Abstract: A method of operating an autonomous racetrack driver coach and demonstrator in an autonomous vehicle employing operating systems for propulsion and maneuvering includes identifying a road course and mapping a velocity profile and a trajectory for the vehicle via a remote configurator. The trajectory defines a vehicle path around the road course and with the velocity profile minimizes the vehicle's lap time. The method also includes determining a presence of a human passenger/operator in the vehicle. The method additionally includes determining, via an electronic controller in communication with a remote detection source, localization of the vehicle on the road course. The method also includes determining vehicle velocity, acceleration, and heading relative to the mapped trajectory.

Abstract: A method of extending connectivity of a recipient vehicle, which may be executed by a non-transitory computer-readable medium, is provided. During an ignition off state of the recipient vehicle, disabling a recipient cellular network access device (NAD) of the recipient vehicle and connecting to a low power communications source. The method communicates with a centralized location over the low power communications source. The low power communications source may be a recipient Bluetooth low energy (BLE) within the recipient vehicle. The method may connect to a donor vehicle proximate the recipient vehicle. The donor vehicle includes a donor NAD and a donor BLE, such that the donor NAD of the donor vehicle to communicates with the centralized location on behalf of the recipient vehicle.

Abstract: An automatic rain response system includes microphones of a vehicle, windshield wipers, and a controller. The microphones generate acoustic signals in response to rain. The controller is configured to receive a local weather condition, extract acoustic features from the acoustic signals, form feature vectors in response to the acoustic features and the local weather condition, classify the feature vectors to determine a current class among multiple classes, activate the windshield the wipers at a high speed in response to the current class being a heavy rain on a windshield class, activate the windshield wipers at a medium speed in response to the current class being a freezing rain on the windshield class, activate the windshield wipers at a low speed in response to the current class being a light rain on the windshield class, and deactivate the windshield wipers in response to the current class being a no rain class.

Abstract: A trip energy estimation system includes a memory and a control module. The memory stores average traffic speed, average traffic acceleration, driver speed, and driver acceleration data. The control module executes an algorithm to estimate an amount of energy for an electric vehicle to travel between two locations. The algorithm includes: determining, based on the average traffic speed data and the average traffic acceleration data, a baseline amount of energy for the electric vehicle to travel between the two locations; determining, based on the driver speed data and the driver acceleration data, a dynamic amount of energy corresponding to at least one of stop and go events, over speeding, or under speeding; and determining a total amount of energy based on the baseline amount of energy and the dynamic amount of energy. The control module, based on the total amount of energy, performs an operation including indicating a trip estimate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a crankshaft for an internal combustion engine with a plurality of journals having a hardened case with a first microstructure. The crankshaft is comprised of a steel comprising between about 0.3 wt % and 0.77 wt % Carbon. The first microstructure of the hardened case of the journals comprises between about 15% and 30% ferrite and a balance of martensite and the resultant subsurface residual stress between 310 MPa and 620 MPa.

Abstract: An apparatus for localized patterned surface hardening for light-weight alloys to increase wear resistance under lubricated contact is provided. The apparatus includes a first metallic structure and a second metallic structure. The second metallic structure includes a contact surface and is disposed in lubricated contact with the first metallic structure at the contact surface, wherein the second metallic structure is constructed with a lighter-than-steel material and wherein the contact surface includes a localized surface hardened pattern.

Abstract: An accessory power system includes an accessory power module having primary power switches, a transformer, and secondary rectifiers. The primary power switches are electrically connected to the high-voltage bus, and the secondary rectifiers are electrically connected to the low-voltage bus. A peak detector is coupled to the high-voltage bus. A controller is in communication with the peak detector circuit, and operatively connected to the primary power switches. The controller dynamically monitors, via the peak detector circuit, a ripple voltage of the high-voltage bus, compares the monitored voltage with a maximum threshold voltage, and disables the plurality of primary power switches when the ripple voltage of the high-voltage bus is greater than the maximum threshold voltage, and reactivates the primary power switches when the ripple voltage of the high-voltage bus is less than the maximum threshold voltage.

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: An autonomous driving system for an autonomous vehicle includes a plurality of on-board autonomous sensors that sense data related to operation of the autonomous vehicle and a surrounding environment and an automated driving controller in electronic communication with the plurality of on-board autonomous sensors. The automated driving controller is instructed to receive an indication one or more of the plurality of on-board autonomous sensors are non-functional and a secondary autonomous sensor system including one or more replacement sensors are installed. The automated driving controller is instructed to verify the secondary autonomous sensor system based on a security check and perform a redundancy check between the one or more replacement sensors and the plurality of on-board autonomous sensors. In response to determining the one or more replacement sensors are valid based on the redundancy check, the automated driving controller operates the autonomous vehicle in a limp home mode.

Abstract: A system includes an assessment module and a training module. The assessment module is configured to receive event data about an event associated with a subsystem of a vehicle. The assessment module is configured to determine deviations between reference data for the subsystem indicating normal operation of the subsystem and portions of the event data that precede and follow the event. The assessment module is configured to determine whether the event data indicates a fault associated with the subsystem by comparing the deviations to a threshold deviation. The training module is configured to update a model trained to identify faults in vehicles to identify the event as a fault associated with the subsystem of the vehicle based on the event data in response to the deviations indicating a fault associated with the subsystem.

Abstract: An energy-dissipating cover for covering a component sensitive to mechanical impulse includes a sheet of selected ferrous or aluminum alloy, the sheet having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer perimeter, an overall area within the outer perimeter and a nominal thickness of no more than 2.5 mm. The sheet is configured for connection with one or more external structures at a plurality of connection points within the outer perimeter, wherein the overall area comprises a plurality of supported areas and at least one unsupported area. Embossments are formed within the at least one unsupported area and extend outward from the bottom surface. The embossments are shaped, sized and arranged so as to limit orthogonal deflection of the sheet from a mechanical impulse directed normal to the bottom surface of the sheet at the plurality of embossments.

Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle includes an inflator, and a cushion operably connected to the inflator including a plurality of sealed cushion segments interconnected by a plurality of cushion joints. The activation of the inflator dispenses a flow of inflation gas into the cushion to sequentially inflate the plurality of sealed cushion segments from a stowed state to a deployed state. A passenger compartment of a vehicle includes an instrument panel including at least an upper panel surface and a downward panel surface, and an airbag system located in the instrument panel.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrochemical device that cycles lithium ions. The electrochemical device includes at least one first cell unit and at least one second cell unit. The at least one first cell unit includes a nickel-rich positive electroactive material. The nickel-rich positive electroactive material can be represented by: LiM1xM2yM3zM4(1-x-y-z)O2 where M1, M2, M3, and M4 are each a transition metal independently selected from the group consisting of: nickel, manganese, cobalt, aluminum, and combinations thereof, where 0?x?1, 0?y?1, and 0?z?1. The at least one second cell unit includes a phosphate-based positive electroactive material. The phosphate-based electroactive material can be selected from the group consisting of: lithium manganese iron phosphates (LiMnxFe1-xPO4, where 0?x?1) (LMFP), lithium vanadium oxygen phosphates (LixVOPO4, where 0?x?1), lithium vanadium phosphates, lithium vanadium fluorophosphates, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle including one or more interior image sensors, one or more exterior image sensors, and a controller configured to automatically detect occupant risky behavior is provided. The controller is configured to: detect whether a vehicle occupant exists who may pose a risk; determine whether a detected vehicle occupant in engaged in potentially risky behavior in an area of interest (AoI) based on image data from the one or more interior image sensors or the one or more exterior image sensors; determine whether the potentially risky behavior poses an actual risk; classify a level of risk when the potentially risky behavior poses an actual risk; and perform risk mitigation actions based on risk classification.

Abstract: A system for minimizing iron infusion in a fuel cell includes a catalyst coated on proton exchange membrane (CCM) having a plurality of side edge portions. The CCM includes a membrane having a first planar side and a second planar side, an anode on the first planar side of the membrane, and a cathode on the second planar side of the membrane. The system further includes an anode gas diffusion layer (GDL) including a first micro-porous layer. The first micro-porous layer is in contact with the anode. The system further includes a cathode GDL including a second micro-porous layer. The second micro-porous layer is in contact with the cathode. The system further includes an adhesive in contact with the plurality of side edge portions of the CCM. The first micro-porous layer, the second micro-porous layer, and the adhesive collectively encapsulate the CCM and minimize iron infusing into the membrane.

Abstract: The concepts described herein relate to methods, systems, and analytical techniques to achieve a cloud-based electrified vehicle energy usage system that includes a cloud-based server that is operative to receive vehicle-specific electric energy-related data from a plurality of connected electrified vehicles, and correlate the vehicle-specific electric energy-related data to a road segment. A data analysis is executed for the vehicle-specific electric energy-related data for the plurality of connected electrified vehicles for the road segment, and a crowd-sourced electrified vehicle energy usage report is generated for the road segment based upon the data analysis.

Abstract: A system for managing audio performance in a vehicle includes an audio unit having one or more speakers and one or more microphones respectively positioned in and/or around the vehicle. The speakers transmit an audio signal within the vehicle. A command unit is in communication with the audio unit. The command unit has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The command unit is adapted to receive the audio signal through the one or more microphones and determine whether at least one audio quality parameter of the audio signal meets a predefined threshold. The command unit may be adapted to take at least one remedial action when the audio quality parameter is below the predefined threshold.

Abstract: A method for preparing a press-hardened steel component is provided. The method includes forming a heated blank by heating a steel alloy blank to a first temperature in a first zone of a furnace having two or more zones, and after the heating of the steel alloy blank to the first temperature, heating the steel alloy blank to a second temperature in a second zone of the furnace. The second temperature is greater than the first temperature. The first zone has a first flow rate for a protective gas, and the second zone has a second flow rate for the protective gas that is greater than the first flow rate. The method further includes stamping and quenching the heated blank at a constant rate to a temperature between a martensite finish temperature of the steel alloy defining the steel alloy blank and room temperature to form the press-hardened steel component.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a vehicle battery system that includes a voltage bus having positive and negative bus rails, at least one battery pack connected to the voltage bus and having positive and negative battery terminals, and a battery disconnect unit. The method includes disconnecting the at least one battery pack from the voltage bus via the battery disconnect unit by performing a first battery disconnect process upon detecting an event condition, by performing a second battery disconnect process upon detecting a high overcurrent condition, and by performing a third battery disconnect process upon detecting a low overcurrent condition. The first battery disconnect process utilizes opening a main pyro fuse, the second battery disconnect process utilizes one or more of thermal fuses, solid-state relays and/or current sensors, and the third battery disconnect process utilizes one or more contactors or solid-state relays.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for defining map data used in controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, telemetry data; determining, by the processor, distribution data of a path based on the telemetry data; determining, by the processor, a plurality of sample data based on a trained machine learning model and the distribution data; generating, by the processor, at least one of lane line data and road edge data based on the sample data and a second machine learning model; and storing, by the processor, the map data including the lane line data and road edge data for use in controlling the vehicle.