Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include systems and methods that leverage adjacent component heating to accelerate the cure time of thermal interface adhesives. An exemplary method can include receiving a battery pack and a thermal management system including a cooling plate, an upper tray, and a lower tray joined to opposite surfaces of the cooling plate to define an enclosed volume therebetween. The method includes wetting an interface between the battery pack and the thermal management system with an adhesive and joining the battery pack to the thermal management system at the interface. The method includes directing a heating fluid through the enclosed volume, thereby heating the adhesive. The method includes, responsive to determining that a temperature of the adhesive has reached a target temperature, maintaining the temperature for a soak time according to a cure curve of the adhesive to achieve a target bond strength.

Abstract: A wheelchair docking station for a wheelchair in a vehicle includes a first brace including a first brace arm, the first brace being mountable in the vehicle, and a second brace including a second brace arm, the second brace being mountable in the vehicle. The second brace is spaced from the first brace by a gap including a gap axis that is parallel to each of the first brace and the second brace. The first brace arm includes a first brace surface that is selectively shiftable toward the gap axis to engage a first wheel of the wheelchair, and the second brace arm includes a second brace surface that is selectively shiftable toward the gap axis to engage a second wheel of the wheelchair.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for carwash detection and entry assistance of a vehicle. A system includes a controller that operates to identify the presence of the vehicle at a wash facility, and to determine whether an operator of the vehicle has accepted entry assistance. When the operator has accepted entry assistance, the controller prepares the vehicle for entering the wash facility, determines a path into the wash facility, and assists the operator in entering the vehicle into the wash facility via the path.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining and mitigating vehicle pull force from passing other vehicles. In an exemplary embodiment, methods and systems are provided that include: obtaining sensor data via one or more sensors of a vehicle, the sensor data including both perception sensor data and vehicle dynamics sensor data; identifying, via a processor, one or more additional vehicles to be passed by the vehicle, using the perception sensor data; and predicting and determining, via the processor, a pull force for the vehicle that is caused by the passing of the vehicle by the one or more additional vehicles along with an impact of the pull force on the vehicle, based on both the perception sensor data and the vehicle dynamics sensor data, and control the vehicle to proactively mitigate the pull force on the vehicle; and vehicle with trailer when towing.

Abstract: Cargo systems are provided for vehicles that include, in one embodiment: a variable cargo surface disposed within a body of the vehicle behind one or more occupant seats, the variable cargo surface including: a low friction surface that facilitates movement of cargo within the cargo system, the low friction surface having a first coefficient of friction; a high friction surface that inhibits movement of cargo within the cargo system, the high friction surface having a second coefficient of friction that is greater than the first coefficient of friction; and a control device that selectively activates the low friction surface and the high friction surface based on conditions for the vehicle; wherein the low friction surface contacts the cargo within the cargo system when the low friction surface is activated; and the high friction surface contacts the cargo within the cargo system when the high friction surface is activated.

Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting and validating a turn light indicator in a vehicle include receiving optical perception data from an optical perception system. The optical perception data includes data describing a detected turn indicator light of another vehicle perceived by the optical perception system including a status of the detected turn indicator light. A turn indicator light signal is generated in the form of a time varying waveform based on the status of the detected turn indicator light. A duty cycle and frequency of the turn indicator light signal is obtained. An assessment is made whether the detected turn indicator light is a valid detection by comparing the duty cycle and frequency with predetermined bounds. When the detected turn indicator light is assessed to be a valid detection, then an automated feature of the vehicle is controlled based on the data describing the detected turn indicator light.

Abstract: In accordance with exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for controlling particulate filter regeneration for a particulate filter of a drive system of a vehicle, including: obtaining sensor data pertaining to the drive system via one or more sensors of the vehicle; determining, via a processor of the vehicle, when particulate filter regeneration is warranted, using the sensor data; and providing particulate filter regeneration while performing scavenging with respect to the drive system, via instructions provided by the processor, when it is determined that particulate filter regeneration is warranted.

Abstract: Interstitially modified compounds of rare earth element-containing, iron-rich compounds may be synthesized with a ThMn12 tetragonal crystal structure such that the compounds have useful permanent magnet properties. It is difficult to consolidate particles of the compounds into a bulk shape without altering the composition and magnetic properties of the metastable material. A combination of thermal analysis and crystal structure analysis of each compound may be used to establish heating and consolidation parameters for sintering of the particles into useful magnet shapes.

Abstract: An isolator for a wheel hub between a brake rotor and a wheel is described, and includes a disk-shaped annular device including an inner ring, an outer ring, a first face portion, a second face portion, a plurality of apertures, a plurality of drain surface portions, and a plurality of radially-oriented drain channels disposed on the first face portion. Each drain channel is recessed in the first face portion. Each drain surface portion is recessed in the first face portion and is fluidly coupled to one of the drain channels. Each of the drain surface portions includes a continuous surface that is recessed from the first face portion between a drainage curve, a respective drain channel, and an arc that is defined on the inner ring between a first point and the respective drain channel.

Abstract: A system and method to separate close targets includes transmitting a pulse sequence and detecting a first target at a first target Doppler frequency based on processed received reflections resulting from the pulse sequence. A nulling pulse sequence designed to null the processed received reflections at the target Doppler frequency is transmitted.

Abstract: A control valve includes a valve housing extending along a longitudinal axis. The valve housing defines an inlet port, a first outlet port, and a second outlet port. In addition, the control valve includes a spool guide disposed inside the valve housing and a flow guide belt disposed around the spool guide. The flow guide belt is disposed inside the valve housing. The control valve further includes a spool movably disposed in the spool guide. The spool can move relative to the valve housing along the longitudinal axis between a first spool position and a second spool position. The first outlet port is in fluid communication with the inlet port when spool is disposed in the first spool position.

Abstract: A method for determining a snow covered surface condition of a path of travel. A beam of light is emitted at a surface of the path of travel by a light emitting source. An image of a path of travel surface is captured by an image capture device. The image capture device is mounted on the vehicle and captures an image in a downward direction. The captured image captures the beam of light emitted on the path of travel surface. Analyzing a subsurface scattering of the light generated on the path of travel surface by a processor. A determination is made whether snow is present on the path of travel. A snow covered path of travel surface signal is generated in response to the identification of snow on the path of travel.

Abstract: A system and method of responding to unauthorized electronic access to a vehicle includes: receiving data indicating unauthorized electronic access to electronic hardware in the vehicle; initiating an electronic hardware countermeasure in response to the unauthorized electronic access; generating a command set that instructs at least a portion of the electronic hardware to implement the electronic hardware countermeasure; and communicating the command set to the portion of the electronic hardware.

Abstract: A vehicle obstacle detection system includes an imaging system for capturing objects in a field of view and a radar device for sensing objects in a substantially same field of view. The substantially same field of view is partitioned into an occupancy grid having a plurality of observation cells. A fusion module receives radar data from the radar device and imaging data from the imaging system. The fusion module projects the occupancy grid and associated radar data onto the captured image. The fusion module extracts features from each corresponding cell using sensor data from the radar device and imaging data from the imaging system. A primary classifier determines whether an extracted feature extracted from a respective observation cell is an obstacle.

Abstract: A tail light assembly includes a lighting assembly and a control board. The lighting assembly includes a base plate and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The control board is electrically connected to each of the LEDs. The control board receives an activation signal from a device. In response, the control board sequentially sends an illumination signal to LEDs of each of a plurality of groups of LEDs to thereby sequentially illuminate the groups of LEDs. The control board also selectively and sequentially sends a termination signal to LEDs of the various groups of LED, in alternating relationship to sending the illumination signal. The sequential illumination and turning off of the plurality of LEDs simulates motion of waves propagating across the base plate.

Abstract: With a lock for a front hood of a motor vehicle, a locking pawl engages about a rotary latch. This engagement creates a positive connection of the locking pawl to the rotary latch perpendicularly to their intended movement directions. This prevents that during a crash of the motor vehicle the locking pawl is separated from the rotary latch and the lock therefore unlocked.

Abstract: A message generation module generates a message that is to be transmitted to a serial data bus of the vehicle once per first predetermined period. A queue manager module resets a timer value when the message is added to a transmit queue and selectively adds the message to the transmit queue when: a number of messages in the transmit queue is less than a first predetermined value; the timer value is greater than the first predetermined period; and one of (i) the first predetermined period is less than a second predetermined period and (ii) the first predetermined period is greater than the second predetermined period and the number of messages in the transmit queue is less than a second predetermined value. The second predetermined value is less than the first predetermined value. A communication control module selectively transmits messages from the transmit queue to the serial data bus.

Abstract: A battery with a sulfur-containing cathode, an anode, and a separator between the cathode and the anode has a coating comprising a single-lithium ion conductor on at least one of the cathode or the separator.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes a two-cylinder engine, an intake assembly, and an air-oil separator. The two-cylinder engine defines a first cylinder bore, a first combustion chamber, a second cylinder bore, a second combustion chamber, and a crankcase volume. The engine further includes a first piston disposed within the first cylinder bore, and a second piston disposed within the second cylinder bore. The intake assembly includes an intake manifold in fluid communication with each of the first and second combustion chambers, and the air-oil separator defines a separator volume and in fluid communication with each of the crankcase volume and the intake manifold. A reciprocal, synchronous motion of the first and second pistons is operative to exhale gas from the crankcase volume through the separator volume and into the intake manifold.