Abstract: A number of variations may include a product comprising an airbag mounted in a fender region laterally adjacent a hood and forward of a vehicle side door which deploys from the fender region when activated to protect a pedestrian from impacting at least a portion of the frontal area of a vehicle structure.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body arranged along a longitudinal body axis in a body plane and having a first vehicle body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion relative to a road surface. The vehicle also includes an active hybrid spoiler assembly mounted to the vehicle body and configured to control a movement of the ambient airflow along the longitudinal body axis. The spoiler assembly includes at least one stanchion mounted to the vehicle body, and first and second wing-shaped side-sections moveably connected to the stanchion(s). The spoiler assembly further includes a mechanism configured to selectively and individually shift each of the first wing-shaped side-section and the second wing-shaped side-section relative to the at least one stanchion to thereby adjust a magnitude of the aerodynamic downforce generated by each of the first wing-shaped side-section and the second wing-shaped side-section on the vehicle body.

Abstract: A host vehicle includes a combustion engine configured to provide a propulsion torque to satisfy a propulsion demand. The vehicle also includes at least one sensor configured to detect a position of a reference vehicle. A vehicle controller is programmed to determine a path between a current host vehicle location and an upcoming intersection. The controller is also programmed to forecast a path clearance time at which the host vehicle is able to traverse the intersection in response to sensor data indicating the reference vehicle moving within the path ahead of the host vehicle. The controller is further programmed to deactivate the engine prior to a host vehicle stop based on the path clearance time being greater than a time threshold.

Abstract: A method for determining a liquid level of a reservoir includes sensing a plurality of liquid level points during a plurality of defined computation intervals, and determining filtered block points from the sensed liquid level points occurring during each of the computation intervals. The method fits a regression model to the determined filtered block points, including determining a slope and a standard error of regression, and determines an actual liquid level change from the slope of the regression model. The method may also include making a diagnostic determination if the method determines that a confidence ratio is sufficiently high.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a plurality of components that are disposed to effect a vehicle function and a controller in communication with the plurality of components. A method for controlling the vehicle includes monitoring states of health (SOHs) of the plurality of components. Upon detecting a change in status of the SOH of the subject component, an allowable window of operation for the subject component and an allowable window of operation for the related component are determined, and operating constraints related to the vehicle function are determined based upon the allowable windows of operation for the subject component and the related component. Operation of the vehicle is controlled subject to the operating constraints related to the vehicle function.

Abstract: Methods of producing a continuous carbon fiber for use in composites having enhanced moldability are provided. A continuous precursor fiber is formed that has a sheath and a core. The sheath includes a first polymer material. The core includes a second polymer material and a plurality of discrete regions distributed within the second polymer material. The discrete regions include a third polymer material. After the continuous precursor fiber is heated for carbonization and graphitization, the continuous precursor fiber forms a continuous carbon fiber having a plurality of discrete weak regions corresponding to the plurality of discrete regions in the core. Carbon fiber composites made from such modified continuous carbon fibers having enhanced moldability are also provided.

Abstract: A perception module of a spatial monitoring system to monitor and characterize a spatial environment proximal to an autonomous vehicle is described. A method for evaluating the perception module includes capturing and storing a plurality of frames of data associated with a driving scenario for the autonomous vehicle, and executing the perception module to determine an actual spatial environment for the driving scenario, wherein the actual spatial environment for the driving scenario is stored in the controller. The perception module is executed to determine an estimated spatial environment for the driving scenario based upon the stored frames of data associated with the driving scenario, and the estimated spatial environment is compared to the actual spatial environment for the driving scenario. A first performance index for the perception module is determined based upon the comparing, and a fault can be detected.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrochemical device that may include a stack having at least one electrochemical cell having a first electrode, a second electrode, a porous separator, and an electrolyte liquid disposed in the porous separator and optionally disposed in the first electrode, the second electrode, or both the first electrode and the second electrode. The stack has a first volume of electrolyte liquid. The electrochemical device also has an integrated storage region that stores a second volume of electrolyte liquid and is in fluid communication with the plurality of electrochemical cells and is configured to transfer the electrolyte liquid into the plurality of electrochemical cells, wherein the second volume of electrolyte liquid is at least about 3% of the first volume. Methods of increasing lifetime of the electrochemical device are also provided.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body arranged along a longitudinal body axis in a body plane and having a first vehicle body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion relative to a road surface. The vehicle also includes an active hybrid spoiler assembly mounted to the vehicle body and configured to control a movement of the ambient airflow along the longitudinal body axis. The spoiler assembly includes at least one stanchion mounted to the vehicle body, and first and second wing-shaped side-sections moveably connected to the stanchion(s). The spoiler assembly further includes a mechanism configured to selectively and individually shift each of the first wing-shaped side-section and the second wing-shaped side-section relative to the at least one stanchion to thereby adjust a magnitude of the aerodynamic downforce generated by each of the first wing-shaped side-section and the second wing-shaped side-section on the vehicle body.

Abstract: A device for detecting presence of a fluid is described, and includes a resistive sensing element including a first conductive element proximal to a second conductive element, wherein the first conductive element is electrically isolated from the second conductive element, and a controller disposed to monitor electrical conductivity between the first conductive element and the second conductive element. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to periodically monitor a signal associated with the electrical conductivity between the first conductive element and the second conductive element. A baseline value for the electrical conductivity between the first conductive element and the second conductive element can be determined based upon the periodically monitored signal, and a signal waveform can be determined based upon the periodically monitored signal. The signal waveform can be characterized, and presence of a fluid can be detected based upon the characterized waveform.

Abstract: An aerodynamic control assembly includes a support structure and a wing member supported by the support structure. The wing member is movable between a first position relative to the support structure and a second position relative to the support structure. The aerodynamic control assembly also includes an actuator coupled to the wing member. The actuator is configured to move the wing member between the first and second positions. The aerodynamic control assembly further includes an inertia measurement unit (IMU) secured to the wing member. The IMU is configured to compile data regarding the position of the wing member. A vehicle includes a body structure and the aerodynamic control assembly coupled to the body structure. The aerodynamic control assembly includes a support structure fixed to the body structure. The aerodynamic control assembly also includes the wing member, the actuator and the IMU discussed above.

Abstract: An autonomic vehicle control system is described, and includes a vehicle spatial monitoring system including a subject spatial sensor that is disposed to monitor a spatial environment proximal to the autonomous vehicle. A controller is in communication with the subject spatial sensor, and the controller includes a processor and a memory device including an instruction set. The instruction set is executable to evaluate the subject spatial sensor, which includes determining first, second, third, fourth and fifth SOH (state of health) parameters associated with the subject spatial sensor, and determining an integrated SOH parameter for the subject spatial sensor based thereupon.

Abstract: A method of making a negative electrode for an electrochemical cell includes applying a fluoropolymer via a deposition process to one or more surface regions of an electroactive material. The electroactive material may be selected from the group consisting of: lithium metal, silicon metal, silicon-containing alloys, and combinations thereof. The fluoropolymer reacts with lithium to form a composite surface layer on the one or more surface regions that comprises an organic matrix material having lithium fluoride particles distributed therein. Electrochemical cells including such negative electrode are also provided.

Abstract: A support structure for a vehicle includes a first longitudinal node and a second longitudinal node. The second longitudinal node is disposed rearward of the first longitudinal node along a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The first longitudinal node is disposed inboard of the second longitudinal node relative to the central longitudinal axis. A deflector rail is positioned adjacent to the support structure, between the first longitudinal node and the second longitudinal node. The deflector rail is operable to increase a stiffness of the support structure in response to a load applied to a front of the vehicle offset from the central longitudinal axis, and not increase the stiffness of the support structure in response to a load applied to the front of the vehicle that includes the central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of cell groups and a controller wherein each cell group comprises a plurality of fuel cells and a group sensor which measures one or more electrical characteristics of the respective cell group. The controller comprises one or more processors and memory and is communicatively coupled to each group sensor. The one or more processors execute machine readable instructions to compare a measured electrical characteristic of each cell group to one or more thresholds stored in memory, and indicate the need for diagnostics of the fuel cell stack when the comparison indicates a non-systemic event.