Abstract: A method includes transmitting a first wireless communication from a user device via an authorized first cellular network. The first wireless communication includes a current geographic location of the user device. The user device maintains a forbidden list identifying unauthorized cellular networks. Based on determining that the user device is approaching a geofence between a first network coverage area of the first cellular network and a second network coverage area of a second cellular network that is identified on the forbidden list, the method includes removing the second cellular network from the forbidden list. With the second cellular network removed from the forbidden list and based on the user device entering the second network coverage area, the method includes transmitting a second wireless communication from the user device via the second cellular network that includes an updated geographic location of the user device.

Abstract: A battery pack includes one or more battery modules subject to generating hot vent gasses during a thermal runaway event, a housing enclosing the battery modules therein and defining perimeter vent openings, and a plurality of perimeter vent assemblies. Each vent assembly is connected adjacent a corresponding one of the vent openings, and includes a translatable member, a gas diffuser block, and at least one sacrificial post. The gas diffuser block is connected to an outer surface of the housing, covers a respective one of the vent openings, and defines a plurality of orifices. The at least one sacrificial post is configured to melt or incinerate at a predetermined temperature to cause the translatable member to translate relative to the diffuser block and thereby prevent the vent gasses from escaping the battery pack.

Abstract: A load distributing thermal runaway barrier for an energy storage battery cell pack includes a first separator plate, a second separator plate, and at least one first elastic member arranged between the first and second separator plates. Each first elastic member is configured to maintain a first load in response to a pressure applied to at least one of the first and second separator plates. The load distributing thermal runaway barrier also includes a third separator plate, a fourth separator plate, and at least one second elastic member arranged between the third and fourth separator plates. Each first elastic member is configured to maintain a second load in response to a pressure applied to at least one of the third and fourth separator plates. The load distributing thermal runaway barrier additionally includes a thermally insulating pad arranged between the second and third separator plates.

Abstract: A method for use aboard a motor vehicle having a vehicle interior and a vehicle telematics unit (VTU) includes detecting, using an electronic control unit (ECU), an active voice call between the VTU and a remote call center, and processing sensor data via the ECU. The sensor data is indicative of an operator of the vehicle having exited the interior. In response to enabling conditions, the voice call is transferred to a personal mobile device, e.g., a smartphone, external to the interior. The enabling conditions may include receipt by the ECU of a call transfer approval signal. A motor vehicle includes a body and control system attached thereto. The control system includes the VTU, a sensor suite, and the ECU. A computer-readable storage medium includes instructions, the execution of which by a processor of the ECU causes the method to be performed.

Abstract: A telematics system for a vehicle includes a vehicle processor for storing data including vehicle location, vehicle data, and environmental data. The telematics system also includes a server communicatively coupled to the vehicle processor and configured to determine a range remaining for the vehicle. In some examples, the range remaining is based on vehicle data and environmental conditions.

Abstract: A method for capturing trapped powder from a part during an additive manufacturing process, the method comprising defining parameters for a part, the part defining an interior passageway defined by interior sidewalls, defining parameters for a powder removal cap, the powder removal cap comprising a body portion and a thin radial membrane connected to the interior sidewalls of the part, simultaneously creating the part and the powder removal cap via additive manufacturing, wherein the powder removal cap is created within the interior passageway and, upon completion of the creation of the part and the powder removal cap, the powder removal cap traps excess powder within the interior passageway, removing the powder removal cap from the interior passageway by breaking the radial membrane from the interior sidewalls to permit access to the interior passageway, and capturing the excess powder within the interior passageway.

Abstract: Presented are dual-passage fluid couplers with integrated fluid sensors, methods for using/making such fluid couplers, and motor vehicles equipped with such fluid couplers. A quick-connect (QC) fluid coupler includes a sensor assembly with a sensor housing containing a sensing device that monitors fluid flow, and a main connector body with opposing inlet and outlet ends having respective inlet and outlet ports. The main connector body contains a sensor chamber attaching thereto the sensor housing, and a primary fluid chamber that extends from the inlet end to the outlet end of the main connector body and fluidly connects the inlet and outlet ports. Interposed between the primary and sensor chambers is a secondary fluid chamber that is fluidly connected to the sensor chamber via a sensor port and to the primary fluid chamber via a bleed port upstream from the sensor port and a merge channel downstream from the sensor port.

Abstract: An active material component of a composition for forming an electrode of a battery in a dry process is provided. The active material component includes a dry powder including a plurality of grains of an active material. The active material component further includes an electrically conductive filler material attached to each of the plurality of grains.

Abstract: A system for a high-performance prismatic lithium-ion battery cell is provided. The system includes a battery cell stack including an electrode sub-assembly including a plurality of pairs of anode electrodes and cathode electrodes and including a planar side. The battery cell stack further includes a polymeric shell disposed around the electrode sub-assembly and configured for providing mechanical protection and electrical insulation to the electrode sub-assembly. The battery cell stack further includes a metal foil sheet attached to the polymeric shell and disposed next to and in contact with the planar side of the electrode sub-assembly, wherein the metal foil sheet is configured for exchanging heat with the electrode sub-assembly.

Abstract: Securing package delivery via unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, robots, etc. is contemplated. The package delivery may include assigning a provenance certificate to a package scheduled for drone delivery, determining a plurality of vehicles to be used in transporting the package to an autonomous receiver, determining credentials assigned to each of the vehicles, pairing the credentials with the package to generate a delivery pairing, the delivery pairing identifying the credentials of the vehicles authorized to transport the package, and transporting the delivery pairing to each of the vehicles to prevent vehicles having certificates omitted from the delivery pairing from transporting the package.

Abstract: A method of operating a motor vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving, from a first feedback sensor of an HV component, a first feedback signal indicative of an electrical characteristic of the HV component, and then detecting an HV system fault if the first feedback signal is less than a predefined electrical threshold. Upon detecting the system fault, the controller commands the HV component to operate at a commanded set-point; after sending the command, the controller receives, from a second feedback sensor of the HV component, a second feedback signal indicative of an operating characteristic of the HV component. An HV pathway failure is detected if the second feedback signal is not equal to or within a predefined operating range of the commanded set-point. Upon detecting the pathway failure in an HV electrical pathway of the HV component, the vehicle controller transmits a command signal to take a remedial action.

Abstract: A dual inverter open winding machine for a vehicle. The machine may include an electric motor, a first energy source, a first inverter, a second energy source, and a second inverter. The first inverter may include a plurality of first switches independently operable between an opened position and a closed position to selectively connect and disconnect a first direct current (DC) port and a first alternating current (AC) port with one or more of the first energy source, the first inverter, and the motor. The second inverter may include a plurality of second switches independently operable between an opened position and a closed position to selectively connect and disconnect a second DC port and a second AC port with one or more of the second energy source, the second inverter, and the motor.

Abstract: A method of extending connectivity of a recipient vehicle may be executed by a non-transitory computer-readable medium. During an ignition off state of the recipient vehicle, the method includes disabling a recipient cellular network access device (NAD) of the recipient vehicle and connecting to a low power communications source. The method includes communicating with a centralized location over the low power communications source. The low power communications source may be a recipient Bluetooth® low energy (BLE) within the recipient vehicle. The method may include connecting to a donor vehicle proximate the recipient vehicle. The donor vehicle includes a donor NAD and a donor BLE, such that the donor NAD of the donor vehicle communicates with the centralized location on behalf of the recipient vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel assembly includes a rim including a plurality of spokes, and an adjustment assembly that is operably coupled to the rim at one or more of the plurality of spokes. The adjustment assembly includes a motor. The adjustment assembly is configured to rotate the rim about an upper rim joint between an extended state and a partially stowed state via the motor, and the vehicle steering wheel assembly being operable in both the extended state and the partially stowed state.

Abstract: An impact monitoring system for a vehicle includes data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware. The memory hardware stores instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations. The operations performed by the data processing hardware include receiving sensor data from a plurality of sensors disposed along the vehicle and identifying an impact event based on the sensor data. The sensor data and the identified impact event are compared with a series of impact thresholds, and an impact score is determined based on the comparison of the sensor data and the identified impact event with the series of impact thresholds. The impact score is compared with an impact score hierarchy, the impact score hierarchy corresponding to the series of impact thresholds, and the impact event is monitored using updated sensor data.

Abstract: A method for removing excess powder from a part for a vehicle during an additive manufacturing process, comprises defining parameters for a part, defining parameters for a removal tool comprising a plurality of links to create a chain-like structure, simultaneously creating the part and the removal tool via additive manufacturing, wherein the part defines an interior passageway and the removal tool is created within the interior passageway and, upon completion of the creation of the part and the removal tool, the removal tool is surrounded by excess powder in the interior passageway, and wherein each link of the plurality of links are created with a gap between adjacent links of the plurality of links, and removing the removal tool from the interior passageway, forcing at least some of the excess powder out of the interior passageway.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle comprises a WiFi station, data processing hardware including, and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising detecting an access point, establishing a link between the access point and the WiFi station, obtaining recent yaw rate data of the vehicle, obtaining recent speed data of the vehicle, obtaining recent acceleration data of the vehicle, obtaining recent mobility pattern data of the vehicle based on geolocation data and map data, and determining optimal physical (PHY) parameters corresponding to highest data rate based on at least one of the recent yaw rate data, the recent speed data, the recent acceleration data, or the recent mobility pattern data.

Abstract: A system comprises an intake, a turbine enclosed within an explosion-proof enclosure, an explosion-proof motor enclosed within the explosion-proof enclosure, the explosion-proof motor configured to drive the turbine to create a suction force through the intake to force debris through the intake, a housing configured to contain the intake and the explosion-proof enclosure including the turbine and the explosion-proof motor, a plurality of sensors disposed on the housing and configured to obtain directional data, obtain location data, and debris data, one or more wheels, and a controller configured to control the wheels to move the housing based on at least one of the directional data, the location data, and the debris data.

Abstract: A system comprises a donor foil, a carrier substrate disposed adjacent the donor foil, an optical system configured to generate a laser beam through the donor foil and the carrier substrate to create a plurality of cathode voxels, and a current collector foil defined by an X-Y plane and configured to collect the plurality of cathode voxels in the X-Y plane, wherein a first set of the plurality of cathode voxels at a first location on the X-Y plane are diluted with a first amount of a solvent and a second set of the plurality of cathode voxels at a second location on the X-Y plane are diluted with a second amount of a solvent, the second amount of the solvent being less than the first amount of the solvent.

Abstract: A vent system for a motor vehicle includes a vent conduit defining a vent conduit inlet. A vent outlet is separated from the vent conduit inlet. A first vent channel includes a first vent channel inlet in fluid communication with the vent conduit inlet and a first channel nozzle defining a first fluid flow path to the vent outlet along a first direction. A second vent channel includes a second channel inlet in fluid communication with the vent conduit inlet and a second channel nozzle defining a second fluid flow path to the vent outlet along a second direction convergent with the first direction.