Abstract: A method for regulating operation of an induction motor having a rotor includes calculating a rotor flux angle error value, via a flux observer of a controller, using estimated d-axis and q-axis flux values of the rotor, estimating rotor position using a position observer of the controller, and calculating slip position of the rotor using d-axis and q-axis stator currents. The method also includes estimating a rotor flux angle as a function of slip position and estimated rotor position, calculating a corrected rotor flux angle by selectively adding the rotor flux angle error value to the estimated rotor flux angle, and controlling output torque of the motor using the corrected rotor flux angle. A logic switch may be used to selectively add the rotor flux angle.

Abstract: A battery control system includes T contactor paths connected in parallel between a battery and a load, where T is an integer greater than one. Each of the T contactor paths includes a first contactor and a second contactor connected in series with the first contactor. Each of the T contactor paths includes at least one of a first voltage sensor configured to sense a first voltage between the first contactor and the second contactor; and a current sensor configured to sense current flowing through the first contactor and the second contactor. A second voltage sensor is configured to sense a second voltage at one end of the T contactor paths. A third voltage sensor is configured to sense a third voltage at an opposite end of the T contactor paths.

Abstract: A battery control system includes a battery comprising: first and second terminals; third and fourth terminals; a plurality of individually housed batteries; and a plurality of switches configured to connect ones of the batteries to and from ones of the first, second, third, and fourth terminals. A mode module is configured to set a mode of operation based on at least one of a plurality of present operating parameters. A switch control module is configured to control the plurality of switches based on the mode of operation.

Abstract: A battery of a vehicle includes a housing including: a lower portion that includes a plurality of separators extending vertically upward from a floor of the lower portion; and an upper portion that covers an opening of the lower portion and that is removable from the lower portion. The battery also includes: first and second terminals on the housing; third and fourth terminals on the housing; a plurality of individually housed batteries separated by the plurality of separators; a plurality of switches configured to selectively connect ones of the plurality of batteries to ones of the first, second, third, and fourth terminals; and a battery management module configured to control the plurality of switches.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes an engine defining a plurality of cylinders and configured to combust a fuel. A method of increasing efficiency of an engine includes controlling an amount of fuel being injected into the plurality of cylinders of the engine via a respective fuel injector. An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system is in selective fluid communication with a second subset of the plurality of cylinders and the air intake system to route the second exhaust product from the second subset of the plurality of cylinders to an air intake system. A valve is coupled to the EGR system and the exhaust system. A first sensor is disposed between the valve and the air intake system, and measures an amount of reformate in the second exhaust product when the valve is in a second position.

Abstract: A running board configured for absorbing energy includes an attachment portion extending along a longitudinal axis and a step-assist portion extending from the attachment portion along a latitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The attachment portion defines a plurality of voids therein each disposed along a respective one of a plurality of horizontal axes that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The running board further includes a plurality of tubes disposed within a respective one of the plurality of voids. A device including the running board and a method of forming a running board are also set forth.

Abstract: A machine bearing disposed on a rotatable member, such as may be present on a vehicle, is described. A method for monitoring a state of health of the machine bearing includes monitoring, via a microphone, an acoustic signal, and coincidently determining a rotational speed of the rotatable member associated with the machine bearing. The sound spectrum is correlated to the rotational speed of the rotating member, and a time-frequency analysis is executed to determine a sound spectrum. The sound spectrum is transformed to a residual spectrum. A first feature associated with a first frequency band and a second feature associated with a second frequency band are extracted from the residual spectrum. The state of health associated with the machine bearing is detected based upon the first and second features, and is communicated to a second controller.

Abstract: A battery control system includes a battery comprising: first and second terminals; third and fourth terminals; a plurality of individually housed batteries; and a plurality of switches configured to connect ones of the batteries to and from ones of the first, second, third, and fourth terminals. A mode module is configured to set a mode of operation based on at least one of a plurality of present operating parameters. A switch control module is configured to control the plurality of switches based on the mode of operation.

Abstract: A host vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine, a communication system configured to transmit and receive a traffic-related message, and a controller in communication with the turbocharger and the communication system. The controller is programmed to: receive the traffic-related message via the communication system; and command the internal combustion engine to increase a power output to spool up the turbocharger in response to receiving the traffic-related message. The controller is programmed to determine a number of relevant vehicles. The number of relevant vehicles is a number of vehicles that are in front of the host vehicle and behind a traffic light and affect a movement of the host vehicle toward the traffic light. The traffic-related message is a one of a vehicle message from another vehicle and/or a traffic-light message from the traffic light.

Abstract: Systems and methods to detect abnormalities within a stabilizer system for a vehicle. A method includes receiving suspension system data from one or more vehicle sensors, calculating a roll gradient from the suspension system data, determining whether the calculated roll gradient is greater than a predetermined roll gradient threshold, and setting a diagnostic notification if the calculated roll gradient is greater than the predetermined roll gradient threshold.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle guidance system enables a partially assembled battery-electric vehicle (BEV) to be guided through an assembly process with the temporary addition of a sensor skid. The partially assembled BEV includes a vehicle body, a vehicle controller coupled to the vehicle body, a battery electrically coupled to the vehicle controller, a sensor skid configured to be coupled under the vehicle body of the BEV. The sensor skid is configured to guide the BEV through an assembly process. The sensor skid includes a skid body configured to be coupled under the vehicle body of the BEV and a plurality of sensors coupled to the skid body. The sensor skid includes a skid controller in communication with the sensors and the vehicle controller. The skid controller is coupled to the sensor skid.

Abstract: A power supply diagnostics system is disclosed. The power supply diagnostics system includes a first direct current to direct current (DC/DC) control module configured to change an output of a first variable DC/DC converter and a second DC/DC control module configured to change an output of a second variable DC/DC converter. The first and second variable DC/DC converters are connected to a load. The power supply diagnostics system also includes: a first timer module; a second timer module; a first voltage comparison module configured to (i) store a voltage measured at the load based on an output of the first timer module and (ii) begin sampling a plurality of voltages measured at the load base on an output of the second timer module; and a DC/DC status module configured to change an operating parameter of a vehicle based on a comparison of the voltage and the plurality of voltages.

Abstract: A knitted seat trim cover for use on a vehicle seat equipped with an airbag assembly includes a first knitted panel with a first edge and a second knitted panel with a second edge. The first edge is positioned adjacent the second edge to define an airbag deployment zone. The seat trim cover also includes a pocket panel integrally knit with the first knitted panel and the second knitted panel. The pocket panel defines an airbag pocket configured to hold at least a portion of the airbag assembly.

Abstract: A workstation having a cantilevered crane system that includes one or more cantilevered header assemblies, with each cantilevered header assembly including an upright column and a horizontally oriented header, with the header extending from the column with a free end distal from the column. The headers support a pair of runway rails, with at least one bridge rail movably mounted to the runway rails and supporting a moveable hoist. The cantilevered crane system defines a workstation area bounded by the columns and headers, with the workstation area including an open side adjacent the free ends of the headers.

Abstract: Pressure vessels having a grooved liner and methods of forming the same are described. The pressure vessel includes a liner surrounding a cavity therein, an outer surface of the liner disposed opposite the cavity, a boss disposed at a first end of the liner, a composite layer surrounding the liner, an inner surface of the composite layer disposed proximate the liner, and a plurality of longitudinal grooves configured to release gas present between the inner surface of the composite layer and the outer surface of the liner. The liner defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. The boss and the outer surface of the liner define the plurality of longitudinal grooves therein. The plurality of longitudinal grooves extends along the longitudinal axis from the boss toward a second end of the liner. The composite layer spans each of the plurality of longitudinal grooves.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle includes: establishing, by a vehicle controller, a connection between a client and a plurality of servers, the plurality of servers includes a primary server and at least one replica server, the at least one replica server is a replica of the primary server; making, by the vehicle controller, a data request about a given service to the plurality of servers; in response to the data request, receiving reply data from the plurality of servers to the data request via a middleware; fusing, by the middleware, the reply data from the plurality of servers to generate a resulting data; receiving, by the vehicle controller, the resulting data; and controlling, by the client, the vehicle based on the resulting data.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling network traffic for a network in a device that has a plurality of units, including one or more provider and recipient units. The recipient units are configured to send respective subscription requests for data originating from the provider units. A controller is programmed to enter an initial phase when at least one initial condition is met. A repeat phase is entered when a list of currently active subscription is received. In the repeat phase, the controller is configured to monitor the network for a respective timing checking request sent by the provider units. When the controller receives a timing checking request, the controller stores the request in the queue module as respective queue member. The controller is configured to perform a timing analysis test on a selected member of the queue module and control the device based partly on the timing analysis test.

Abstract: A vehicle system virtualizing add-on device hardware for a vehicle application. The system includes a computer-readable storage device comprising a client application, middleware components, kernel-space components, and a vehicle application. The client application communicates with an add-on-device server application for virtualizing the add-on-device hardware component at the vehicle. The middleware, in various embodiments, includes an emulated system-call application-program-interface module that receives add-on-device-hardware data from the client application, sends the data to the kernel-space components after processing, and receives the data having been processed at the kernel space. The middleware includes a frameworks-and-abstraction module that receives add-on-device-hardware data, having been processed at the kernel space and the emulated system-call-application-program-interface module and after processing sends the data for use at the vehicle application.

Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine includes a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device, an injection system disposed to inject reductant into the exhaust pipe upstream of the SCR device. A single ammonia sensor is disposed to monitor an exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the SCR device. A controller is in communication with the single ammonia sensor and the internal combustion engine and operatively is connected to the injection system. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to monitor, via the single ammonia sensor, a magnitude of ammonia in the exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the SCR device and determine NOx efficiency of the SCR device based upon the magnitude of ammonia in the exhaust gas feedstream downstream of the SCR device. A fault is detected in the SCR device based upon the NOx efficiency.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack and a method of assembling a fuel cell stack includes compressing fuel cells along their stacking axis. A compression retention device made up of an enclosure may be used with one or more optional insertable shims to correct for any stack height variations. Significantly, the enclosure is formed to allow the stack to be loaded in compression by a press such that the cells that make up the stack are placed into and maintained in a substantially compressed state while the compression force is not imparted to the enclosure. By resolving any stack height variances while the cells of the stack are maintained in their substantially compressed state, assembly operations are simplified in that repeated compression and decompression of the stack is avoided while trying to ensure that the stack and enclosure are joined into their final assembly form.