Abstract: Methods and components produced from carbon fiber pre-impregnated composite precursor materials (pre-preg) having enhanced flowability and moldability are provided. Discontinuous cut regions are introduced into a pre-preg. A sheet of pre-preg may be contacted with a patterned surface having a plurality of non-contiguous staggered cutters, so that the contacting creates discontinuous cuts in the pre-preg. A plurality of staggered discontinuous cut regions are formed in the plurality of continuous carbon fibers that define a first plurality of carbon fibers having a first length and a second plurality of carbon fibers having a second distinct length. The patterned surface may be provided on a cutter device that is a roller or a plate having the non-contiguous staggered cutters formed or disposed thereon. The discontinuous cut regions that are formed in the pre-preg reduce stiffness and improve moldability/flowability when forming carbon fiber polymeric composites, while retaining high strength levels.

Abstract: A system includes a torque converter having a turbine, a transmission having friction clutches and an input member connected to the turbine, and a controller. The controller is programmed to control a change-of-mind shift maneuver of the transmission. By executing a method, the controller detects the change-of-mind shift maneuver, predicts an acceleration profile of the turbine for a next-requested shift of the detected shift maneuver as a function of a calibrated desired shift time and an output speed of the transmission, calculates a shift control value for a next-requested shift of the shift maneuver using the predicted acceleration profile, and executes the next-requested shift via the clutches using the calculated shift control value. The shift maneuver may be a skip-at-sync quick shift-to-quick shift or power downshift-to-power downshift. The shift value may be a clutch pressure for an offgoing holding clutch or a torque management level from an engine.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a method including providing a first powder comprising iron; compacting the first powder into a compacted powder product having a non-planar surface, wherein the compacting includes dynamic magnetic compaction or combustion driven compaction; and increasing the magnetic coercivity of at least one of the first powder or compact powder product.

Abstract: An electric power management system for a vehicle includes a first power bus arranged in parallel with a second power bus between first and second nodes. A third power bus couples a first battery and an auxiliary load at the second node. The second power bus couples a starter, a second battery and a generator at the first node, and selectively couples the first node to the second node when a first switch is activated. The second battery couples to the first node when a second switch is activated and the engine starter couples to the first node when a starter switch is activated. The second power bus couples the first node to the second node when a third switch is activated. A controller monitors states of charge of the first battery and the second battery and controls activations of the first switch, the second switch and the third switch.

Abstract: A method of controlling a solenoid valve of an automotive system, the valve being charged by a pulse width modulated signal (PWM) and determining an actuation of an automotive system component is provided. The method comprises the following: determining a target end of command of the valve as a function of a PWM state and a time interval from a last change of PWM state; monitoring a current value, a PWM phase period and the PWM state of a last pulse width modulated signal; and correcting in the next pulse width modulated signal at least one of said current value and PWM phase period, so that a next end of command of the valve will occur at the target end of command.

Abstract: A method for making a device with a fibrous sheet includes a step of combining a fiber-forming resin with a carrier resin to form a resinous mixture. The fiber forming resin has a fluorinated backbone with a pendent CF2CF2—X group where X is a SO3H or SO2F. The carrier resin is a soluble polyamide. The resinous mixture is extruded to form an extruded resinous mixture. The extruded resinous mixture has fiber strands of the fiber-forming resin within the carrier resin. The extruded resinous mixture is contacted with water to separate the fiber strands of the fiber-forming resin from the carrier resin. Fiber forming strands are optionally cross-linked with ammonia and then are hydrolyzed to form ionomers.

Abstract: A method of adaptively re-generating a planned path for an autonomous driving maneuver. An object map is generated based on the sensed objects in a road of travel. A timer re-set and actuated. A planned path is generated for autonomously maneuvering the vehicle around the sensed objects. The vehicle is autonomously maneuvered along the planned path. The object map is updated based on sensed data from the vehicle-based devices. A safety check is performed for determining whether the planned path is feasible based on the updated object map. The planned path is re-generated in response to a determination that the existing path is infeasible, otherwise a determination is made as to whether the timer has expired. If the timer has not expired, then a safety check is re-performed; otherwise, a return is made to re-plan the path.

Abstract: Disclosed are vehicle storage containers, methods for making and methods for using vehicle storage containers, and motor vehicles with utility storage containers. Disclosed, for example, is a utility storage container for a motor vehicle. The utility storage container includes a container basin that attaches to the vehicle body and stows within the vehicle's cargo compartment. The container basin includes multiple sidewalls projecting from a base to cooperatively define a basin opening. An articulated door assembly includes a first door segment pivotably coupled to the container basin to transition the door assembly between a closed position, whereat the door segments cooperatively cover the basin opening, and a full-open position, whereat the door segments uncover the opening. A second door segment is pivotably coupled to the first door segment to transition the door assembly between the closed position and a half-open position, whereat the second door segment partially uncovers the basin opening.

Abstract: A system for dynamically projecting a logo onto a surface includes a light source, moveable lenses, and an actuator. The light source emits light toward the surface. The lenses are positioned with between the light source and the surface, with each lens having multiple transparent portions configured to permit some of the emitted light to pass through the lens in a corresponding light pattern. Each corresponding light pattern forms a different part of the logo. The actuator moves the lenses with respect to the emitted light in response to a control signal to thereby cause projection of the logo onto the surface. A vehicle includes a body having a door, road wheels in contact with a road surface, and the system which projects the logo onto the road surface proximate the door. The controller may be programmed to execute a method for projecting the logo.

Abstract: A cooling plate design for cooling a battery cell is provided that employs a plastic plate having cutouts for coolant flow paths. The plastic plate has a layer of adhesive film on each side to maintain coolant in the channels. Compression within an alternating battery cell and coolant plate stack provides pressure that minimizes coolant load on the film. Methods to manufacture the cooling plate are also provided.

Abstract: A vehicle having a power-source configured to propel the vehicle via power-source torque, a driven wheel configured to receive the power-source torque, and a vehicle body structure. The vehicle body structure includes a wheelhouse configured to extend over the driven wheel and also defines a locating feature. The vehicle further includes an integrated weight element configured to engage the locating feature and a fastener configured to fix the integrated weight element to the vehicle body structure either proximate to or directly to the wheelhouse. The vehicle can be configured as a truck, wherein the vehicle body structure includes a truck bed incorporating the wheelhouse and the integrated weight element.

Abstract: A method of joining a first tin-plated electrical component to a second tin-plated electrical component, and components joined to exhibit reduced stress levels at the joined location. The method includes defining a pocket in the second component that is shaped to accept a portion of the first component, placing the portion of the first component substantially within the pocket to define an interfacial region, and using a resistance welder to both form a solid-state diffusion bond along at least a portion of the interfacial region and fill a substantial remainder of the interfacial region with melted tin plating from one or both of the first and second components.

Abstract: A method of forming a rotor includes inserting a conductor bar into a slot defined by a lamination stack to define a gap between the conductor bar and the lamination stack. The method further includes, after inserting, swelling the conductor bar within the slot to fill the gap and form the rotor. A rotor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method of regulating speech output by a text-to-speech (TTS) system includes: evaluating speech that has been converted from text using an initial speech quality test before presentation to a user; applying a classification test to the evaluated speech if the evaluated speech falls below a threshold based on the initial speech quality test; generating an abnormal speech classification for the evaluated speech; and applying a corrective action to the evaluated speech based on the abnormal speech classification.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle. The vehicle includes at least one motor-generator, an internal combustion engine employing a camshaft and a camshaft phaser, and an energy-storage device operatively connected to the engine and to the at least one motor-generator. The method includes determining whether a deceleration of the vehicle is desired, and ceasing a supply of fuel to the engine when the deceleration is desired. The method additionally includes regulating the camshaft phaser to a predetermined fuel cut-off position when the supply of fuel to the engine has been ceased, such that a magnitude of compression pulses in the engine is reduced relative to when the engine is being fueled. A system for controlling the hybrid electric vehicle and for executing the above method is also provided.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine having a combustion chamber with an inlet and an outlet. Valves and valve actuators regulate open and closing of the inlet and the outlet. A plasma ignition source initiates ignition in the combustion chamber. A controller is in communication with the inlet valve actuator and outlet valve actuator. The controller is configured to detect a transition from a first combustion mode of the engine to a second combustion mode of the engine. The controller is also configured to change at least one of an opening time, a closing time, and an open duration of the first valve in response to detecting the transition.