine includes a stationary member and a rotating member operatively connected to the rotor shaft. The rotating member is spaced from the stationary member by an air gap. The stationary member and the rotating member are configured to enable non-contact power transfer from the stationary member to the rotating member through the air gap. The non-contact power transfer may be an inductive power transfer or a capacitive power.

Abstract: An electric machine including a stator having a plurality of stator windings configured for generating a magnetic field and a rotor configured for rotating within the stator according to a torque induced by the magnetic field. The rotor includes a plurality of electrically independent rotor winding sets wrapped around each of a plurality of circumferentially spaced rotor protrusions. The electric machine further includes a power transfer circuit operable for independently controlling electrical excitation of the rotor winding sets. The electric machine further includes a cooling system for dissipating heat way from the rotor winding sets.

Abstract: A vehicle distraction monitoring system includes a plurality of sensors coupled to a body of the vehicle and a vehicle processor that includes a distraction monitoring application, data processing hardware, and memory hardware storing vehicle data, and distraction zone data. The vehicle processor is configured to receive vehicle sensor data and distraction sensor data from the plurality of sensors and is configured to issue a distraction notification in response to one or more of the distraction zone data, the vehicle sensor data, and the distraction sensor data.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting a first wireless communication from a user device via an authorized first cellular network. The first wireless communication includes a current geographic location of the user device. The user device maintains a forbidden list identifying unauthorized cellular networks. Based on determining that the user device is approaching a geofence between a first network coverage area of the first cellular network and a second network coverage area of a second cellular network that is identified on the forbidden list, the method includes removing the second cellular network from the forbidden list. With the second cellular network removed from the forbidden list and based on the user device entering the second network coverage area, the method includes transmitting a second wireless communication from the user device via the second cellular network that includes an updated geographic location of the user device.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine including a rotor core having a plurality of circumferentially spaced rotor poles. Each rotor pole may include a plurality of rotor slots arranged into one or more magnetic layers and one or more non-magnetic layers. The magnetic layers may include a magnet within one or more of the rotor slots thereof and the non-magnetic layers including no magnets within the rotor slots thereof.

Abstract: Presented are electric machines with winding-slot embedded heat pipes/vapor chambers and endcap-integrated heat sinks, methods for making/using such machines, and vehicles equipped with such machines. An electric machine, such as a traction motor or electric generator, 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 an annular stator core with one or more electromagnetic stator windings mounted on or in the stator core. The rotor assembly includes a cylindrical rotor core and one or more electromagnetic rotor windings mounted in rotor slots of the rotor core. One or more heat pipes are mounted in the rotor slot(s), adjacent the rotor winding(s), and projecting axially from one or both axial ends of the rotor core. Each heat pipe extracts thermal energy from the rotor winding(s) and transfers the thermal energy out from the rotor core.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method is provided for controlling thermal management of a device via a thermal system, the method including obtaining, via a flow sensor, flow data as to a flow of coolant of the thermal system; determining, via a processor, one or more characteristics of the flow of the coolant of the thermal system, based on the flow data; and adjusting control of the thermal system for the thermal management of the device, based on the one or more characteristics of the flow of the coolant of the thermal system, via instructions provided by the processor.

Abstract: A method for forming a bipolar solid-state battery includes preparing a mixture of gel precursor solution and solid electrolyte. The gel precursor includes a polymer, a first solvent, and a liquid electrolyte. The liquid electrolyte includes a second solvent, a lithium salt, and electrolyte additive. The method includes loading the mixture onto at least one of a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode. Each of the first, second, and third electrodes includes a plurality of solid-state electroactive particles. The method includes removing at least a portion of the first solvent from the mixture to form a gel and positioning one of the first, second, and third electrodes with respect to another of the first, second, and third electrodes. The method includes applying a polymer blocker to a border of the first, second, or third electrodes.

Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS)-bias detection and reduction system including a GPS-bias model having GPS statistical data creating a database representing data collected from a vehicle group having thousands or multiple thousands of vehicles saved in a database. At least one newly collected vehicle GPS data point is compared to the GPS statistical data to reduce negative effects of GPS-bias and to update the vehicle GPS-bias correction based on a previous GPS-bias model. A selected road node and a segment of a roadway have a map matching performed using a nearest service from a collection location of the GPS statistical data. A GPS-bias is calculated using a look-up of the database. An estimated horizontal position error (EHPE) defining a quality indicator is applied to distinguish a good quality GPS statistical data from a poor quality GPS statistical data.

Abstract: A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle includes receiving road data. The road data includes information about a plurality of potential events along the road ahead of the autonomous vehicle. The method further includes determining, in real time, a probability that the plurality of potential events along the road ahead of the autonomous vehicle will occur while the autonomous vehicle moves along the road and determining, in real time, an adjusted planned path using a probabilistic predictive control that takes into account the probability that the plurality of potential events along the road ahead of the autonomous vehicle will occur. Further, the method includes controlling the autonomous vehicle to cause the autonomous vehicle to autonomously follow the adjusted planned path.

Abstract: A charging system for an electric vehicle includes: a memory configured to store terminal clamp voltage (CV) and a cutoff current (CC) combination pairs; a charging receptacle configured to connect to an offboard charging station; and an onboard charging circuit. The onboard charging circuit includes: a high-voltage direct current bus connected to a rechargeable energy storage system; and a control module configured to communicate with the offboard charging station and determine charging capabilities of the offboard charging station and the onboard charging circuit, to select one of the CV and CC combination pairs based on the charging capabilities of the offboard charging station and the onboard charging circuit, and to initiate charging of the rechargeable energy storage system based on the selected one of the CV and CC combination pairs.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension control system includes a central suspension spring core, a first suspension spring surrounding an upper portion of the central suspension spring core, a second suspension spring surrounding a lower portion of the central suspension spring core, the first suspension spring and the second suspension spring coupled between a wheel and a fixed structure of a vehicle to inhibit movement of the wheel, a spring seat surrounding the central suspension spring core and coupled between the first and second suspension springs, the spring seat including an outer sleeve and multiple seals for retaining magnetorheological fluid between the outer sleeve and the central suspension spring core, one or more electromagnets adjacent the spring seat, and a suspension control module configured to energize the one or more electromagnets to selectively modify a viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid to inhibit movement of the first suspension spring or the second suspension spring.

Abstract: A method includes receiving planned path data, road data, and speed profile data, determining anticipatory constraints for each of the plurality of steps along a planned path using the planned path data, the road data, and the speed profile data, determining a plurality of control actions using a Model Predictive Control (MPC). The prediction model of the MPC is updated in real time with the plurality of anticipatory constraints for each of the plurality of steps along the planned path and the road data for each of the plurality of steps along the planned path. The method further includes controlling the vehicle using the plurality of control actions to cause the vehicle to autonomously follow the planned path.

Abstract: A layered catalyst structure for purifying an exhaust gas stream includes a catalyst support and a rhodium catalyst layer including an atomic dispersion of rhodium ions and/or rhodium atoms adsorbed on an exterior surface of the catalyst support. The catalyst support includes an alumina substrate, a first ceria layer disposed on and extending substantially continuously over the alumina substrate, and a second colloidal ceria layer formed directly on the first ceria layer over the alumina substrate.

Abstract: A system for displaying information to an occupant of a vehicle includes a microphone, a camera for capturing images of an environment surrounding the vehicle, a display, and a controller in electrical communication with the microphone, the camera, and the display. The controller is programmed to receive a voice command from the occupant using the microphone, determine at least one characteristic of the requested object based on the voice command, capture an image of the environment using the camera, where the environment includes a relevant object, and to identify a location of the relevant object in the environment based at least in part on the image and the at least one characteristic of the requested object. The controller is further programmed to display a graphic based at least in part on the location of the relevant object in the environment using the display.

Abstract: A system for generating an image for passengers in a vehicle includes a display adapted to project an image, a polarization rotator actuatable to rotate the polarization of an image to one of S-polarization and P-polarization, a reflector unit adapted to reflect S-polarized images to a first beam splitter, and to reflect P-polarized images to a second beam splitter, each of the first and second beam splitters adapted to receive an image and to reflect the image to an associated passenger, and a controller in communication with the display and the polarization rotator, the controller adapted to simultaneously actuate the display to alternate between projecting a first image and a second image, actuate the polarization rotator to alternate between rotating the polarization of an image to S-polarization and P-polarization, and synchronize the display and the polarization rotator.