Abstract: A mobile communication system and a method of establishing short range wireless communication (SRWC) between a vehicle and a mobile device. The method includes: establishing a first short range wireless communication (SRWC) link between the vehicle and a first mobile device; receiving at the vehicle a request to establish a second SRWC link from a second mobile device; and disconnecting the first SRWC link between the vehicle and the first mobile device and, in response to the request, establishing the second SRWC link between the vehicle and the second mobile device.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes a battery having first and second electrodes and an electrolyte. A controller is operatively connected to the battery. The controller includes a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for estimating a charge acceptance capability of the battery. Interaction of the electrolyte and at least one of the first and second electrodes produces a discharge product. The controller is programmed to quantize and track both accumulation and removal of the discharge product when at least one enabling condition is met. The controller is programmed to initialize a timer when the enabling condition is met and increment the timer by a calculation time interval (?t).

Abstract: Disclosed are self-calibrating load sensor systems for active aerodynamics devices, methods for making or using such load sensor systems, and motor vehicles equipped with a self-calibrating load sensor system to govern operation of the vehicle's active aero device(s). An active aero sensing system includes a load sensor that mounts to the vehicle body, and detects downforces on the vehicle. A memory device stores mapped vehicle downforce data calibrated to the motor vehicle. A vehicle controller receives downforce signals generated by the load sensor, and calculates an average downforce value from these signals. The controller determines if the average downforce differs from a calibrated downforce value retrieved from the memory device. If so, the controller responsively applies an offset value to subsequent downforce signals received from the load sensor, and dynamically controls operation of the active aero device based, at least in part, on these signals modified by the offset value.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a fault mode in a system includes recording a hierarchical precedence rule assigning a priority level to fault modes of the system, and recording, in a fault report matrix, fault reports indicative of a corresponding one or more of the fault modes. The method also includes using the hierarchical precedence rule to determine the assigned relative priority level for the fault reports in response to a predetermined condition, e.g., a requested engine starting event, and identifying a root cause subsystem as a subsystem having the highest assigned priority level. A control action executed via the controller identifies the root cause subsystem by recording a diagnostic code and/or transmitting a message. The system is also disclosed, as is a computer-readable medium programmed with instructions embodying the method.

Abstract: A system is configured to control aerodynamics of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a vehicle body having a first end facing an ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion relative to a road surface and a second end arranged opposite the first end. The system includes an air deflector moveably mounted to the vehicle body. The system also includes a mechanism configured to selectively vary a height of the deflector relative to the road surface and a position of the deflector relative to the vehicle body. The system additionally includes a controller configured to determine a ride-height of the vehicle and correlate the determined vehicle ride-height to a target height of the deflector relative to the road surface. The controller is further configured to regulate the mechanism to select the target height of the deflector relative to the road surface to thereby control the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

Abstract: An electrical system for a vehicle includes a high-voltage DC power source electrically connected to a high-voltage bus, a first controller disposed to control electric power flow between the high-voltage bus and a first actuator, and a second controller disposed to control electric power flow between the high-voltage bus and a second actuator. A communication link is disposed to effect communication between the first controller and the second controller. An inertial sensor communicates with the second controller. The second controller includes an instruction set to monitor and determine a request to discharge the high-voltage bus based upon communication from the sensor. Upon determining that the first controller is incapable of discharging the high-voltage bus, the second actuator is controlled to discharge the high-voltage bus.

Abstract: A thermal bypass valve includes a housing defining a bore along a longitudinal axis and having two inlet ports and two outlet ports; a cap disposed within the bore; a shuttle disposed within the bore and reversibly translatable towards and away from the cap along the longitudinal axis between a first fill position, a cooling position, and a bypass position; and an actuator configured for translating the shuttle along the longitudinal axis between the cooling position and the bypass position. The actuator is formed from a shape memory alloy and is transitionable between a first state and a second state in response to a temperature of the fluid.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes an engine and a plurality of actuators. The plurality of actuators includes a first turbine serially connected to a second turbine, the first turbine being a relatively high pressure turbine and the second turbine being a relatively low pressure turbine. A controller is configured to transmit respective command signals to the plurality of actuators. The controller is programmed to obtain respective transfer rates for the plurality of actuators based at least partially on an inversion model. The controller is programmed to control an output of the engine by commanding the plurality of actuators to respective operating parameters via the respective command signals. Prior to obtaining the respective transfer rates, the controller is programmed to determine a respective plurality of desired values and respective correction factors for the plurality of actuators.

Abstract: A method of making a fuel cell including the following steps: comprising: (a) mixing carbon nanotubes (CNT) with an initial dispersion, wherein the initial dispersion includes an ionomer; (b) heating and stirring the initial dispersion to form a CNT-ionomer composite suspension; (c) after forming the CNT-ionomer composite suspension, mixing the CNT-ionomer composite suspension with an electrode catalyst solution to form an electrode ink, wherein the electrode catalyst solution includes a carbon black powder and a catalyst supported by the carbon black powder; and (d) coating a proton exchange membrane with the electrode ink to form the fuel cell electrode.

Abstract: A system and method of recognizing speech in a vehicle. The method includes receiving a voice command at the vehicle via a microphone in the vehicle, and obtaining a recognition result from speech recognition performed on the received voice command. The recognition result may represent the voice command and be indicative of any of two or more available vehicle commands. The method may further include selecting one of the two or more available vehicle commands based on a secondary characteristic and an attribute of the selected one of the vehicle commands. The system may be implemented as vehicle electronics that include a microphone located within the vehicle and configured to receive a voice command from a user located within the vehicle, and a controller in communication with the microphone. The controller may be configured to perform speech recognition on the voice command and obtain a disambiguated recognition result.

Abstract: A method of forming channels within a substrate includes: (a) molding a sacrificial component directly into the substrate; (b) igniting the sacrificial component to cause a deflagration of the sacrificial component, thereby forming a channel in the substrate; and (c) cleaning the channel in the substrate to remove byproducts of the deflagration of the sacrificial component. The sacrificial component includes a combustible material with a protective shell, and the substrate includes a polymeric material.

Abstract: An engine block assembly includes a head structure assembly, and a cylinder structure assembly. A plurality of fasteners interconnect the head structure assembly and the cylinder structure assembly. An outer shell encapsulates and supports both the head structure assembly and the cylinder structure assembly. The outer shell is a unitary polymer structure that is simultaneously over-molded onto the head structure assembly and the cylinder structure assembly. The head structure assembly and the cylinder structure assembly are constructed of components that are designed to carry the operational loads of the engine with minimal weight. The outer shell provides additional structural integrity, and provides fluid passages for lubrication and cooling, as well as support for other engine components.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprises a shaft rotatable about an axis, and variator assembly, and an actuator mechanism. The variator assembly includes a pulley supported on the shaft and having a ramp surface, and an endless rotatable device frictionally engaged with the pulley. The ramp surface inclines in an axial direction along the axis toward the endless rotatable device. The CVT further comprises an actuator mechanism that includes a wedge component that has a wedge surface interfacing with the ramp surface, and a rotary piston operatively connected to the wedge component. The rotary piston defines a first fluid chamber pressurizable to apply a rotational force that provides relative motion between the ramp surface and the wedge surface resulting in a wedge force on the ramp surface and a clamping force of the endless rotatable device on the pulley.

Abstract: Presented are engine-disconnect clutches with attendant control logic, methods for making/operating such disconnect clutches, and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) equipped with an engine that is coupled to/decoupled from a transmission and electric motor via a disconnect clutch. A representative method for controlling an HEV powertrain includes receiving an HEV powertrain operation command, then determining a clutch mode of a multi-mode clutch device to execute the HEV powertrain operation. This multi-mode clutch device is operable in: a lock-lock mode, in which the clutch device transmits torque to and from the engine; a free-free mode, in which the clutch device disconnects the engine's output member from the transmission's input member, preventing torque transmission to and from the engine; a lock-free mode, in which the clutch device transmits torque from but not to the engine; and, a free-lock mode, in which the clutch device transmits torque to but not from the engine.

Abstract: A smoke detection system for an interior of a vehicle is provided. The smoke detection system includes a detection module and a reporting module. The detection module, while the vehicle is being used as part of a car sharing or ride sharing service: receives a sensor signal from a smoke detector; compares data included in the sensor signal to smoke characteristic or smoke pattern data; based on the comparison, determines whether an occupant of the vehicle is smoking; and generates an alert signal if the occupant is smoking. The reporting module at least one of: based on the alert signal, visually or audibly provides a warning to the occupant to stop smoking; transmits the alert signal to a mobile device of the occupant to indicate that a smoking event has been detected; or transmits the alert signal to a network device of a service provider to report the smoking event.

Abstract: A communication module is configured to: obtain a ride request including: pickup and drop-off locations; and a first number of passengers to transport; and obtain, from each vehicle of a fleet of vehicles: a location of the vehicle; and a seat occupancy of the vehicle including, for each seat, an indicator of whether the seat is presently occupied by a passenger or not. A vehicle selection module is configured to select one of the vehicles when the one of the vehicles has a second number of unoccupied seats that is greater than or equal to the first number of passengers. A seat module is configured to selectively determine recommended ones of the unoccupied seats, and the communications module is further configured to transmit, to the computing device for display by the computing device, indicators of the occupied seats and the recommended ones of the unoccupied seats.

Abstract: A tonneau cover for a cargo bed of a truck includes a rail system, and a panel secured to the rail system. At least a portion of the rail system or the panel is a layer jamming member having a layer jamming material operable to exhibit a first stiffness in response to a first confining pressure and a second stiffness in response to a second confining pressure. The layer jamming member may include all or a portion of the panel to provide specific regions of the cover, and/or may include portions of the rail system.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing an electrolyte membrane for metal batteries are described. According to aspects of the disclosure, a method includes preparing a mixture including an electrolyte portion and a matrix precursor portion, forming an electrolyte membrane by initiating polymerization of the gel-forming precursor and the gel-forming initiator to thereby form a polymer matrix, and disposing the electrolyte membrane between an anode and a cathode. The matrix precursor portion includes a gel-forming precursor and a gel-forming initiator. The electrolyte portion is disposed substantially throughout the polymer matrix.