Abstract: There is disclosed a method of operating an autonomous vehicle (AV), including: detecting an alert condition within the AV via data from an electronic sensor suite of the AV; based at least in part on detecting the alert condition, automatically initiating a call with another party; and communicatively coupling a passenger of the AV to the call, whereby the passenger can communicate with the other party via the call.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting microhardness properties of a weld that defines a weld joint between at least two workpieces. The system includes a processor programmed to: receive temperature data that includes temperature values each attributed to a corresponding one of a plurality of points of the weld at corresponding times during a welding process used to produce the weld, determine peak temperature values and cooling rate values for each of the points of the weld based on the temperature values, predict a three-dimensional (3D) distribution of microhardness values of the weld based on a machine learning method that evaluates the peak temperature values and the cooling rate values, and generate display data based on the 3D distribution of microhardness values.

Abstract: A method, fuel cell system and vehicle for maintaining compression via re-compression is provided. By recovering fuel cell stacks of the fuel cell system after a pre-determined time of operation and performing re-compression on each of the recovered fuel cell stacks, power generation capacity, active area pressure and seal force is recovered to address increased contact resistance and loss of fuel cell system power generation capacity as well as decreased seal force and increased risk of reactant gas and coolant leak.

Abstract: An example method includes receiving a wakeup request from a device from a vehicle. The wakeup request indicates that the device desires to perform a task that consumes electrical power from a battery of the vehicle. The method further includes assigning a priority to the wakeup request. The method further includes queuing the wakeup request according to a wakeup schedule. The method further includes, responsive to a current time satisfying the wakeup schedule, performing the task based at least in part on the priority.

Abstract: An apparatus for a battery cell is provided. The apparatus includes the battery cell. The battery cell includes an electrode stack including at least one pair of an anode electrode and a cathode electrode and a can including a wall encapsulating the electrode stack. The battery cell further includes a positive battery terminal connected to the electrode stack and projecting outside of the can. The battery cell further includes a negative battery terminal connected to the electrode stack. The positive battery terminal and the negative battery terminal are configured for providing electrical energy. The battery cell further includes a thermal barrier adjoining the can and the positive battery terminal. The thermal barrier seals gases within the battery cell from exiting the battery cell between the can and the positive battery terminal at an ambient temperature of at least 600° C.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of operating an autonomous vehicle (AV), including: detecting an alert condition within the AV via data from an electronic sensor suite of the AV; based at least in part on detecting the alert condition, automatically initiating a call with another party; and communicatively coupling a passenger of the AV to the conference call, whereby the passenger can communicate with the other party via the conference call.

Abstract: The concepts include a user support system in the form of a microphone, a visual display arranged in a vehicle cabin, and a controller. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to receive, via the microphone, a voice-based request from a user, and employ a virtual assistant to determine a user interaction in real time and to determine a specific intent for the voice-based request, including capturing metadata. A user interaction routine determines a user interaction parameter associated with the virtual assistant based upon the voice-based request from the user. A user sentiment analysis routine determines a user satisfaction parameter associated with the virtual assistant based upon the voice-based request from the user. The controller responds in real-time to the voice-based request based upon the user satisfaction parameter and the user interaction parameter that are associated with the virtual assistant.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of operating an autonomous vehicle (AV), including: detecting an alert condition within the AV via data from an electronic sensor suite of the AV; based at least in part on detecting the alert condition, automatically initiating a call with another party; and communicatively coupling a passenger of the AV to the conference call, whereby the passenger can communicate with the other party via the conference call.

Abstract: A rotor grounding system for an electric machine includes a rotor including a shaft assembly configured to rotate about an axis. A housing supports the shaft assembly for rotation of the rotor. A bearing assembly has an outer circumference disposed against the shaft assembly. A discharge bar extends through at least a part of the bearing assembly. The bearing assembly has an inner circumference disposed against the discharge bar. A discharge circuit is defined between the rotor and the housing, where the discharge circuit extends through the bearing assembly and the discharge bar.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating image data from a vehicle having a plurality of cameras. A method includes: activating, by the processor, initial video feed from each of the plurality of cameras; determining, by the processor, configuration parameters for each of the plurality of cameras based on the initial video feed; in response to a trigger event, performing frame synchronization of subsequent video feed from each of the plurality of cameras based on the configuration parameters; and generating, by the processor, the image data based on the frame synchronization.

Abstract: A system for an augmented-virtual reality simulator using a vehicle is provided. The system includes the vehicle including a control feature configured for selective use in an actual operation mode and in a simulation mode. In the actual operation mode, the control feature is utilized to control actual operation of the vehicle. In the simulation mode, the control feature is utilized as an input device to the augmented-virtual reality simulator. The system further includes a computerized simulation controller. The controller includes programming to monitor activation of the augmented-virtual reality simulator, command activation of the simulation mode based upon the activation of the simulator, monitor inputs to the control feature, and operate the simulator based upon the inputs to the control feature. The system further includes a headset configured for being worn by a user providing a graphical rendering to the user based upon the simulator.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of operating an autonomous vehicle (AV), including: detecting an alert condition within the AV via data from an electronic sensor suite of the AV; based at least in part on detecting the alert condition, automatically initiating a call with another party; and communicatively coupling a passenger of the AV to the conference call, whereby the passenger can communicate with the other party via the conference call.

Abstract: A mobile locker includes one or more dispensing units. Each dispensing unit consists of an accessible product space where each product space also includes a temperature monitor. A passible environmental control incudes a multiple of containers located around the perimeter of each accessible product space. Further, each of the containers incorporates a phase change material (PCM) that is used to temperature condition each accessible product space.

Abstract: A system for fuel cell membrane edge protection includes a fuel cell including a fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly. The assembly includes an anode gas diffusion electrode and a cathode gas diffusion electrode configured for facilitating an electrochemical reaction. The reaction creates water as a by-product. The assembly further includes a proton exchange membrane disposed between the electrodes and a subgasket. The subgasket includes an interior aperture portion defined by a perimeter and is connected to the anode gas diffusion electrode and the membrane about the perimeter such that an area of overlap between the subgasket, the electrode, and the membrane exists around the perimeter. The assembly further includes a carbon paper layer spanning the interior aperture portion. The layer includes patterned wettability and is configured to move the water away from the area of overlap into a center portion of the layer.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle systems for thermal event mitigation during vehicle towing, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such intelligent control systems. A method of operating a host vehicle includes a resident or remote vehicle controller verifying the host vehicle is an incapacitated state. Responsive to the incapacitation of the host vehicle, the controller detects the host vehicle being towed by a tow vehicle and identifies a wireless-enabled portable computing device (PCD) within a predefined range of the host vehicle. Responsive to the host vehicle being towed, the controller determines if the wireless-enabled PCD is on the tow vehicle while towing the host vehicle. Upon detection of a thermal event in at least one battery cell in the host vehicle's battery system while the host vehicle is being towed, the controller responsively commands a resident vehicle subsystem to execute a control operation to mitigate the thermal event.

Abstract: A method for determining an optimal state-of-charge (SOC) operating window for a battery for use in an electric vehicle includes learning a pattern of periodic charging of the battery for a plurality of time periods and a pattern of periodic usage of the battery for the plurality of time periods, determining a periodic energy requirement for the battery for the plurality of time periods based on the learned patterns using a statistical model, and setting a maximum SOC level and a minimum SOC level for the SOC operating window based on two or more of the periodic energy requirement, the learned patterns and a battery chemistry of the battery.

Abstract: A system for determining when additional information is needed by a passenger with color deficient vision within a vehicle includes a plurality of perception sensors within the vehicle adapted to collect data related to a physical identity of a primary object and to communicate the data related to the physical identity of the primary object, via a communication bus, to a data processor within the vehicle, the data processor adapted to determine that the physical identity of the primary object may be unclear to a passenger with color deficient vision based on the data related to the physical identity of the primary object, and that assistance should be provided to the passenger with color deficient vision to aid the passenger with color deficient vision in identifying the primary object.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses to build an explainable user output to receive input feature data by a neural network of multiple layers of an original classifier; determine a semantic function to label data samples with semantic categories; determine a semantic accuracy for each layer of the original classifier within the neural network; compare each layer based on results from the comparison of the semantic accuracy; designate a layer based on an amount of computed semantic accuracy; extend the designated layer by a category branch to the neural network to extract semantic data samples from the semantic content to train a set of new connections of an explainable classifier to compute a set of output explanations with an accuracy measure associated each output explanation for each semantic category of the plurality of semantic categories, and compare the accuracy measure for each output explanation to generate the output explanation in a user understandable format.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating a virtual view of a scene associated with a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: obtaining image data including a plurality of images captured by a plurality of cameras of the vehicle; obtaining steering angle data captured by a sensor of the vehicle; detecting, by a processor, a shadow in at least one image of the plurality of images; determining, by the processor, auto-white balance data for each image of the plurality of images; selectively combining, by the processor, the auto-white balance data of the images based on the detected shadow, and the steering angle data; and generating, by the processor, output image data based on the combined auto-white balance data and the image data.