Abstract: According to aspects of the present disclosure, a method includes selecting a faying surface of a first metal substrate, placing a reaction material on the faying surface, and attaching, prior to a second metal substrate being adjacent the first metal substrate, the reaction material to the faying surface via ultrasonic welding. The reaction material is configured to form a metallurgical joint between the faying surface and the second metal substrate adjacent the first metal substrate.

Abstract: An electric power system includes an energy recovery system that is operable to convert kinetic energy into electric energy at a first voltage. A primary energy storage device is electrically connected to the energy recovery system at the first voltage. A first voltage autonomous driving system load is disposed in a parallel circuit with the energy recovery system and the primary energy storage device. A bi-directional DC-DC converter is electrically connected to the energy recovery system and the primary energy storage device for converting the electric energy between the first voltage and a second voltage. A secondary energy storage device is electrically connected to the bi-directional DC-DC converter at the second voltage. A second voltage autonomous driving system load is disposed in a parallel circuit with the secondary energy storage device.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is described herein. The autonomous vehicle includes several sensor systems that asynchronously generate sensor system outputs. A batch generator system, executed by a processor, identifies batches of sensor system outputs to provide to an object classifier system, wherein the batches of sensor system outputs are identified based upon timing estimates, wherein the timing estimates include first timing estimates and second timing estimates. The first timing estimates include estimates of amounts of time needed by the object classifier system to complete processing of batches of different sizes. The second timing estimates includes estimates of when sensor system outputs are expected to be received from the several sensor systems.

Abstract: A method for controlling an operating vehicle includes: (a) determining, via a controller, a confidence level that the light of the other vehicle is ON based on images captured by a camera of the operating vehicle; and (b) controlling, via the controller, an alarm of the operating vehicle based on the confidence level that the light of the other vehicle is ON.

Abstract: Disclosed are weld electrode plugs with polymeric inserts for loss-of-cooling detection, methods for making or for using such weld electrode plugs, and electric welding systems equipped with loss-of-cooling detection plugs. A disclosed loss-of-cooling detection assembly includes a plug that attaches to the weld shank of a welding system such that the plug fluidly couples to a coolant bore within the shank. The plug includes a plug body with a clearance hole extending therethrough. An insert detachably mounts to the plug such that the insert fluidly seals the clearance hole. This insert is fabricated from a polymeric material, such as a shape memory polymer, that alters a physical property, such as shape/size, of the insert responsive to changes in temperature and/or pressure of coolant fluid in the shank's bore. When this physical property is altered, the insert unseals the clearance hole causing a detectable leak of fluid from the shank.

Abstract: Lithium-utilizing electrochemical cells, providing battery and hybrid-capacitor activity, are formed of one or more lithium battery anodes, one or more lithium battery cathodes, and one or more positive-charge or negative-charge hybrid capacitor electrodes which are formed of a combination of capacitor particles with one of anode or cathode particles. The anode and cathodes are formed of porous layers of particles of anode or cathode material, bonded to each side of a current collector foil. The hybrid capacitor electrodes are formed of porous layers of capacitor particles, mixed or layered with anode or capacitor particles, bonded to each side of a current collector foil. The compositions of the hybrid capacitors are determined to balance the capacities of the electrodes in the lithium-ion electrochemical cell to intercalate or adsorb lithium cations and corresponding anions in the electrolyte infiltrating the pores of the electrode materials.

Abstract: A control system for controlling operation of an asymmetric motor to operate as a symmetric motor is provided and includes first and second summers, a proportional flux error-to-voltage converter, a complex integration module, and a control module. The first summer determines a flux error for d and q axes of the asymmetric motor based on a commanded flux value and a feedback flux value. The proportional flux error-to-voltage converter converts the flux error to a proportional voltage term. The complex integration module, based on a time constant, a synchronous angular velocity, and a sampling period, calculates an integral voltage term. The second summer sums the proportional voltage term, the integral voltage term, and a damping resistance voltage to generate a voltage command signal. The damping resistance voltage is based on first and second damping resistances. The control module controls operation of the asymmetric motor based on the voltage command signal.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrode includes attaching a tab to a collector to form a pre-tabbed current collector; disposing the pre-tabbed current collector onto a non-stick substrate to form a workpiece; and casting a slurry onto the workpiece to form a film. The slurry includes an active material component, one or more carbon additives, and at least one of a filamentary copper additive and a dendritic copper additive. The method includes drying the film at a first temperature to form a dried film; curing the dried film under pressure at a second higher temperature to form a cured film; removing the cured film from the non-stick substrate to form a precursor film; and carbonizing and annealing the precursor film at a third higher temperature. Carbonizing forms a three-dimensional electrically-conductive network and annealing forms a second contiguous network of copper connected to the active material component to form the electrode.

Abstract: A powertrain system includes a flex plate, a transmission input shaft, a torque coupling, a one-way clutch, and a damper assembly. The flex plate is configured to be connected to a crankshaft of an engine. The torque coupling connects the transmission input shaft to the flex plate while allowing slip between the transmission input shaft and the flex plate. The one-way clutch is configured to couple the flex plate to the torque coupling. The damper assembly couples the flex plate to the one-way clutch and is configured to inhibit vibration transmission from the flex plate to the one-way clutch.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder engine includes first and second subsets of cylinders. A dedicated-cylinder exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system is associated with the second subset of cylinders. A plasma ignition system is disposed in the second subset of cylinders. A controller operates the plasma ignition system to control the plasma igniters to execute plasma discharges in the second subset of cylinders to generate residual exhaust gas, which is recirculated through the dedicated-cylinder EGR system to the intake air system for introduction into intake air.

Abstract: A transmission includes a continuously variable unit (CVU) (20) arranged in parallel with an expansion gearset (120). The CVU (20) includes a first pulley (22) that is rotatably coupled to a second pulley (24) and an input member (12). The expansion gearset (120) includes a planetary gearset (130) that is arranged in series with a coplanar second gearset (140), and the second gearset (140) includes a first gear (142) engaged with a layshaft gear (144). The second pulley (24) is rotatably couplable to the first gear (142) of the second gearset (140). The layshaft gear (144) is engaged with a ring gear (136) and a carrier member (134) which is rotatably couplable to an output member (14). The first pulley (22) is rotatably couplable to the sun gear (132) via a first clutch (115). The transmission operates in a continuously variable mode when the first clutch (115) is deactivated, and operates in a power split mode when the first clutch (115) is activated.

Abstract: An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) pixel is composed of a plurality of subpixel elements and one or more lenses, including first, second and third subpixel elements that emit light beams having first, second and third colors, respectively. The first subpixel element exhibits a first light divergence angle, the second subpixel element exhibits a second light divergence angle, and the third subpixel element exhibits a third light divergence angle. A first lens is disposed on the second subpixel element, with a first refractive index to refract the light beam of the second subpixel element to a light divergence angle that is equivalent to the first light divergence angle. A second lens is disposed on the third subpixel element, with a refractive index to refract the light beam of the third subpixel element to a divergence angle that is equivalent to the first light divergence angle.

Abstract: A lighting system is employed in a motor vehicle that includes a vehicle body arranged along a longitudinal axis 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 a second vehicle body end opposing the first vehicle body end, and an aerodynamic-element having an aerodynamic-element body mounted to the second vehicle body end and arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The lighting system includes a light source mounted to the vehicle body and configured to direct at least one beam of light at the aerodynamic-element body. The lighting system also includes a light-reflecting feature arranged on the aerodynamic-element body and having an orientation configured to reflect the at least one beam of light along the longitudinal axis in a direction away from the first vehicle body end.

Abstract: A splitter system for a vehicle having a vehicle body including a first vehicle body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion includes first and second splitter portions. The first splitter portion is configured to be fixed to the vehicle body. The second splitter portion is mounted to the first splitter portion. The first and second splitter portions together are configured to generate an aerodynamic downforce on the vehicle body when the vehicle is in motion. The splitter system also includes a mechanism arranged between the first and second splitter portions. The mechanism is configured to vary position of the second splitter portion relative to the first splitter portion to thereby control movement of the oncoming ambient airflow relative to the vehicle body and vary a magnitude of the aerodynamic downforce.

Abstract: An articulated compliance mechanism for use with a support structure includes a carriage and a pair of parallel four-bar linkage arrangements. The arrangements collectively have a first set of links configured to rigidly connect to the support structure, a second set of links rotatably coupled to the carriage a distance from the first set of links, and a third set of links rotatably coupled to and spanning the distance. The compliance mechanism supports and provides the carriage, e.g., a rectangular shaped frame, with a stable equilibrium point using a gravitational restoring force, and provides the carriage with a passive translational degree of freedom along a horizontal axis in response to an input force from an operator. An additional compliance mechanism may be serially connected to provide a passive translational degree of freedom along a vertical axis. A system includes the compliance mechanism and support structure.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes sensing a first boundary lane indicator and a second boundary lane indicator of an adjacent traffic lane, which is laterally offset from a current traffic lane of the vehicle. The first boundary lane indicator, the second boundary lane indicator, and/or a centerline of the adjacent traffic lane, may be transposed onto the current traffic lane of the vehicle, and used to maneuver the vehicle in order to maintain a position of the vehicle within the current traffic lane, when a left boundary lane indicator and/or a right boundary lane indicator of the current traffic lane is determined to be an unsatisfactory delineator of the current traffic lane.

Abstract: A battery cell has positive and negative cell tabs protruding from a first edge and a cell stack-up within a pouch. Anode and cathode foils are connected to the cell tabs proximate the first edge, with the anode foils connected to each other proximate a second edge. An outermost current collector of the anode foils exists with respect to a thickness of the cell stack-up. The cathode foils are connected to the positive cell tab proximate the first edge. The anode foils are connected to each other and the negative cell tab proximate the second edge, such that the outermost current collector forms an internal bus bar between the first and second edges. The battery cell has asymmetrical packaging and symmetrical internal current paths. A system includes a battery pack driving a load, with the battery pack having battery cells constructed as set forth above.

Abstract: An end plate unit for use in a fuel cell stack in an electric vehicle is provided wherein the end plate includes an outer surface, an inner surface disposed opposite the outer surface and a current collector. The inner surface defines at least a first region and a second region which is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first region. The current collector may be affixed to the inner surface.

Abstract: An isolator assembly includes a clutch configured to operate in a full locked condition and a slip condition. Additionally, the isolator assembly includes a damper and a centrifugal pendulum absorber (CPA). The damper is configured to reduce oscillation when the clutch is in one of the full locked condition and the slip condition. The damper includes a blade that is biasable. The CPA is coupled to the damper and configured to reduce oscillation when the clutch is in one of the full locked condition and the slip condition. A vehicle includes an engine and a transmission. The engine includes an output shaft and the transmission includes an input member. The vehicle includes the isolator assembly operable between the output shaft and the input member.

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.