Abstract: A method diagnoses a no-start condition in a powertrain having an engine and a starter system operable for starting the engine. The starter system includes a battery, solenoid relay, starter solenoid, and starter motor. The method includes recording starter data over a calibrated sampling duration in response to a requested start event when the solenoid relay is enabled, including a cranking voltage and engine speed. If no battery current sensor is used, the method derives a resistance ratio using an open-circuit voltage and a minimum cranking voltage of the battery. When such a sensor is used, the method derives a battery and starter resistance. A fault mode of the starter system is then identified via a controller using the starter data and either the resistance ratio or the battery and starter resistances. A control action executes that corresponds to the identified fault mode.

Abstract: A method for generating energy-optimized travel routes with a vehicle navigation system includes generating candidate travel routes between a route origin and one or more route destinations, and then dividing each candidate travel route into a plurality of route segments. The method includes estimating expected travel speeds along each segment using cloud information and calculating an expected energy efficiency over each of the candidate travel routes using one or more vehicle-specific energy efficiency models. The travel routes are displayed via the navigation system, including a trace of the energy-optimized travel routes and an expected or relative energy efficiency along the energy-optimized travel routes. A vehicle includes the navigation system and a powertrain. A powertrain controller may control vehicle speed over a selected route to maintain an optimally energy-efficient speed.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a system including an adjustable tray comprising at least one edge and a frame, wherein the tray is constructed and arranged to form a plurality of varying compartments within a partially enclosed space at least partially defined by the frame.

Abstract: A system of selecting charging modes for a rechargeable energy storage unit in an autonomous device includes a controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions. The controller is configured to determine availability of at least one charging station and at least one parking lot through a survey of local charging infrastructure and local parking infrastructure, respectively, within a predefined radius of the autonomous device. The controller is configured to determine if it is cost-effective during an excursion to incur a charging fee at the charging station or incur a parking fee at the parking lot. If it is cost-effective to incur the charging fee, then the controller is configured to selectively employ at least one of a plurality of charging modes, including an open-ended charging mode and a defined departure charging mode.

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

Abstract: A highly-concentrated electrolyte system for an electrochemical cell is provided, along with methods of making the electrolyte system. The electrolyte system includes a bound moiety having an ionization potential greater than an electron affinity and comprising one or more salts selected from the group consisting of: lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, sodium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, and combinations thereof bound to a solvent comprising one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of: dimethyl carbonate, dimethyl dicarbonate, and combinations thereof. The salts have a concentration in the electrolyte system of greater than or equal to about 4M. A molar ratio of the salts to the dimethyl carbonate is about 0.5. A molar ratio of the salts to the dimethyl dicarbonate is about 1.

Abstract: A highly-concentrated electrolyte system for an electrochemical cell is provided, along with methods of making the highly-concentrated electrolyte system. The electrolyte system includes a bound moiety having an ionization potential greater than an electron affinity and comprising one or more salts selected from the group consisting of: lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), sodium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (NaFSI), potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (KFSI), and combinations thereof bound to a solvent comprising dimethoxyethane (DME). The one or more salts have a concentration in the electrolyte system of greater than about 4M, and a molar ratio of the one or more salts to the dimethoxyethane (DME) is greater than or equal to about 1 to less than or equal to about 1.5. The one or more salts binds to the dimethoxyethane (DME) causing the electrolyte system to be substantially free of unbound dimethoxyethane (DME) and unbound bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSI?).

Abstract: A kickstand assembly includes a post and a seat. A bicycle includes a frame and the kickstand assembly coupled to the frame. The post is disposed along a longitudinal axis and includes a first distal end and a second distal end. The seat is disposed at the first distal end of the post. The seat is movable between a use position and a non-use position. The kickstand assembly includes a kickstand disposed at the second distal end of the post, and extends outwardly away from the post transverse to the longitudinal axis. The kickstand is movable between a use position and a non-use position. The seat and the kickstand are fixed relative to each other at the respective first and second distal ends of the post such that movement of the seat to the non-use position directly causes movement of the kickstand to the use position.

Abstract: Disclosed are engine torque and emission control (ETEC) systems, methods for using such systems, and motor vehicles with engines employing ETEC schemes. An ETEC system is disclosed for operating an internal combustion engine (ICE) assembly. The system includes an engine sensor for monitoring engine torque, an exhaust sensor for monitoring nitrogen oxide (NOx) output of the ICE assembly, and an engine control unit (ECU) communicatively connected to the engine sensor, exhaust sensor, and ICE assembly.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes a first EGR valve to control flow in a first flow path, and a second EGR valve to control flow in a second flow path. A temperature sensor is disposed in the exhaust gas feedstream upstream of the exhaust purifying device, and a controller is in communication with the internal combustion engine and the temperature sensor and is operatively connected to the first and second EGR valves. The controller executes a routine to monitor the temperature of the exhaust gas feedstream upstream of the exhaust purifying device and control the first valve to control flow of exhaust gas to the air intake system via the first flow path and control the second valve to control flow of exhaust gas to the air intake system via the second flow path based upon the temperature of the exhaust gas feedstream upstream of the exhaust purifying device.

Abstract: A power generation platform for delivering power to an external load includes an electrical system mounted to an autonomously-controlled chassis. The chassis has a powertrain that is responsive to control signals from a controller. The electrical system includes a fuel cell or other clean power supply for propelling the chassis, a direct current (DC) charging unit, a turbojet, a battery pack, and one or more electric machines. The DC charging unit and the battery pack are selectively connectable to the external load to deliver power to the external load, e.g., a propulsion battery pack of a vehicle or other system. The turbojet has a compressor, combustion chamber, and turbine, and injects low-emissions fuel into and combusts the fuel in the combustion chamber. The electric machine(s) are rotatably coupled to the compressor and/or the turbine to generate and transmit electricity to the battery pack.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a method for operating including, determining, using an accelerator pedal position sensor, an operator request for power and determining an engine operating point based upon the operator request for power. A motored-cylinder temperature is determined based upon the engine operating point, and a knock-limited combustion phasing point is determined based upon the motored-cylinder temperature and the engine operating point. Engine operating parameters associated with achieving the knock-limited combustion phasing point are selected. Operation includes controlling, by a controller, engine control states in response to the engine operating parameters associated with achieving the knock-limited combustion phasing point and the operator request for power.

Abstract: A apparatus for dynamically modifying filter characteristics of a delta-sigma modulator in order to receive and transmit radio frequency signals over a wide frequency range. The system is used for wide bandwidth radio system designed to adapt to various global radio standards and, more particularly, to a cellular radio architecture that employs a combination of a single circulator, programmable band-pass sampling radio frequency (RF) front-end and optimized digital baseband that is capable of supporting all current cellular wireless access protocol frequency bands.

Abstract: A powertrain assembly includes an engine having at least one cylinder and at least one electric machine operatively connected to the engine. A motor speed sensor is operatively connected to and configured to obtain motor speed data of the electric machine. A controller is operatively connected to the motor speed sensor. The controller including a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for detection of firing irregularities in the at least one cylinder. Execution of the instructions by the processor causes the controller to obtain the motor speed data at a predefined time interval from the motor speed sensor, until a predefined time window is reached. A fast Fourier transform of the motor speed data during the predefined time window is obtained. The controller is configured to control the engine based at least partially on the fast Fourier Transform.

Abstract: An apparatus or assembly for forming injection molded magnets in permanent magnet rotors or laminations for such rotors. The assembly includes a plurality of platens defining an axial boundary of a die cavity and a plurality of support shoes that are radially moveable between a closed position defining a radial boundary of the die cavity, and an open position creating a gap between the rotor core and the plurality of support shoes. The assembly has an injection system for filling at least one of the plurality of voids of the rotor core with a magnetic slurry, and a plurality of alignment magnets configured to magnetically align the magnetic slurry.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data within a vehicle includes: storing two copies of a data message; constructing at an electronic control unit (ECU) a serial bus message that includes one copy of the data message and a message authentication code (MAC) created using a secret key stored at the ECU, a MAC algorithm, and a different copy of the data message; transmitting the serial bus message to a receiving ECU over a vehicle bus; authenticating the serial bus message at the receiving ECU using a copy of the key stored at the receiving ECU by creating a copy of the MAC from the data message included in the serial bus message and the copy of the key; comparing the MAC from the serial bus message with the copy of the MAC created at the receiving ECU; and rejecting or accepting the data message based on the comparison.

Abstract: A direct-injection internal combustion engine is described and includes a pressure sensor that is disposed to monitor in-cylinder combustion pressure. A method, executed as a control routine in an attached controller, includes monitoring engine speed, engine load, temperature and combustion pressure. Combustion variation parameters are determined based upon the combustion pressure. A desired state for a combustion parameter can be determined based upon the engine speed, the engine load, and the temperature, and an adjustment to the desired state for the combustion parameter can be determined based upon the combustion variation parameters, wherein the adjustment to the desired state is selected to achieve acceptable states for the combustion variation parameters. Operation of the internal combustion engine is controlled based upon the desired state for the combustion parameter and the adjustment to the desired state for the combustion parameter.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is described, and includes a method for operating that includes determining an observed carbon monoxide (CO) ratio in an exhaust gas feedstream, determining an observed in-cylinder scavenging based upon the observed CO ratio in the exhaust gas feedstream, and controlling, by a controller, control states for the variable cam phasing system to control opening times of engine intake valves in relation to closing times of engine exhaust valves based upon the observed in-cylinder scavenging.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes a diesel internal combustion engine and an aftertreatment system coupled to the diesel internal combustion engine. The aftertreatment system includes a diesel oxidation catalyst coupled to the diesel internal combustion engine such that the diesel oxidation catalyst receives exhaust gases from the diesel internal combustion engine. The aftertreatment system includes a plasma generator in fluid communication with the diesel oxidation catalyst, wherein the plasma generator is upstream of the diesel oxidation catalyst and downstream of the diesel internal combustion engine, and the plasma generator is configured to generate oxidizers to at least partially oxidize hydrocarbons in the exhaust gases exiting the diesel internal combustion engine.