Abstract: Crankshaft assemblies for vehicle assemblies, such as engine assemblies, and methods of manufacturing crankshaft assemblies are provided. The crankshaft assembly includes a first crankpin disposed between a first pair of webs and at least a first main bearing journal connected to the first pair of webs, wherein at least one of the first crankpin, the first pair of webs or the first main bearing journal is a polymeric composite including a polymer and a plurality of reinforcing fibers.

Abstract: Engine assemblies and methods of heating and/or cooling the engine assemblies are provided. The engine assembly has a metal liner defining a cylindrical region for receiving a piston, a polymeric composite housing disposed around at least a portion of the exterior surface of the metal liner, and a metal cylinder head. The polymeric composite housing comprises a polymer and a plurality of reinforcing fibers and at least one of: a plurality of microchannels for receiving a heat transfer fluid for heating and/or cooling the engine assembly; and at least one wire for heating the engine assembly.

Abstract: A method of initializing operation of a shutter arranged relative to a grille opening in a vehicle having a power-plant includes detecting a start-up of the power-plant. The method also includes sensing a temperature of ambient air. The method also includes commanding the shutter to achieve a fully-opened position when the temperature of ambient air is above a predetermined value such that a flow of ambient air to the power-plant through the grille opening is substantially unrestricted. The method additionally includes commanding the shutter to achieve a fully-closed position when a temperature of the power-plant is maintained below a threshold value such that the flow of ambient air through the grille opening to the power-plant is substantially blocked. A vehicle using a controller configured to perform the above method is also provided.

Abstract: An antenna assembly for a vehicle that includes an AM/FM mast antenna element for AM/FM signals and a WiFi or DSRC antenna element positioned at a tip of the mast, where the antenna assembly is mounted to a vehicle roof and where the WiFi or DSRC antenna element extends above a roof line of the vehicle.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for smart backlighting. For example, there is provided a system for use with a vehicle. The system includes a primary subsystem configured to perform a first function. Further, the system includes a backlight subsystem configured to perform a second function, the second function being independent of the first function. Moreover, the system can includes a controller configured to generate a single signal including a first instruction for causing the primary subsystem to perform the first function and a second instruction for causing the backlight subsystem to perform the second function.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a product comprising: a cargo attachment system having: a base unit comprising an attachment piece, and a rail comprising a slide face; and a cargo attachment mechanism comprising a knob, a cargo attachment component, and a slider mechanism mechanically coupled to the slide face wherein the slider mechanism is constructed and arranged to slide the cargo attachment mechanism along the slide face and statically lock the cargo attachment mechanism at a position along the slide face, and wherein the cargo attachment component is constructed and arranged to pivotally rotate into a plurality of fixed positions about the knob.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the conductivity of a cooling fluid flowing in a fuel cell system on a vehicle including a chassis. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack electrically coupled to a stack bus and a battery electrically coupled to a propulsion bus. The method includes operating the fuel cell system, measuring a first isolation resistance at the first power level, measuring a first stack voltage, and measuring a first battery voltage. The method also includes operating the fuel cell system at a second power level, and measuring a second isolation resistance, measuring a second stack voltage, and measuring a second battery voltage. The method calculates a stack coolant resistance using the first and second isolation resistances, the first and second stack voltages, and the first and second battery voltages, which is then used to calculate the cooling fluid conductivity.

Abstract: A modular flexible-screen apparatus allowing a user to transport personal preferences or settings between participating vehicles of transportation. The user can carry the preference-holding screen apparatus to and from the same vehicle, and between other vehicles the user owns, and/or to shared, taxi, or rental vehicles.

Abstract: An electric drive system for a three-phase PM electric machine. The drive system includes a split stator winding for each phase of the machine including a first winding section and a second winding section, and an inverter circuit including a pair of inverter switches for each phase, where the pair of inverter switches for each phase is electrically coupled to the first and second winding sections for that phase in the stator. The drive system also includes a switching system including a switch circuit, where the switch circuit includes a plurality of switch assemblies for switching between a full winding control mode and a half winding control mode, where each switch assembly includes a first AC switching device and a second AC switching device, and where each switch assembly is electrically coupled to the pair of inverter switches and the first and second winding sections for a particular phase.

Abstract: An autonomous-driving vehicle system, for implementation at an autonomous-driving vehicle. The autonomous-driving vehicle system includes a hardware-based processing unit and a non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising and input module and an activity module. The input module, when executed by the hardware-based processing unit, obtains input data indicating presence of a pedestrian communication device near the autonomous-driving vehicle. The activity module, when executed by the hardware-based processing unit: (i) determines, based on the input data, in a pedestrian-presence determination, that the pedestrian communication device is or will soon be near the autonomous-driving vehicle, and (ii) determines, based on the pedestrian-presence determination, an autonomous-driving action to be implemented by the autonomous-driving vehicle.

Abstract: A system includes a glove, sensors, actuator assemblies, and controller. The sensors include load sensors which measure an actual grasping force and attitude sensors which determine a glove attitude. The actuator assembly provides a grasp assist force to the glove. Respective locations of work cells in the work environment and permitted work tasks for each work cell are programmed into the controller. The controller detects the glove location and attitude. A work task is selected by the controller for the location. The controller calculates a required grasp assist force using measured actual grasping forces from the load sensors. The required grasp assist force is applied via the glove using the actuator assembly to thereby assist the operator in performing the identified work task.

Abstract: A method for controlling a fuel cell system, capable of quickly detecting the pressure rise caused by a faulted open anode injector, reducing pressure in the fuel cell stack when the fault occurs, and taking remedial action to allow continued operation of the fuel cell stack, and militate against a walk-home incident.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a detected faulty signal. A roll sensor fault is detected by a processor. A signal of the detected faulty roll sensor is reconstructed using indirect sensor data. The reconstructed signal is output to a controller to maintain stability.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes calculating a desired deceleration limited regeneration torque request based on a requested deceleration input from a driver. If current dynamic operating conditions of the vehicle are in a performance region that permits an increase to the regeneration torque request, the desired deceleration limited regeneration torque request is increased based on a regeneration torque overhead, to define a modified axle regeneration torque request. Modified torque values are output based on the modified axle regeneration torque request. If the torque control values will cause an estimated yaw rate that is less than a target yaw rate, then the modified torque values are applied. Otherwise, the modified torque values are re-defined until the estimated yaw rate is not greater than the target yaw rate, and the re-defined values of the modified torque values are applied.

Abstract: A powertrain assembly includes a transmission, an engine, first and second motor/generators and a controller. The controller includes a processor and memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for controlling engine pulse torque cancellation commands. The controller is programmed to determine an engine pulse torque (TP). The controller is programmed to calculate a first motor torque pulse command (TA) for the first motor/generator as a product of a first gear factor (G1), the engine pulse torque (TP) and a first ratio (IA/IE) of a predetermined first moment of inertia (IA) for the first motor/generator and a predetermined engine moment of inertia (IE). Similarly, the controller is programmed to calculate a second motor torque pulse command (TB) for the second motor/generator. The controller is programmed to control the first and second motor/generators in response to the first and second motor torque pulse commands, respectively.

Abstract: A method for localizing and estimating a pose of a known object in a field of view of a vision system is described, and includes developing a processor-based model of the known object, capturing a bitmap image file including an image of the field of view including the known object, extracting features from the bitmap image file, matching the extracted features with features associated with the model of the known object, localizing an object in the bitmap image file based upon the extracted features, clustering the extracted features of the localized object, merging the clustered extracted features, detecting the known object in the field of view based upon a comparison of the merged clustered extracted features and the processor-based model of the known object, and estimating a pose of the detected known object in the field of view based upon the detecting of the known object.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine is described in which a combustion air ratio (?) is determined and used to determine a deviation of this combustion air ratio from an in particular default or determined set point combustion air ratio. Spontaneous ignition of the internal combustion engine are detected based on the determined deviation (??) and used to control the operation of the engine.

Abstract: A portable system including a digital connection plug, a processing hardware unit, and a non-transitory storage device including code causing the processing hardware unit to perform operations including dividing a received source video file or virtualized source video into a plurality of equal- or non-equal-sized image components. A resulting data-content package is stored at the system such as at a framebuffer thereof. System operations further comprise generating a meta-index package comprising a plurality of index components, each index component corresponding to a respective one of the equal-sized image components, storing the meta-index package, and sending the data-content package and the meta-index package to the host device for publishing of the image components sequentially, in accord with an order of the meta-index package, for display rendering streaming video corresponding to the source video file or virtualized source video.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a support structure component for connecting a spring strut to a vehicle body. The support structure component includes a connection section for connecting to the vehicle body and at least one flange section having a spring strut mount configured to mount a spring strut. In this manner, the support structure component can be used for assembling the spring strut into the vehicle body without requiring significant access from above.

Abstract: An onboard charging module (OBCM), e.g., for a vehicle, is characterized by an absence of a transformer and includes an AC-to-DC voltage rectifier, DC-DC buck converter, DC-DC boost converter, DC link capacitor between the buck converter and boost converter, and solid-state devices. The devices include a diode and first and second switches having opposite open/closed switching states. The first and second switches are connected to a common rail of a DC bus, the first switch and diode are between the voltage rectifier and boost converter, and the second switch is between the link capacitor and buck converter. Third and fourth switches may be used on the opposite rail as the first and second switches. The OBCM is operable, via operation of the solid-state devices, to charge the HV-ESS via an AC power supply while maintaining current isolation. An electrical system includes the OBCM, DC bus, and HV-ESS.