Abstract: A method for classifying a weight of a vehicle includes determining a system enablement state of the vehicle load detection and classification system, monitoring a vehicle weight, determining a change in the vehicle weight, comparing the change in the vehicle weight to a first predefined weight change threshold, and categorizing the change in the vehicle weight in response to determining that the change in the vehicle weight exceeds the first predefined weight change threshold. The method also includes determining if a weight has been left in the vehicle after key-off and determining if a weight has been placed in a cargo compartment of the vehicle which exceeds the weight rating of the cargo compartment. The method also includes optimizing a route to a destination based at least on the change in the vehicle weight and displaying the optimized route to the destination using a human machine interface of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of controlling light-off of a catalytic converter in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine (ICE) includes identifying a start of the ICE requiring a light-off of the catalytic converter. The method also includes regulating an exhaust-flow control valve to increase exhaust gas backpressure in the exhaust system in response to the identified start of the ICE. The method additionally includes regulating combustion inside the ICE to increase enthalpy of the ICE. The method also includes detecting light-off of the catalytic converter. The method additionally includes regulating the exhaust-flow control valve to decrease the exhaust gas backpressure in the exhaust system in response to the catalytic converter light-off. Furthermore, the method includes regulating combustion inside the ICE to decrease ICE enthalpy in response to the catalytic converter light-off. The method may be embodied in an algorithm programmed in an electronic controller of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A designated location preview method includes obtaining an image of a portion of an environment of a vehicle dispatched to a designated location in response to a service request from a user, wherein the obtaining is performed using at least one onboard sensor of the vehicle; and displaying the image of the environment portion on a user interface (UI) of a user device substantially in real-time.

Abstract: Particular embodiments described herein provide for a system and method to help enable a towing vehicle. In an example, the system can identify a location of the disabled vehicle, deploy the towing vehicle to the location of the disabled vehicle, where the towing vehicle uses sensor data from a sensor suite and a perception module to navigate to the location of the disabled vehicle, and use the towing vehicle to tow the disabled vehicle to a new location.

Abstract: Presented are thermal management systems with passive quenching sacks for cooling battery assemblies, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A passive thermal management (PTM) system is presented for cooling a battery assembly, such as a traction battery pack with a battery case containing stacked battery cells. The PTM system includes a fluid container that mounts inside the battery assembly, interposed between the battery case and battery cells. The fluid container stows therein a dielectric coolant fluid and has multiple fluid ports that fluidly connect to the battery cells to dispense thereto the coolant fluid. Thermomechanical plugs, such as wax, film, or smart-material barriers, seal the fluid container ports and passively open (e.g., melt, bend, disintegrate, expand, etc.) at a predefined temperature to thereby unseal the fluid ports such that the coolant fluid is fed from the fluid container into the battery cells.

Abstract: A laser welding system for joining a first workpiece to a second workpiece includes a laser welder configured to emit a laser beam at a power to form a weld to join the first workpiece and the second workpiece at a weld location. The laser welding system includes a plasma protection fixture coupled to a surface of at least the first workpiece. The plasma protection fixture defines an opening configured to receive the laser beam. The opening has a perimeter that surrounds and is spaced apart from the weld. The plasma protection fixture has a height above the surface of at least the first workpiece about the perimeter of the opening that is defined based on the power of the laser beam.

Abstract: A system for creating vehicle lighting atmosphere of a vehicle is provided. The system includes ambient lighting including a plurality of lights configured for illuminating an interior of the vehicle or an exterior of the vehicle with a selectable light color. The system further includes a computerized vehicle lighting controller, including programming to monitor an input useful to select an ambient lighting theme, select an ambient lighting theme based upon the input, and generate a command to control the ambient lighting based upon the ambient lighting theme.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a method of providing customer service, including receiving a customer service request from an autonomous vehicle (AV), the customer service request comprising sensor data collected by the AV; selecting a standard operating procedure (SOP) for responding to the customer service request, the SOP selected from a data store comprising a plurality of SOPs, wherein selecting the SOP is based at least in part on the sensor data from the AV, and wherein the SOP includes a human-usable resolution script; and handling the customer service request, including displaying the human-usable resolution script to a human customer service agent to assist the human customer service agent in handling the customer service request.

Abstract: A system for 5G MICO mode operation of a vehicle during an ignition off mode includes a telematics unit and a telematics communication mode controller. The controller monitors energy consumption by the telematics unit and estimates a total energy consumption of the telematics unit through a time period. The controller further compares the total energy consumption to a first threshold energy consumption and a second threshold energy consumption and, when the total energy consumption is less than the first threshold energy consumption, operates the telematics unit in a first mode including unrestricted communication. The telematics communication mode controller, when the total energy consumption is between the first threshold energy consumption and the second threshold energy consumption, operates the telematics unit in a second MICO mode and, when the total energy consumption is greater than the second threshold energy consumption, deactivates communications by the telematics unit.

Abstract: A cell temperature measurement system for a battery module is described. The system may include a cell monitoring unit (CMU) configured to generate temperature measurements for a plurality of battery cells included as part of the battery module according to contactless, optical, or line-of-sight measurements made with one or more sensors associated with a temperature measurement device.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The electrode assembly includes one or more electroactive material layers including a plurality of electroactive material particles and a plurality of binder material fibers dispersed with the electroactive material particles. At least one electroactive material particle of the plurality may have a first protective layer coated thereon, and at least one binder material fiber of the plurality may have a second protective layer coated thereon. The first and second protective layers may be the same or different. The binder material fibers can include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

Abstract: Vehicles and related systems and methods are provided for controlling a vehicle in an autonomous operating mode. One method involves a controller associated with a vehicle identifying a visual attention state associated with a driver of the vehicle based at least in part on output of an imaging device onboard the vehicle, determining, based at least in part on the visual attention state, a driver lane preference corresponding to an adjacent lane in a visual attention direction relative to a current lane of travel for the vehicle, adjusting a priority associated with the adjacent lane corresponding to the driver lane preference and autonomously operating one or more actuators onboard the vehicle to initiate maneuvering the vehicle from the current lane in a manner that is influenced by the adjusted priority associated with the adjacent lane.

Abstract: Vehicles and systems and methods for providing rearview displays for vehicles are provided. An exemplary system is provided for a vehicle having a gate moveable between closed configuration and opened configurations. The system includes a camera mounted to the gate and configured to collect dynamic pixel images of an area behind the vehicle; a display screen configured to display the collected dynamic pixel images; and memory configured to include executable instructions and a processor configured to execute executable instructions that enable the processor to crop the collected dynamic pixel images to display a lower portion of the collected dynamic pixel images on the display screen when the gate is in the closed configuration, and to crop the collected dynamic pixel images to display an upper portion of the collected dynamic pixel images on the display screen when the gate is in the opened configuration.

Abstract: A method of caching large data objects of greater than 1 GB, comprising: populating a sharded cache with large data objects backfilled from a data store; servicing large data object requests from a plurality of worker nodes via the sharded cache, comprising deterministically addressing objects within the sharded cache; and if a number of requests for an object within a time exceeds a threshold: after receiving a request from a worker node for the object, sending the worker node a redirect message directed to a hot cache, wherein the hot cache is to backfill from a hot cache backfill, and wherein the hot cache backfill is to backfill from the sharded cache.

Abstract: Vehicles and methods for augmenting rearview displays for vehicles are provided. An exemplary method is provided for augmenting a rearview display for a vehicle having a gate moveable between a closed configuration and an opened configuration. The method includes collecting dynamic pixel images of an area behind the vehicle using a camera connected to the vehicle. Further, the method includes, in response to a command, displaying graphical overlays to the collected dynamic pixel images on a display screen, via a processor, wherein the graphical overlays depict an outline of the gate and/or projected path of the gate in the opened configuration.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a battery cell having electrode foils protruding from a cell pouch includes positioning the cell pouch in a fixture such that distal end sections of the foils extend outward from the fixture. The method includes clamping the distal end sections in a curvilinear guide clamp to cause the distal end sections to taper into an electrode foil stack, and then translating the clamp a predetermined distance toward the fixture to displace the distal end sections by the predetermined distance. The method also includes trimming the distal end sections using a trim tool, positioning a sonotrode and an anvil adjacent opposite surfaces of the stack, and ultrasonically welding the stack to a conductive lead tab using the sonotrode to thereby form a welded joint within the battery cell. The sonotrode may be multi-sided with different knurl patterns for performing different welding processes.

Abstract: A transmission system for a vehicle includes a first helical pinion gear having a helix angle coupled to a first shaft and configured to receive an input torque. The transmission system includes a second helical pinion gear having a first helix angle coupled to a second shaft and configured to receive the input torque. The second shaft is disposed within the first shaft and rotatable within the first shaft. The transmission system includes a differential assembly having a third helical gear having the first helix angle coupled to the first helical pinion gear, and a fourth helical gear having the helix angle coupled to the second helical pinion gear. The third helical gear and the fourth helical gear are coupled to a differential gear set to drive a first output shaft and a second output shaft associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a composite electrode for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The composite electrode includes a first electroactive material having a first specific capacity and a first average particle size, and a second electroactive material having a second specific capacity and a second average particle size. The first specific capacity is larger than the second specific capacity. For example, the first specific capacity can be greater than or equal to about 1,000 mAh/g to less than or equal to about 3,600 mAh/g, and the second specific capacity greater than or equal to about 250 mAh/g to less than or equal to about 400 mAh/g. The second average particle size is comparable with the first average particle size. For example, the second average particle can be no less than half the first average particle size and no greater than twice the first average particle size.