Abstract: A system for calibrating a display for a vehicle includes a reference calibration system including a reference windscreen and a reference transparent windscreen display (TWD) projector including a reference TWD camera. The reference calibration system also includes a reference camera and a reference controller in electrical communication with the reference TWD projector and the reference camera. The reference controller is programmed to project a reference graphic on the reference windscreen using the reference TWD projector. The reference controller is further programmed to capture a first reference image of the reference graphic using the reference camera. The reference controller is further programmed to calculate at least one reference calibration matrix based at least in part on the first reference image of the reference graphic.

Abstract: A brake rotor having a composite structure may include an annular body defining opposite friction surfaces of the brake rotor. The annular body may include a core made of an Al—Si alloy, a thermal barrier layer made of a thermally insulating material disposed on the core, and a wear-resistant layer made of an Fe—Al—Si—Zr alloy disposed on the core over the thermal barrier layer. The wear-resistant layer may define a first one of the opposite friction surfaces of the annular body.

Abstract: An emblem installation system for installing emblems on a work piece includes an end effector for a robotic arm. The end effector has a base and multiple vacuum gripper modules repositionable along the base in different configurations. The vacuum gripper modules are configured to simultaneously grip multiple emblems and individually release the emblems. An emblem installation method includes applying a force within a first range of forces to the multiple emblems individually and in succession via vacuum gripper modules of an end effector on a robotic arm, with the emblems disposed at a first location, applying a vacuum to the vacuum gripper modules to grip the emblems with the vacuum gripper modules, and moving the robotic arm from the first location to a second location adjacent a workpiece with the emblems gripped by the vacuum gripper modules.

Abstract: A method for controlling transient operation of a variable flux machine (VFM) includes, during a shunt angle transition, receiving a commanded and measured shunt angle when operating in a predetermined operating region, e.g., maximum torque per ampere or field weakening. The method includes calculating d-axis and q-axis delta current terms (?Id and ?Iq) required to maintain an output torque level of the VFM through a duration of the shunt angle transition, then applying the required ?Id and ?Id terms as feed-forward terms to adjust a d-axis current (Id) term and a q-axis current (Iq) term from a respective lookup table. In this manner the controller maintains the output torque level of the VFM during the shunt angle transition. An electric powertrain includes the VFM, a TPIM, and the controller. A PM machine may be controlled by substituting temperature for shunt angle.

Abstract: A cargo bed extension system includes: a cargo bed; a tailgate configured to pivot to a down position via one or more first hinges, where the tailgate includes: an outer portion having first lateral sides and one or more second hinges; an inner portion having second lateral sides that are disposed adjacent to the first lateral sides when the tailgate is in the down position, where the inner portion is configured to rotate to a vertical position via the one or more second hinges, where the vertical position is approximately perpendicular to the down position; at least one first extension panel configured to move rearwardly and directly contact the inner portion when the inner portion is in the vertical position; and at least one second extension panel configured to move rearwardly and to directly contact the inner portion when the inner portion is in the vertical position.

Abstract: A master alloy including an alloy composition including magnesium (Mg) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 1.00 wt. % to less than or equal to about 90 wt. %, boron (B) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 0.01 wt. % to less than or equal to about 20 wt. %, and aluminum (Al) at a concentration of greater than or equal to about 0.1 wt. % to less than or equal to about 90 wt. %, wherein the alloy composition includes MgB2 particles at a volume fraction greater than or equal to about 0.01% to less than or equal to about 20%.

Abstract: A composite panel includes a backing substrate and a first plurality of fiber tows. The first plurality of fiber tows is stitched to a first surface of the backing substrate in a predetermined pattern to form a fiber reinforced insert. A first polymer layer encapsulates the first surface of the backing substrate and the first plurality of fiber tows.

Abstract: A system includes a battery system including a plurality of batteries and configured to be selectively coupled to and charged by a renewable energy source and selectively coupled to and charged by a power grid. The system further includes a DC bus shared by a plurality of loads and an energy management system connected between the battery system and the plurality of loads. The energy management system is configured to selectively connect individual ones of the plurality of batteries to at least one of the plurality of loads via the DC bus, selectively connect the battery system to the power grid and disconnect the battery system from the power grid, and selectively connect at least one of the plurality of loads directly to the power grid.

Abstract: A reference electrode assembly includes a porous separator and a continuous electroactive material layer disposed on a surface of the porous separator. The electroactive material layer includes between about 20 wt. % and about 80 wt. % of an electroactive material and between about 20 wt. % and about 80 wt. % of an electrically conductive material. A loading density of the electroactive material is greater than or equal to about 0.01 mAh/cm2 to less than or equal to about 0.1 mAh/cm2. The electroactive material can be selected from the group consisting of: LiFePO4 (LFP), lithium-aluminum alloys, lithium-tin alloys, and combinations thereof; and the electrically conductive material can be selected from the group consisting of: carbon black, carbon nanotubes, graphite, metal nano-micro particles, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method, system and vehicle that repetitively correct angle offsets in a synthetic aperture radar image of a vehicle while the vehicle is in motion by utilizing a radar system and a camera to determine accurate velocity of a measured object by matching angles of the object in the SAR image with angles of the object in the camera image, thereby reducing angle offsets of objects in the SAR image. The method includes obtaining an SAR image of another vehicle via a radar unit of the vehicle, obtaining a camera image of the other vehicle via a camera unit of the vehicle, determining an association between at least one object in the SAR image and a corresponding at least one object in the camera image, correcting a velocity estimation of the vehicle based on the determined association, and adjusting the SAR image based on the corrected velocity estimation.

Abstract: A system includes a main power unit providing power, user interfaces providing an indication of an event requiring communication with an external location, a telematics system providing communications related to telematics services, and a communication interface initiating communication between a vehicle and the location in response to the indication.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The electrochemical cell may include a first porous electrode, a second porous electrode, and a separating layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first porous electrode includes an electrolyte intermingled with a nickel-rich positive electroactive material. The second porous electrode includes the electrolyte intermingled a silicon-based negative electroactive material. The electrolyte includes greater than or equal to about 1 wt. % to less than or equal to about 3 wt. % of an electrolyte additive and a solvent mixture. The electrolyte additive may be selected from the group consisting of: succinic anhydride (SA), maleic anhydride, N-carboxyanhydride, glutaric anhydride, isatin anhydride, citraconic anhydride, and combinations thereof. The solvent mixture may include ethylene carbonate (EC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) in mass ratio of about 3:7.

Abstract: A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an electronic control unit (ECU), includes enabling an initial set of vehicle performance limits of the motor vehicle via the ECU in response to a request signal from a computer device. The method includes detecting a current vehicle state of the motor vehicle, including one or more of a location of the motor vehicle, an occupancy state of the motor vehicle, and/or an experience level of a driver thereof, and dynamically adjusting at least one of the performance limits in response to the current vehicle state. A motor vehicle includes one or more road wheels and vehicle components connected to a vehicle body. The ECU includes non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for performing the method.

Abstract: An electrical connector system for electrically coupling a movable component to a fixed component includes a first connector including a first body and a first door. The first door is movable to expose a first electrical connector disposed within the first body. The electrical connector system includes a second connector including a second body and a second door. The second door is movable to expose a second electrical connector disposed within the second body. The electrical connector system includes an actuator coupled to the second electrical connector. The actuator is configured to move the second electrical connector to couple the second electrical connector to the first electrical connector.

Abstract: Presented are systems for manufacturing membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells, control logic for operating such systems, methods for making such MEAs, and fuel cell systems employing such MEAs. A method of manufacturing a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a fuel cell system includes receiving a standalone membrane (SAM) with a semipermeable proton-exchange membrane having opposing first and second faces and a backing layer attached to the first face. A SAM may be characterized by a lack of cathode and anode electrodes upon receipt of the membrane. The second face of the SAM is placed across a vacuum plate; the vacuum plate applies a predefined vacuum pressure to the SAM. While vacuum pressure is being applied to the SAM by the vacuum plate, the backing layer is removed from the SAM. A subgasket is then attached to the first face of the SAM after the backing layer is removed.

Abstract: A solid-state electrolyte for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The solid-state electrolyte includes a sintered layer that includes a plurality of lithiated zeolite particles having pores and a lithium-containing material disposed in at least a portion of the pores of the lithiated zeolite particles. For example, each lithiated zeolite particle has a porosity greater than or equal to about 20 vol. % to less than or equal to about 80 vol. %, and the lithium-containing material occupies greater than or equal to about 20% to less than or equal to about 80% of a total porosity of each lithiated zeolite particle. In certain instances, the sintered layer further includes a superionic additive that is also disposed in a portion of the pores of the lithiated zeolite particles, such that the sintered layer has an ionic conductivity between about 1×10?5 S·cm?1 and about 1×10?1 S·cm?1.

Abstract: The concepts described herein provide a system and associated charging connector that is capable of offloading electric power stored in a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) of an electrified vehicle to supply electric power to a stationary system, e.g., a residential dwelling or a business site, upon occurrence of a power outage in an electric power grid that supplies electric power to the stationary system. This includes the charging connector being capable of offloading electric power under conditions in which the RESS of the electrified vehicle is initially disconnected from the charging connector when the power outage occurs. This concept enables an electrified vehicle to supply electric power to a stationary system when connecting after a delay period subsequent to the power outage.

Abstract: A battery cell monitoring system includes a battery cell monitoring unit, including a controller, a battery monitoring sensor, and a radiofrequency (RF) signal manager electrically connected to a first RF antenna via a transmission link, wherein the transmission link includes an adaptive tuning circuit; and a battery management system in communication with a second RF antenna. The battery monitoring sensor is arranged to monitor a parameter of a battery cell, the RF signal manager generates a signal having a parametric component and a control component, wherein the control component dynamically controls the adaptive tuning circuit, and the RF signal manager wirelessly communicates the signal between the battery cell monitoring unit and the battery management system via the first RF antenna and the second RF antenna.