Abstract: A method for controlling an inflatable airbag system in a motor vehicle having a seatbelt includes detecting a position of a vehicle occupant relative to an airbag suppression zone (ASZ). Electronic input signals are received from a sensor suite, including an occupant position signal and a seatbelt usage status signal. A restraint capacity setting of the airbag is adjusted in response to the electronic input signals such that corresponding restraint activation logic is executed by the controller based on whether the occupant is belted or unbelted. Different ASZs may be used for belted and unbelted occupants. A motor vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a vehicle interior, an airbag, a seatbelt, a sensor suite for detecting a position of an occupant relative to the ASZ, and a controller operable for controlling a restraint capacity setting and location of the ASZ in accordance with the method.

Abstract: A torque converter management system includes a torque converter having a clutch and a torus. The torque converter management system includes memory hardware that stores instructions, that, when executed on data processing hardware of the system, cause the system to perform operations for protecting the torque converter. The operations include receiving torque converter temperature associated with the torque converter. The operations further include obtaining a torque converter protection schedule including one or more torque converter protective action initiation threshold temperatures each having an associated torque converter protective action and determining whether the torque converter temperature(s) exceeds a first one of the torque converter protective action initiation threshold temperatures.

Abstract: A system and method for additive manufacturing includes a fusing mechanism, an outlet and a controller. The system and method is performed in a chamber containing a layer of particle. The fusing mechanism transmits a beam for fusing particles in the layer of particles. The fusing mechanism is configured to move the beam in a fusing path extending from one end of the chamber to another end of the chamber in a first direction. The outlet is movable in the first direction and configured to blow air in a second direction opposite of the first direction. The controller is configured to move the outlet in the first direction and keep the outlet upstream of the beam.

Abstract: A system and method for adjusting an operating parameter of a vehicle by processing a trailer information includes a sensor and a controller. The vehicle includes a tow hitch configured to couple with a trailer. The sensor is configured to detect if the trailer is coupled to the tow hitch. The controller includes a data processing hardware and a memory hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations including processing the trailer information to change the vehicle operating parameter to a predetermined operating parameter if the trailer is coupled to the hitch.

Abstract: A trailer backing assistance (TBA) application in a vehicle includes a vehicle attached to a trailer by a movable hitch. The TBA utilizes an HMI, sensors on the vehicle, a GPS system, and a remote computing system (RCS). A controller having a processor, memory, and input/output (I/O) communicates with the sensors, HMI, RCS and GPS via a V2I communications network. The memory stores the TBA which is executed by the processor. The TBA determines conditions have been satisfied, obtains and processes optical data from sensors and RCS, presents a vehicle environment view, prompts a vehicle operator for first and second inputs, calculates a current location of the vehicle, generates a planned path to a target location, presents an animation of the vehicle traversing the path, and continuously displays a live view of the trailer and hitch while actively adjusting on-screen instructions to guide the vehicle and trailer along the path.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a vehicle processor stores battery capacity data of a battery of a vehicle and includes a navigation application configured to provide a location of the vehicle and a vehicle route. A user device includes a display and data processing hardware in communication with the display. The data processing hardware executes a monitoring application in communication with the vehicle processor and executes a weather application including predicted weather data. The data processing hardware is configured to receive the vehicle route and provide a notification on the display of the user device corresponding to an installation attribute of a service station along the vehicle route.

Abstract: An accessory system for a vehicle includes a housing having a base attached to the vehicle and a projection extending from the base, the projection being fluidly coupled to a duct of the vehicle. The accessory system also includes a first vehicle accessory having a cavity configured to selectively receive the projection of the housing to selectively attach the first vehicle accessory to the housing in an engaged state.

Abstract: A vehicular autonomous preference system includes a plurality of sensors positioned within a cabin of a vehicle, and data processing hardware including a memory storing a user profile that includes user preferences and a trainable preference model that includes a model trainer. The data processing hardware is configured to execute the model trainer in response to sensor data received from one or more of the plurality of sensors to update the user preferences in the user profile. The data processing hardware is also configured to adjust ambient controls of the vehicle based on the trainable preference model and the updated user preferences.

Abstract: A cargo lift system for a vehicle includes a frame system, a deck system, and a cargo hook. The frame system is configured to be attached to the vehicle. The deck system includes a deck frame having a plurality of deck frame segments. The deck system is operable to translate along the frame system in (i) a first deployment mode where the deck frame segments cooperate to define a rigid support platform and (ii) a second deployment mode where the deck frame segments articulate to a lift position adjacent to a ground surface associated with the vehicle The cargo hook is attached to the deck system and operable to move between an extended state and a retracted state.

Abstract: An incident evaluation system for vehicle incidents includes a first imager configured to capture image data corresponding to a first vehicle and a first vehicle processor that is communicatively coupled to the first imager and configured to receive the captured image data. The first vehicle processor is configured to generate a first vehicle report in response to an incident captured in the image data and includes a first vehicle profile including at least one of first vehicle insurance details, driver details, and pre-incident image data. The incident evaluation system also includes a server communicatively coupled to the first vehicle processor and configured to receive the first vehicle report. The server is configured to evaluate the captured image data to generate an incident report.

Abstract: A system for optimizing ownership cost of a fleet having electric vehicles includes a command unit adapted to selectively execute a simulation module, a sampling module and an optimization module. The command unit is configured to construct a multi-agent model based at least partially on historical fleet trip data and mobility pattern data of the fleet. Route data for a set of fleet tasks is obtained, including charging infrastructure data. The command unit is configured to simulate different configurations of the electric vehicles carrying out the set of fleet tasks over a predefined period, via the simulation module, based in part on the multi-agent model and the route data. The command unit is configured to determine an optimal configuration from the different configurations of the electric vehicles, via the optimization module. The optimal configuration minimizes investment and operational costs of the fleet.

Abstract: A wearable stabilization assembly includes a sensor and a tensioning assembly that is operably coupled to the sensor. A mass is operably coupled to the tensioning assembly. The stabilization assembly also includes a power unit that is electrically coupled to the tensioning assembly, and a controller is communicatively coupled with the sensor. The controller is configured to activate the power unit to oscillate the mass via the tensioning assembly when a variable detected by the sensor is outside a predetermined variable parameter.

Abstract: A tool for attaching a first workpiece and a second workpiece to one another and to a support structure includes a housing and a plunger. The housing includes a main body, a neck portion, and a shoulder portion. The shoulder portion is disposed between the main body and the neck portion and has an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the main body. A bore extends from a first end within the main body to a distal end of the neck portion. The plunger is disposed within the bore and extends from the distal end of the neck portion. The plunger is biased in a first direction away from the shoulder portion and includes a gripper operable to extend away from an outer surface of the plunger in an expanded state to engage an inner surface of the first workpiece.

Abstract: A fixture for supporting a tool includes a housing defining an aperture receiving a projection of the fixture, a shaft extending through the aperture and into the housing, the shaft including a series of external threads, and an adjustment dial threaded onto the threads of the shaft and including an engagement surface in contact with a surface of the projection, the adjustment dial configured to adjust a position of the tool relative to the housing when the adjustment dial is rotated relative to and moves along the shaft.

Abstract: An impact mitigation system for a motor vehicle includes a car seat having a seat cushion side bolster, a center console disposed adjacent to the side bolster, an airbag wrap disposed within the side bolster, and an airbag cushion operable between an un-deployed state within the airbag casing and a deployed state extending from the airbag wrap. The airbag cushion includes an outboard cushion panel extending from a proximal end of the airbag cushion at the airbag wrap to a distal end of the airbag cushion disposed at an opposite end of the airbag cushion from the proximal end. The airbag cushion further includes a plurality of inboard cushion panels extending between the proximal end and the distal end on an opposite side of the airbag cushion from the outboard cushion panel and defining a center console interface configured to mate with the center console.

Abstract: A method and system for assisting a vehicle when traveling within an area experiencing a meteorological event capable of potentially flooding a roadway is disclosed. The assistance may include determining a water level over top of the roadway, determining a plurality of surface water related operating parameters for the vehicle, and comparing the water level to the surface water related operating parameters to generate a flooded roadway assessment. The flooded roadway assessment may be used for determining the roadway to be in one of a passable state and an impassable state for the vehicle. Based thereon, a flooded roadway command may be generated for correspondingly controlling one or more systems onboard the vehicle.

Abstract: Presented are hybrid fixture assemblies with integrated additive manufactured features, methods for making/using such fixtures, and manufacturing systems equipped with such fixtures. A manufacturing fixture assembly includes a fixture support frame formed, at least in part, from a first material, and a fixture support shell formed, at least in part, from a second material distinct from the first material. The support frame, which seats on/mounts to a work surface, includes a skeletal substructure with multiple male connectors projecting therefrom. The skeletal substructure contains multiple first frame walls that are removably intermeshed with multiple second frame walls in a collapsible format. The support shell includes a support surface that holds a workpiece, an interface surface that abuts the skeletal substructure, and multiple female connectors that project from the interface surface.

Abstract: A control system and method for mitigating driveline torque spikes in an electric vehicle is contemplated. The driveline torque spikes may be mitigated with a motor spike torque command generated in response to a wheel acceleration of a wheel of the vehicle exceeding a spike threshold. The motor spike torque command may be configured for controlling an electric motor of the vehicle to mitigate the driveline torque spike in a driveline configured to connect the motor to the wheel.

Abstract: A tool for attaching a first workpiece and a second workpiece to one another and to a support structure includes a housing and a plunger. The housing includes a main body, a neck portion, and a shoulder portion. The shoulder portion is disposed between the main body and the neck portion and has an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the main body. A bore extends from a first end within the main body to a distal end of the neck portion. The plunger is disposed within the bore and extends from the distal end of the neck portion. The plunger is biased in a first direction away from the shoulder portion and includes a gripper operable to extend away from an outer surface of the plunger in an expanded state to engage an inner surface of the first workpiece.

Abstract: An electronic control unit (ECU), or node, is configured to use a single key for all virtual ECUs (V-ECUs) having a message to transmit. The ECU also may include a security peripheral that includes the stored shared key. The security peripheral may further include a policy enabling it to detect if a request from the V-ECU is valid, in which case it generates a MAC. The security peripheral is also used to store information in a MAC Generate Allow List (MGAL), which may define the policy about when the V-ECU can transmit. The ECU may include a crypto-engine, which stores shared keys from other nodes used to verify MACs transmitted by other nodes.