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 collaborative dual robot hinge mounting system includes: a first robot including an end effector that moves a pair of bolts in position to be run through a pair of hinges and into a BIW, where the end effector includes a first bolt runner and a second bolt runner; and first and second cameras that detect locations or orientations of hinge mounting holes on the BIW for the pair of hinges. A control module sends to a second robot the locations or orientations of the hinge mounting holes to signal the second robot to position the pair of hinges relative to the BIW and, in response to detecting the pair of hinges being placed relative to the BIW, drives the pair of bolts via the first bolt runner and the second bolt runner through the pair of hinges and into the hinge mounting holes in the BIW.

Abstract: An automobile vehicle visual wireless-based positioning system, incudes an automobile vehicle having a radio receiver. A map contains candidate locations of access-points (APs) and access-point corresponding media-access-control (MAC) IDs. A wireless range sensor determines different ranges of various detected APs visible to the automobile vehicle. An image collection feature identifies image data visible to the automobile vehicle. A real-time feature matching element matching features identified by image collection feature with data from the map. A filter receives an output from the real-time feature matching element to generate an automobile vehicle pose.

Abstract: A radar signal processing method for improved occupant vital monitoring includes a method for detecting vital signs using at least one radar sensor mounted to a vehicle. The method includes detecting a plurality of target candidates using the at least one radar sensor, analyzing the plurality of target candidates to generate a list of targets, steering the at least one radar sensor towards the target using the angle of arrival to the target, and detecting a vital signal of the target based on the range using the at least one radar sensor.

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 hybrid material housing for a battery reduces or minimizes thermal runaway propagation. The housing includes a composite structure for the battery and optionally includes a polymeric matrix selected from the group consisting of: epoxy, phenolic resin, polyester, vinyl ester, and combinations thereof and a reinforcing material selected from the group consisting of: glass fibers, carbon fibers, basalt fibers, aromatic polyamide KEVLAR® fibers, and combinations thereof. A metal layer is disposed along an exterior surface of the composite structure that comprises aluminum, steel, stainless steel, alloys, and combinations thereof. In a first mode, the metal layer contacts the composite structure and in a second mode after exposure to a thermal load of greater than or equal to about 500° C., the metal layer at least partially delaminates from the exterior surface and forms insulating air gaps to define a thermal barrier. Methods of forming the hybrid material housings are also provided.

Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing having an inner surface; and a stator including a stator core mounted in the housing. The stator core includes a plurality of stator windings, a thermal bridge extends between the stator core and the inner surface of the housing. The thermal bridge is formed from a non-magnetic material and includes a plurality of individual thermal bridge elements.

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 system for detecting and warning a user of an object in a path of a vehicle includes a detection module configured to detect an object in a path of a vehicle, and a control module in communication with the detection module. The control module is configured to receive vehicle data from one or more vehicle sensors, determine a height of the detected object, determine a ground clearance of the vehicle based on the received vehicle data, and in response to the height of the detected object being greater than a threshold based on the ground clearance of the vehicle, generate a signal to notify the user of the detected object. Other examples systems and methods for detecting and warning a user of an object in a path of a vehicle are also disclosed.

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 electric vehicle drive unit includes an electric motor generating a torque. An input differential splits the torque into a first torque created by a first side gear and a second torque created by a second side gear. A first pinion gear shaft assembly receives the first torque and has a first pinion gear. A second pinion gear shaft assembly receives the second torque and has a second pinion gear. A first stage transfer gear assembly has a first, a second, a third, and a fourth transfer gear. A first stage speed reduction meshes the first pinion gear with the first transfer gear and the third transfer gear, and meshes the second pinion gear, the second transfer gear and the fourth transfer gear. A second stage gear assembly engages the first stage transfer gear assembly and includes a first final drive gear and a second final drive gear.

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: Methods for fabricating an anode, methods for fabricating a battery, and lithium batteries are disclosed. A method for fabricating an anode includes forming a melt comprising lithium and a surface tension reduction agent, wherein the surface tension reduction agent is selected from the group consisting of silver, tin, gallium, indium, zinc, and combinations thereof; and contacting an anode current collector with the melt, wherein a layer of the melt wets onto the anode current collector to form the anode as a lithium alloy.

Abstract: A radial flux electric motor includes a stator having a radially inner stator surface and a rotor mounted inside the stator. The rotor defines a rotational axis and has axially opposite rotor ends and a radially outer rotor surface positioned proximate the radially inner stator surface, thereby establishing an airgap therebetween. The rotor also includes a fluid circulation arrangement having at least one fluid channel extending through the rotor to the radially outer rotor surface and configured to receive a liquid via a first passage and a gas via at least one second passage. The fluid circulation arrangement is also configured to direct the liquid and the gas, via centrifugal force, into the airgap as the rotor rotates inside the stator sufficiently to discharge the liquid and the gas out of the airgap at the axially opposite ends of the rotor, thereby cooling the electric motor.

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: 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: 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 system for estimating a state-of-charge of a battery assembly includes a sensor cell and an estimator circuit. The sensor cell is coupled in series to the battery assembly. The battery assembly has an assembly battery chemistry and the sensor cell has a sensor battery chemistry, and the assembly battery chemistry is different than the sensor battery chemistry. The estimator circuit is operational to acquire a sequence of current sensor cell state-of-charges based on a sensor cell model and a sequence of sensor voltages across the sensor cell, calculate a sequence of current battery assembly state-of-charges based on the sequence of current sensor cell state-of-charges, and calculate an estimated battery assembly state-of-charge of the battery assembly and an estimated sensor cell state-of-charge of the sensor cell by filtering in parallel the sequence of current battery assembly state-of-charges and the sequence of current sensor cell state-of-charges.

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.