Abstract: A method for estimation of a vehicle tire force includes: receiving, by a controller of a vehicle, a measured vehicle acceleration of the vehicle; receiving, by the controller, a measured wheel speed and a measured yaw rate of the vehicle; forming, by the controller, inertia matrices based on an inertia of rotating components of the vehicle; calculating torques at corners of the vehicle using the inertia matrices; estimating tire forces of the vehicle based on the measured vehicle acceleration, the measured wheel speed, and the inertia matrices; and controlling, by the controller, the vehicle, based on the plurality of estimated longitudinal and lateral tire forces.

Abstract: A connecting rod includes a shank extending along a shank axis and a first end portion coupled to the shank. The first end portion has an annular shape. The connecting rod also includes a second end portion coupled to the shank. The second end portion has an annular shape. Each of the shank, the first end portion, and the second end portions includes a fiber-reinforced composite. The fiber-reinforced composite includes a matrix and a plurality of fibers embedded in the matrix. At least one of the shank fibers is elongated along the shank axis.

Abstract: A seat cushion includes a cushion body defining a first body surface and a second body surface opposite the first body surface, wherein the first body surface is configured to face the seat occupant, and the second body surface is configured to face away from the seat occupant. The cushion body defines a plurality of holes extending into the second body surface or columns extending from the second body surface. The holes or columns are arranged on a pattern to allow the cushion body to passively conform to the seat occupant, thereby enhancing comfort.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell may comprise exposing a surface of a metal substrate to a chalcogen in gas phase such that a metal chalcogenide layer forms on the surface of the metal substrate. A lithium metal foil may be laminated onto the metal chalcogenide layer on the surface of the metal substrate such that a surface of the lithium metal foil physically and chemically bonds to the metal chalcogenide layer on the surface of the metal substrate.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell, a porous or non-porous electrically conductive metal substrate may be provided. A conformal metal chalcogenide layer may be formed on a surface of the metal substrate. The metal substrate with the conformal metal chalcogenide layer may be immersed in a nonaqueous liquid electrolyte solution comprising a lithium salt dissolved in a polar aprotic organic solvent. An electrical potential may be established between the metal substrate and a counter electrode immersed in the nonaqueous liquid electrolyte solution such that lithium ions in the electrolyte solution are reduced to metallic lithium and deposited on the surface of the metal substrate over the metal chalcogenide layer to form a conformal lithium metal layer on the surface of the metal substrate over the metal chalcogenide layer.

Abstract: A fixture assembly includes a first rail, a second rail coupled to the first rail, a first mount configured to support a first panel, a column coupled to the second rail, and a second mount movably coupled to the column. The first mount is movably coupled to the first rail to allow the first mount to move along the first rail in a first direction. The fixture assembly further includes a first servomotor coupled to the first mount to allow the first mount to rotate about a first axis. The fixture further includes a second servomotor coupled to the second mount to allow the second mount to rotate about a second axis. The fixture assembly includes a controller programmed to control the first servomotor and the second servomotor.

Abstract: A real-time control system for a vehicle, and a method of executing control of the vehicle via the real-time control system includes at least one primary controller that is configured to control slave controllers. The primary controller is configured to queue a task requested by respective vehicle systems, and determine which of the slave controllers is available to execute the task. The primary controller is configured to assign the task to a selected one of the slave controllers to execute the task. The primary controller is configured to re-queue the assigned task if the selected one of the slave controllers does not completely execute the assigned task. The primary controller is configured to assign that re-queued task to another one of the slave controllers to execute the re-queued task. The respective vehicle systems perform the requested task when the selected one of the slave controllers completely executes the assigned task.

Abstract: A cycloidal reluctance machine includes a stator surrounding a rotor. Stator windings and rotor windings form respective concentric rotor and stator electromagnets. The rotor is eccentrically positioned with respect to the stator to move with two degrees of freedom (2DOF), including rotating motion about a rotary axis of the rotor and orbiting motion about a center axis of the stator. A rotor constraint mechanism (RCM) constrains motion of the rotor, such that the rotor is able to generate and transmit output torque to a coupled load in at least one of the 2DOF. A magnetic field polarity of stator poles and/or rotor poles of the respective stator and rotor changes over one electrical cycle of the polyphase voltage. The coupled load may be a drive axle of a vehicle in some embodiments. In others, the stator and rotor windings are driven via different power inverters.

Abstract: A method for image style transfer using a Semantic Preserved Generative Adversarial Network (SPGAN) includes: receiving a source image; inputting the source image into the SPGAN; extracting a source-semantic feature data from the source image; generating, by the first decoder, a first synthetic image including the source semantic content of the source image in a target style of a target image using the source-semantic feature data extracted by the first encoder of the first generator network, wherein the first synthetic image includes first-synthetic feature data; determining a first encoder loss using the source-semantic feature data and the first-synthetic feature data; discriminating the first synthetic image against the target image to determine a GAN loss; determining a total loss as a function of the first encoder loss and the first GAN loss; and training the first generator network and the first discriminator network.

Abstract: A method of data sequence processing assisted by an information technology (IT) cloud platform includes detecting target surroundings, via a first sensor arranged on a first vehicle traversing the target surroundings. The method also includes communicating, to the IT cloud platform via a first electronic controller arranged on the first vehicle, a processed first data set indicative of a characteristic of the detected target surroundings. The method additionally includes merging, on the IT cloud platform, the processed first data set with an IT cloud data set residing on the IT cloud platform to generate a combined data set indicative of the characteristic of the target surroundings. A data sequence processing system assisted by the IT cloud platform is also disclosed.

Abstract: A head-up display system includes a housing having an interior surface and defining a cavity configured for receiving a ray of light. The head-up display system also includes a lens disposed within the cavity and configured for reflecting the ray of light towards the interior surface. Further, the head-up display system includes a first cured film formed from a coating composition, disposed on the interior surface, and configured for absorbing a ray of light within the cavity. The head-up display system also includes a second deposited film formed by an ionized gas treatment of the first cured film. The second deposited film is configured for transmitting the ray of light to the first cured film to thereby minimize scatter of the ray of light within the cavity. A device including the head-up display system is also described.

Abstract: A repair system includes a scanning system configured for determining a contour of a void surface. The repair system also includes an additive manufacturing system configured for sequentially printing a plurality of individual layers each disposed on one another adjacent the void surface according to the contour. A method of repairing a substrate having a damaged portion defining a void and having the void surface is also disclosed.

Abstract: A semi-transparent sign includes a reflective display, multiple layers and a control circuit. The reflective display may be semi-transparent, have a first side subject to a thermal load, have a second side opposite the first side, and configured to generate a plurality of visible images. A heat sink layer may be attached to the first side, be transparent, and configured to carry heat energy away from the reflective display. The thermal layer may be attached to the heat sink layer, be semi-transparent, and configured to reduce an intensity of the thermal load reaching the reflective display. The warming layer may be attached to the second side, be transparent, and configured to heat the reflective display in response to an electric current. The control circuit may be configured to control the electric current to the warming layer based on a temperature signal indicating a temperature of the semi-transparent sign.

Abstract: Presented are Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) systems for vehicle powertrains, methods for making/operating such BTSI systems, and vehicles equipped with a BTSI system. A BTSI system for a motor vehicle includes a shifter solenoid with a solenoid body that mounts to the vehicle body, and a solenoid armature that is movably attached to the solenoid body to transition back-and-forth between locked and unlocked positions. The shifter solenoid is selectively operable via a brake control module to move the solenoid armature between the locked and unlocked positions to thereby block and unblock movement of a gear shifter from the park position, respectively. A position switch mounts to the vehicle body adjacent the shifter solenoid and detects the vehicle transmission being in a park mode. The position switch selectively mechanically engages with the shifter solenoid such that the solenoid armature, upon moving to the locked position, pushes closed the position switch.

Abstract: A method of controlling an interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor includes receiving a motor torque command, and selecting a nominal d-axis current and a nominal q-axis current stored in a first lookup table. The nominal d-axis current and the nominal q-axis current correspond with a predetermined efficiency of the IPM motor at a nominal temperature and are based on at least the motor torque command and magnetic flux at a nominal temperature of the IPM motor. A d-axis adjustment current and a q-axis adjustment current are then selected from a stored second lookup table. The adjustment currents correspond with the predetermined efficiency of the IPM motor and are based at least on the magnetic flux and an operating temperature of the IPM motor. A corrected d-axis current and a corrected q-axis current are commanded. The corrected currents are the sum of the respective nominal current and adjustment current.

Abstract: A cooling system for a rechargeable energy system includes a plurality of bus bars, a cooling plate configured for cooling the plurality of bus bars and disposed in a thermally-conductive relationship with a portion of each of the plurality of bus bars, and an isolation component disposed between and in contact with the cooling plate and each of the plurality of bus bars. A rechargeable energy storage system and device are also described.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing method comprises: positioning a sheet of composite material; curing a predetermined portion of the sheet; cutting the sheet about the perimeter of the predetermined portion to create a preceding processed sheet; adding a successive sheet of composite material atop and in contact with the preceding processed sheet; curing a predetermined portion of the successive sheet such that the predetermined portions of the successive sheet and the preceding processed sheet are bonded together; and cutting the successive sheet about the perimeter of its predetermined portion to create a subsequent processed sheet. The steps of adding, curing and cutting a successive sheet may be repeated for a plurality of cycles to produce a three-dimensional composite product.

Abstract: An exemplary clip assembly for adjusting a length of a cable includes a base including a tab and a first stop member, a cover rotatably coupled to the base, and a barrel assembly nesting within the base and the cover. The base and the cover define a first passage extending longitudinally through the cover and the base. The barrel assembly includes a first barrel member having a first interaction surface and a first threaded channel, and a second barrel member includes a second interaction surface and a second threaded channel. The first and second interaction surfaces form a barrel interaction surface and the first and second channels define a second passage through the barrel assembly. The first and second passages have a common longitudinal axis and rotation of the barrel interaction surface results in longitudinal translation of the cable through the second passage of the barrel assembly.

Abstract: Presented are electric drive unit (EDU) assemblies with integrated power electronics, methods for making/operating such EDU assemblies, and motor vehicles equipped with such EDU assemblies. An EDU assembly includes an outer housing that mounts to a vehicle body. The EDU outer housing has internal motor and transmission chambers and an external cavity. A traction motor is mounted inside the motor chamber and drives one or more vehicle wheels to thereby propel the vehicle. A gear train is mounted inside the transmission chamber and drivingly connects the traction motor to the vehicle wheels. An integrated power electronics (IPE) unit, which is operable to control the traction motor, includes an IPE outer housing with a housing chassis mounted inside the external cavity, and a main housing mounted on the housing chassis to define therebetween a power electronics (PE) chamber. Multiple integrated circuit (IC) PE modules are mounted inside the PE chamber.

Abstract: A controller-executed method for conditioning a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) in a fuel cell for use in a fuel cell stack includes humidifying a fuel inlet to the stack to a threshold relative humidity level, and maintaining a current density and cell voltage of the fuel cell at a calibrated current density level and hold voltage level, respectively, via the controller in at least one voltage recovery stage. The recovery stage has a predetermined voltage recovery duration. The method includes measuring the cell voltage after completing the predetermined voltage recovery duration, and executing a control action with respect to the fuel cell or fuel cell stack responsive to the measured cell voltage exceeding a target voltage, including recording a diagnostic code via the controller indicative of successful conditioning of the MEA. A fuel cell system includes the fuel cell stack and controller.