Abstract: A system includes a platform to support a vehicle on a first side of the platform and a passive motion device arranged on a second side of the platform, opposite the first side, to move upon actuation. A mechanical actuator actuates the passive motion device based on movement of one or more wheels of the vehicle to change a position of the vehicle. The position of the vehicle relative to the platform is unchanged and the passive motion device is actuated by only the movement of the one or more wheels of the vehicle to change the position of the vehicle.

Abstract: A battery charging system includes: an electric motor including stator coils; a battery; a charge port configured to receive power from charging stations by wire; first and second electrical conductors connected between the battery and the charge port; an inverter module including (a) inputs connected to receive power from the battery and (b) outputs connected to the electric motor; a third electrical conductor; and a switch configured to electrically connect and disconnect a first end of the third electrical conductor to and from the first electrical conductor, where the third electrical conductor includes a second end that is connected to at least one of the stator coils via one of the outputs of the inverter module.

Abstract: A vehicle seat including a seatback, and headrest including a shell member. A release mechanism is mounted to the shell member. The release mechanism selectively locks the headrest relative to the seatback. An actuator system extends between the seatback and the headrest. The actuator system includes a sleeve having a first end fixedly connected relative to the seatback, a second end fixedly connected relative to the headrest shell, and an intermediate portion defining a longitudinal length of the sleeve, and a cable extending through the sleeve. The cable has a first end section arranged in the seatback and a second end section coupled to the release mechanism. The longitudinal length of the sleeve includes a first dimension when the seatback is in an upright position and the longitudinal length has a second, longer dimension, when the seatback is in a folded configuration.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting and mitigating an erratic vehicle by a host vehicle. The method includes gathering sensor information on a calibratable external region surrounding the host vehicle; analyzing the sensor information to detect a target vehicle traveling in a lane and a movement of the target vehicle in the lane; determining whether the movement of the target vehicle in the lane is erratic; if erratic then designating target vehicle as erratic vehicle; assigning a risk score to the erratic vehicle; and implementing a predetermined mitigating action correlating to the assigned risk score to the erratic vehicle. The mitigating action includes one or more of: warning an operator of the host vehicle, warning a vehicle proximal to the host vehicle, and taking at least partial control of the host vehicle to further distance the host vehicle apart from the erratic vehicle.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a pair of electrical connectors for electrically connecting to one another to close an electric circuit. The assembly further includes a connection indicator attached to one or more of the electrical connectors. The connection indicator generates a feedback, in response to the electrical connectors being one of connected to one another and disconnected from one another. The connection indicator is separate from the electric circuit, and the feedback is at least one of a radio frequency signal (RF signal), an electronic signal, a visible light, and an acoustic signal.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis, a passenger compartment supported by the chassis, and a box supported by the chassis spaced from the passenger compartment. The box including a lower bed fixedly mounted to the chassis, an upper bed, and a tail gate pivotally connected to the upper bed. Each of the upper bed, and the tail gate is shiftable relative to the lower bed.

Abstract: Sun-aware routing and controls of an autonomous vehicle is described herein. A location and an orientation of a sensor system is identified within an environment of the autonomous vehicle to determine whether the sun causes a threshold level of perception degradation to the sensor system incident to generating a sensor signal indicative of a traffic light. The determination is based upon perception degradation data that can be precomputed for locations and orientations within the environment for dates and times of day. The perception degradation data is based upon the location of at least one traffic light and positions of the sun relative to the locations and the orientations within the environment. A mechanical system of the autonomous vehicle is controlled to execute a maneuver that reduces perception degradation to the sensor system when the perception degradation is determined to exceed the threshold level of perception degradation.

Abstract: A multi-cell rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) includes a plurality of battery cells organized into battery modules and a first enclosure configured to house the battery modules. The RESS also includes a first vent arranged on the first enclosure and configured to direct air from inside the first enclosure to an environment external to the first enclosure. The RESS additionally includes a second vent arranged on the first enclosure and configured to direct air into the first enclosure from the environment external to the first enclosure. The RESS further includes a phase-change material (PCM) device arranged on the second vent and configured to melt in response to at least one of the battery modules experiencing a thermal runaway event. In combination with the first vent, the PCM generates crossflow ventilation through the first enclosure to cool the battery modules therein and mitigate thermal runaway.

Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes a rotor assembly having an outer surface and including a plurality of poles with permanent magnets. A solid layer is formed on the outer surface of the rotor assembly and has an outer surface with a first coefficient of friction that is lower than a second coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the rotor assembly. The rotor includes an outer sleeve. The rotor assembly is press-fit into the outer sleeve.

Abstract: A protection system for a battery system includes a battery control module configured to selectively open at least one contactor to isolate the battery system from a load in response to a sensed current being greater than a first threshold and within a first current range, at least one fuse connected between first and second terminals of the battery system and configured to open to isolate the battery system from the load in response to the sensed current being greater than a second threshold and within a second current range that is greater than and offset from the first current range, and an auxiliary protection module configured to selectively form a short circuit between first and second terminals in response to the sensed current being greater than the first threshold, less than the second threshold, and within a coverage gap region between the first and second current ranges.

Abstract: A system for optimizing charging for a vehicle having a rechargeable energy storage unit and travelling on a route includes a controller. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. Execution of the instructions by the processor causes the controller to obtain details of the route, including surveying local charging infrastructure to determine availability of one or more charging stations within a predefined radius of the route. The controller is adapted to obtain respective station parameters pertaining to the one or more charging stations. Based on user input, at least one session goal is selected from a predefined set of goals. The controller is adapted to generate a recommended charging profile respectively for one or more stops along the route, based in part on the session goal and the respective station parameters.

Abstract: A modular steering wheel assembly includes a central hub having a center support, a first support element extending outwardly from the center support in a first direction and a second support element extending outwardly from the center support in a second direction. The first support element includes a first connector member and a second connector member, and the second support element includes a first connector element and a second connector element. A first steering wheel member is detachably connected to at least one of the first connector member and the second connector member, and a second steering wheel member is detachably connected to at least one of the first connector element and the second connector element.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to controlling an autonomous vehicle to provide indicators to distinguish the autonomous vehicle from other autonomous vehicles in a fleet. The autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle propulsion system, a braking system, a notification system, and a computing system. The notification system outputs an indicator that is perceivable external to the autonomous vehicle. The computing system receives data specifying an identity of a passenger to be picked up by the autonomous vehicle. Moreover, the computing system controls at least one of the vehicle propulsion system or the braking system to stop the autonomous vehicle for passenger pickup. Further, the computing system controls the notification system to output the indicator; a characteristic of the indicator outputted by the notification system is controlled based on the identity of the passenger to be picked up and whether the autonomous vehicle is stopped for passenger pickup.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling driver communication includes monitoring, via a plurality of on-vehicle subsystems, a vehicle state, an external environment state, and an in-cabin state via the plurality of on-vehicle subsystems; determining a driver workload score based upon the external environment state, the in-cabin state, and the vehicle state; receiving an incoming message; ranking the incoming message; determining a notification action for the incoming message based upon the driver workload score and the rank of the incoming message; and executing the notification action for the incoming message.

Abstract: A system for in-situ mapping of electrode potential and thermal distribution is provided. The system includes a test device. The test device includes an anode, a cathode, a reference electrode, a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode, and a voltage potential sensor configured for monitoring a voltage potential at a first position upon one of the anode or the cathode as compared to a voltage potential of the reference electrode. The system further includes an infrared sensor device configured for collecting data describing temperature variation across a surface of one of the anode or the cathode.

Abstract: A location assistance system includes a distress vehicle and multiple assistance vehicles. The distress vehicle broadcasts an emergency signal. The assistance vehicles are operable to receive the emergency signal, determine multiple distances to the distress vehicle, triangulate among the assistance vehicles to generate a spatial map of the distress vehicle relative to the assistance vehicles, determine one or more approximately horizontal lines in the spatial map that include the distress vehicle and at least one horizontally aligned assistance vehicle in response to the distress vehicle and the at least one horizontally aligned assistance vehicle being on a same vertical level in the spatial map, coordinate among the assistance vehicles to determine one or more horizontal sequences along the one or more approximately horizontal lines, and flash the of the assistance vehicles in the one or more horizontal sequences to lead toward the distress vehicle.

Abstract: A battery module includes first and second neighboring battery cells. The battery module also includes a cold-plate configured to remove thermal energy from the first and second battery cells. The cold-plate includes first and second sections configured to seat respective first and second cells. The first section defines a first vent arranged directly adjacent the first cell and configured to exhaust gases therefrom. The cold-plate additionally includes a first closure element arranged within and configured to block the first vent in a first mode to transfer thermal energy from the first cell to the cold-plate. The first closure element is additionally configured to open the first vent in a second mode when the first cell undergoes a thermal event to exhaust gases and transfer thermal energy from the first cell through the first vent and thereby control propagation of a thermal runaway in the battery module.

Abstract: A method for dynamically matching energy demand of a population of electric vehicles (EVs) with energy supply of a population of charging stations within a geofenced perimeter includes receiving, via a cloud-based server, EV information from each respective EV, and receiving charging station information from each respective charging station. The method includes generating an SoC map and a charging station power map from the EV information and the charging station information, respectively, and predicting the energy supply and demand using the maps. The server dynamically matches the EVs to at least one of the charging stations or vice versa using a reward function, the predicted energy supply, and the predicted energy demand, including generating a rank-ordered listing for each of the EVs and/or each of the charging stations in a manner that maximizes an expected discounted future reward.

Abstract: Presented are pressure burst covers with electrical interlocks for battery vents, methods for making/using such covers, and motor vehicles equipped with such covers for detecting thermal events in lithium-class batteries. A battery assembly includes an electrochemical battery cell housed inside a battery container. The battery container includes a fluid port that evacuates therethrough cell-generated gases. A pressure burst cap is movably attached to the battery container to selectively transition from a closed position, whereat the cap covers the port, to an open position, whereat the cap partially or fully uncovers the port. An electrical interlock circuit, which is connected to a controller, includes a circuit lead that is attached to the pressure burst cap and battery container. The circuit lead holds the cap in the closed position and fails at a preset rupture force to create an open circuit signal within the electrical interlock circuit indicative of a thermal event.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrode for use in an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The electrode has a thickness greater than or equal to about 50 micrometers to less than or equal to about 500 micrometers and includes an electroactive material, a polytetrafluoroethylene-based binder, and a porous crystalline material additive. For example, the electrode may include greater than or equal to about 0.01 wt. % to less than or equal to about 20 wt. % of the porous crystalline material additive, and greater than or equal to about 0.01 wt. % to less than or equal to about 20 wt. % of the polytetrafluoroethylene-based binder. The porous crystalline material additive is selected from the group consisting of: metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent-organic frameworks (COFs), and combinations thereof.