Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for long distance trips in an autonomous vehicle fleet. In particular, systems and methods are provided for autonomous vehicle trips that are a longer distance than a vehicle can travel without recharging. In some implementations, a user is provided an option between stopping to recharge the autonomous vehicle and switching from a first autonomous vehicle to a second autonomous vehicle at a selected stopping location.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to routing an autonomous vehicle based upon risk of takeover of the autonomous vehicle by a human operator. A computing system receives an origin location and a destination location of the autonomous vehicle. The computing system identifies a route for the autonomous vehicle to follow from the origin location to the destination location based upon output of a computer-implemented model. The computer-implemented model is generated based upon labeled data indicative of instances in which autonomous vehicles are observed to transition from operating autonomously to operating based upon conduction by human operators while the autonomous vehicles are executing predefined maneuvers. The computer-implemented model takes, as input, an indication of a maneuver in the predefined maneuvers that is performed by the autonomous vehicle when the autonomous vehicle follows a candidate route.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein examples of a vehicle container unit that may be mounted within a vehicle. The vehicle container unit may be mounted to a seat of a vehicle and may include space for transporting items within the vehicle container unit. The vehicle container unit may mount to the seat via an anchor system of the seat.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to autonomous vehicle consumption of real-time public transportation data to guide curb access and usage. An autonomous vehicle receives a trip request for a ride specifying a requested pullover location. The autonomous vehicle receives public transportation data specifying an expected arrival time of a public transportation vehicle at a reserved zone within proximity of the requested pullover location. The autonomous vehicle evaluates availability of the reserved zone during an expected occupancy time of the reserved zone by the autonomous vehicle based on the expected arrival time of the public transportation vehicle at the reserved zone. The autonomous vehicle selects an actual pullover location for the ride in the autonomous vehicle based on the availability of the reserved zone during the expected occupancy time. The autonomous vehicle stops at the actual pullover location for the ride in the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cleaning surfaces of a workpiece. The system includes a housing defining an enclosure, a holding structure within the enclosure that is configured to support a workpiece, a first powder removal device that is configured to propel a first media toward the holding structure such that the first media contacts the workpiece while the workpiece is supported by the holding structure, a first sensing device that is configured to detect surface characteristics of the workpiece while the workpiece is supported by the holding structure, and a controller configured to, by a processor: detect a powder material on a surface of the workpiece based on the surface characteristics, and selectively operate the first powder removal device to remove the powder material from the surface with the first media while the workpiece is supported by the holding structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The electrochemical cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separating layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes an electrolyte intermingled with a nickel-rich positive electroactive material. The second electrode also includes the electrolyte, and the electrolyte is intermingled a silicon-based negative electroactive material. The electrolyte includes an electrolyte additive and a solvent mixture. The solvent mixture includes vinylene carbonate, fluoroethylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, and dimethyl carbonate. The electrolyte additive is selected from the group consisting of: lithium difluorophosphate, ethylene sulfate, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle. The systems and methods receive image data from at least one camera of the vehicle, detect a 2D measurement location of a static object in an image plane of the camera using the image data, receive an input vector of measurements from a sensor system of the vehicle, predict a predicted 3D location of the static object using a Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) that incorporates a motion model for the vehicle and further using the 2D measurement location of the static object, and the input vector, and control at least one vehicle feature based on the predicted 3D location of the static object.

Abstract: A system for multi-mode connectivity for group vehicle activity and for over-the-air updates via time synchronized device-to-device side-link communications is provided. The system includes a remote communication device configured to transmit data, vehicles to receive the data, and a computerized controller. The controller includes programming to analyze hardware of the vehicles to identify alpha vehicles including excellent wireless capabilities, monitor signal strength between the vehicles and the remote communication device to identify vehicles including relatively strong communication strength, and determine a portion of the plurality of vehicles including highly functioning vehicles including the capabilities and communication strength. The controller generates a series of data transfers to first transfer the data from the remote communication device a highly functioning vehicle and subsequently transfer the data from the highly functioning vehicle to a second of the vehicles and transfers the data.

Abstract: An electrode assembly that includes a current collector, a lithium foil, and a solid solution interface that chemically binds the current collector and the lithium foil is provided. The solid solution interface includes a portion of the current collector that is impregnated with lithium atoms diffused from the lithium foil. In some variations, a method for forming the electrode assembly includes heating a precursor electrode assembly that includes a current collector and a lithium metal film to a temperature that is less than a melting point of lithium, so that lithium atoms diffuse into the current collector during the heating. In other variations, a method for forming the electrode assembly includes disposing a molten lithium onto a heated current collector to form a precursor electrode assembly, and cooling the assembly to form a lithium metal layer that is chemically bonded to the current collector.

Abstract: Sensors on autonomous vehicles offer data that can be used to track and recognize rider achievement. Digital tokens can be output to users on a user device to provide feedback to the user in real-time. To determine an appropriate digital token, data specific to the user can be matched against a template or checked against a threshold. A digital token corresponding to a matched template or a crossed threshold can be then retrieved or generated. In some cases, the data specific to the user is used to determine whether the user matches a pattern. A user can accrue a collection of digital tokens on the user device.

Abstract: An electroactive material for an electrochemical cell is provided. The electroactive material includes a plurality of lithium-rich, manganese-rich layered electroactive material particles, where at least a portion of the lithium-rich, manganese-rich layered electroactive material particles defining the plurality has a coating that includes an oxygen storage material. The coating that includes the oxygen storage material has an average thickness greater than or equal to about 100 nanometers to less than or equal to about 2 micrometers, and the oxygen storage material is selected from the group consisting of: La(1-x)SrxMnO3 (where 0?x?0.3), La(1-x)SrxFeO3 (where 0?x?0.3), La(1-x)CaxMnO3 (where 0?x?0.3), La(1-x)BaxMnO3 (where 0?x?0.3), LaMnO3, LaFeO3, LaMnO3, LaFeO3, CeO2, CeO2—MnOx (where 3?x?4), CeO2—FeOx (where 2?x?3), CeO2—WO3, CeO2—MoO6, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods enhanced image processing with dynamic pixel density restoration and clarity retrieval for scaled imagery including a camera configured to capture an image having a first resolution and a first image clarity, an image processor for receiving the image, scaling the image to a second resolution to generate a scaled image resulting in the scaled image having a second image clarity, the image processor being further operative to adjust a sharpness of the scaled image to generate an adjusted scaled image such that the adjusted scaled image has the first image clarity, a driving assistance processor for generating a motion path in response to the adjusted scaled image, and a vehicle controller for controlling a vehicle in response to the motion path.

Abstract: A system for assessing a characteristic of a reference electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell that cycle lithium ions includes a controller and a test cell assembly. The test cell assembly includes a metal case electrically coupled to the controller and a test cell disposed within the metal case. The test cell includes a lithium metal layer and a separator assembly. The separator assembly includes a separator layer, a current collector layer deposited on the separator layer, and optionally an electroactive layer deposited on the separator layer such that the electroactive layer at least partially overlaps the current collector layer. The current collector layer is in direct physical contact with an electroactive layer and is electrically isolated from the lithium metal layer by the separator layer.

Abstract: A method for providing a reference prior for a portion of a route to a planning stack of a vehicle. The method includes accessing manual driving data associated with the route portion, the manual driving data stored in a database; averaging the accessed manual driving data to determine a nominal path for the route portion; and providing the nominal path to the planning stack of the vehicle as the reference prior for the route portion, wherein the planning stack consumes the reference prior for planning maneuvers of the vehicle in traversing the route portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring autonomous vehicle (AV) capabilities in a simulation environment are provided. A method includes selecting, by a computer-implemented system, a first plurality of sampling points in an N-dimensional parameter space associated with a vehicle capability test, classifying, by the computer-implemented system, each sampling point of the first plurality of sampling points into a first class based on a vehicle passing a test scenario associated with the respective sampling point; or a second class based on the vehicle failing the test scenario associated with the respective sampling point; and determining, by the computer-implemented system based on the classifying, a capability of the vehicle. The classifying can include computing a first hyperplane in the N-dimensional parameter space to separate the first plurality of sampling points into the first class and the second class.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an interfacial lithium fluoride layer for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is disclosed. In the method, a substrate is positioned in a reaction chamber of an atomic layer deposition reactor and a lithium fluoride (LiF) precursor is introduced into the reaction chamber such that the LiF precursor contacts and chemically reacts with functional groups on the substrate. Then, an oxidant is introduced into the reaction chamber to form a single molecular layer of lithium fluoride on the substrate. The lithium fluoride layer is formed on the substrate at a temperature of greater than or equal to about 110 degrees Celsius to less than or equal to about 250 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: Methods and systems for vehicles are provided for trailer steering assistance. The system includes a computer system onboard the vehicle and configured to, by a processor: monitor a front steering angle of the vehicle and a hitch angle of the vehicle as the vehicle and the vehicle trailer move in the reverse direction, dynamically adjust a rear steering angle of the vehicle as the vehicle and the trailer move in the reverse direction based on the front steering angle and the hitch angle to match the rear steering angle to the front steering angle while the hitch angle less than a predetermined hitch angle, and dynamically adjust the rear steering angle of the vehicle as the vehicle and the trailer move in the reverse direction based on the front steering angle and the hitch angle to maintain the hitch angle at the predetermined hitch angle.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The electrochemical cell includes a first electrode including a first electroactive material, a second electrode including a second electroactive material, and a separating layer disposed therebetween. The second electroactive material include a plurality of electroactive material particles, where at least a portion of the electroactive material particles have a surface coating that includes a nitrate salt. The first electroactive material can include a lithium metal, and the electrochemical cell can further include a carbonate-based solvent.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle systems and control logic for adaptive vehicle sensing and automation for occupants with health conditions, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method of operating a vehicle includes a resident or remote vehicle controller determining an existing health condition of an occupant in the vehicle's passenger compartment. The controller then retrieves, e.g., from a resident or remote memory device, predefined sets of calibration settings and condition symptoms customized to this existing health condition. An in-vehicle network of sensing devices is calibrated using the predefined calibration settings to detect one or more of the predefined condition symptoms. The calibrated sensing devices monitor the occupant to detect a health-related event based on the predefined condition symptoms.