Abstract: A system is provided for mitigating a road network congestion. The system includes a plurality of motor vehicles positioned in associated locations in a road network. Each vehicle has one or more sensors generating an input and a Telematics Control Unit (TCU) for generating at least one location signal for a location of the associated motor vehicle and at least one event signal for an event related to the associated motor vehicle, with the location signal and the event signal corresponding to a High Speed Vehicle Telemetry Data (HSVT data) based on the input from the sensors. The system further includes a computer, which communicates with a display device and the TCUs. The computer includes a processor and a computer readable medium including instructions, such that the processor is programmed to identify the congestion and determine that the congestion is a recurring or a non-recurring congestion.

Abstract: A methodology is described for determining a time for responding to an initial encounter by a vehicle with a map error in a map segment, wherein the initial encounter is detected by a detector. A method includes identifying an error type associated with the map error, wherein the error type is one of a first error type and a second error type; determining at least one additional factor associated with the initial encounter; determining a response time for the map error based on the error type and the at least one additional factor; and initiating a mitigating action in response to the initial encounter within the response time, wherein the response time comprises an amount of time from the initial encounter with the map error to a time at which a mitigating action should be taken.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a separating layer that physically separates the first and second electrodes, and a porous layer disposed between the separating layer and the first electrode. The porous layer includes a porous material having a plurality of pores and a lithiating material that at least partially fills the pores of the plurality. The porous layer can be a continuous coating disposed on a surface of the separating layer opposing the first electrode or a continuous coating disposed on a surface of the first electrode opposing the separating layer. The porous material can include zeolites, aerogels, silicon oxides, porous aluminum oxides, titanium oxides, manganese oxides, and/or magnesium oxides. The lithiating material can include lithium peroxide and can fill between about 30 and about 60% of the pores of the porous material.

Abstract: A map database stores data describing a set of connected roadways, each having one or more lanes. A coverage system selects lanes from the map database along which AVs can stop, such as parking lanes. The coverage system generates buffer regions for each of the stopping lanes, where each buffer region includes an area within a given distance of the respective lane. The coverage system combines the buffer regions to generate a coverage area, and provides a display of the coverage area overlayed over a map of roads corresponding to the coverage area.

Abstract: There is disclosed by way of example a computing apparatus, having a packaged circuit with an exterior surface, a heat sink having a pedestal disposed to nearly contact the packaged circuit with a nominal clearance when the packaged circuit is assembled to the heat sink, and a first thermal interface material (TIM) and a second TIM disposed in layers between the packaged circuit and the pedestal, wherein the first TIM is non-flowable at operating temperatures of the packaged circuit, and the second TIM is flowable at the operating temperatures.

Abstract: A method is described and includes detecting by a vehicle an ambiguous situation involving the vehicle; classifying the detected ambiguous situation; and submitting in substantially real-time a request for remote assistance by a remote advisor to resolve the detected ambiguous situation, wherein contents of the request are based at least in part on the classifying.

Abstract: An AV sensor can be cleaned by charging a conductive layer over a sensor surface. The conductive layer may be positively or negatively charged and can repel contaminants having the same polarity away from the sensor. The charging of the conductive layer can be triggered by a determination that the sensor needs cleaning, which can be based on sensor data captured by the sensor or a different sensor. The charging of the conductive layer may include one or more charging cycles, each of which includes charging the conductive layer with two opposing polarities. Another conductive layer may be over the conductive layer. The other conductive layer can be charged with an opposite polarity from the conductive layer so that an electric field is present between the two conductive layers. A piezoelectric layer between the two conductive layers can vibrate under the electric field. The vibration can enhance the cleaning.

Abstract: A light inspection system positions an autonomous vehicle (AV) in a field of view of a camera such that the camera captures an image of a light of the AV. The light inspection system instructs a camera to capture an image of the light while the light is switched on. The light inspection system receives the captured image, determines a luminance of the light based on the image, and determines to service the light in response to the luminance of the light being below a threshold luminance.

Abstract: A system for dynamic authorization, entitlements, and conditional capabilities by operational context to authorize operating a vehicle in conjunction with a remote cloud unit is provided. The system includes a vehicle operational system providing a functional output and a computerized controller within the vehicle. The controller includes programming to collect data from a plurality of sources related to operation of the vehicle and provide the data to a plurality of operating context analyzers to generate an operating context. The controller further includes programming to receive an authorization to operate the vehicle operational system and selectively enable operation of the vehicle operational system based upon the authorization. The system further includes the plurality of operating context analyzers determining the operating context.

Abstract: A method of making a capacitor-assisted hybrid electrode for a lithium-ion electrochemical cell includes admixing a solvent, a cellulose-based dispersant, and a plurality of capacitive particles comprising carbon to form a dispersion. The cellulose-based dispersant forms hydrogen bonds with one or more carbonyl-groups on the capacitive particles comprising carbon. The dispersion is combined with an electroactive material, an electrically conductive material, and a binder to form a slurry. The slurry is applied to a current collector and solidified to form the capacitor-assisted hybrid electrode having a composite hybrid active layer on the current collector. Capacitor-assisted hybrid electrodes formed from such methods are also provided.

Abstract: A ride evaluation platform can evaluate ride services provided by AVs to users, e.g., to determine whether the users are satisfied with the rider services so that the users will request more ride services. The ride evaluation platform may identify and classify operational behaviors of an AV based on a record of the AV's operation for providing a ride service. The ride evaluation platforms can further detect defects in the ride service based on the classifications of operational behaviors of AVs, user expressions that indicate one or more user sentiments towards the ride service, one or more conditions of an environment in which the AV operated for providing the ride service, or some combination thereof. The ride evaluation platform may determine a score for the ride service based on the defects. The score may indicate a likelihood of the user would request another ride service provided by an AV.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that include obtaining first camera images of a parking location before a vehicle is parked at the parking location; obtaining second camera images of the parking location after the vehicle is parked at the parking location; and detecting, via a processor, a fluid leak for the vehicle based on a comparison of the first camera images and the second camera images.

Abstract: A separator for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions includes a microporous layer and one or more fire suppression layers disposed on at least one of a first side or an opposite second side of the microporous layer. The one or more fire suppression layers include a ceramic material having interconnected open pores and a cyclophosphazene disposed within the interconnected open pores of the ceramic material.

Abstract: A system for tuning a trajectory tracking controller for a vehicle includes a trajectory planner configured to generate the planned trajectory and to output one or more planned trajectory components representative of the planned trajectory, a model predictive controller including an internal model and an optimizer, and a tuning neural network configured to receive the one or more planned trajectory components and one or more measured trajectory components and to produce weights for a cost function. The internal model is configured to receive a predicted control input from the optimizer and the one or more measured trajectory components and to produce a predicted output. The optimizer utilizes a cost function and is configured to receive the weights for the cost function and a predicted error and to produce the predicted control input, wherein the predicted error is a selected one of the planned trajectory components minus the predicted output.

Abstract: There is disclosed an autonomous vehicle (AV), including an AV chassis comprising a drive system and a cabin comprising a plurality of cabin controls; an AV controller, including a processor circuit and a memory, wherein the memory includes instructions to instruct the processor circuit to operate the drive system in a fully autonomous configuration; actuators to electronically operate the cabin controls; a communication circuit with wireless communication capability; and instructions encoded within the memory to further instruct the processor circuit to: receive a remote cabin control command; and in response to the remote cabin control command, operate a cabin control.

Abstract: An apparatus is described and includes a printed circuit board (PCB) including at least one connector on a first surface thereof; a cold plate connected to the first surface of the PCB. The cold plate includes at least one tube disposed in a first portion of the cold plate and at least one opening for receiving the at least one connector therethrough, the at least one opening disposed in a second portion of the cold plate. The apparatus further includes a housing including a lower housing portion for supporting the PCB and the cold plate such that the PCB is between the lower housing portion and the cold plate and an upper housing portion over the first portion of the cold plate. The second portion of the cold plate is exposed outside the upper housing portion when the upper and lower housing portions are fastened together.

Abstract: Liquid cleaning systems for cleaning AV sensors are disclosed herein. An example liquid cleaning system includes a reservoir storing a liquid. The liquid can flow from the reservoir to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can transfer heat generated by a part of the AV to the liquid, thereby improving cleaning efficacy. The part may be battery, motor, engine, sensor (e.g., the sensor to be cleaned with the liquid or another sensor), etc. The heat may be an unintended product of an operation of the part. The heat exchanger can use the heat to warm up the liquid and cool down the part. Additionally or alternatively, the liquid can be heated by another heat exchanger or a heater. The heater can generate heat intended for heating the liquid. The heater may be local to the sensor to be cleaned, e.g., the heater is closer to the sensor than the reservoir.

Abstract: A system for transferring DC electric power to a DC electric power system includes an electric power source, a DC-DC power converter, a system power bus including a capacitor, a first current sensor, a second current sensor, a third current sensor, and a controller. The DC-DC power converter includes a switched inductance circuit including an inductor, a high-voltage switch, and a diode. The second current sensor monitors a second current in the system power bus between the DC-DC power converter and the capacitor. The controller determines a parametric setpoint for the system power bus, determines the first current, the second current, and the third current in the system power bus, and controls the switching DC-DC power converter based upon the parametric setpoint, the first current, the second current, and the third current.

Abstract: A sensor calibration system periodically receives scene data from a detector in a calibration scene. The calibration scene includes calibration targets. The sensor calibration system generates a calibration map based on the scene data. The calibration map is a virtual representation of the calibration scene and includes features of the calibration targets that can be used as ground truth features for calibrating AV sensors. The sensor calibration system can periodically update the calibration map. For instance, the sensor calibration system receives the scene data at a predetermined frequency and updates the calibration map every time it receives new scene data. The predetermined frequency may be a frequency of the detector completing a full scan of the calibration scene. The sensor calibration system provides a latest version of the calibration map for being used by an AV to calibrate a sensor on the AV 110.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing guidance to an operator of a vehicle when a vehicle is towing a trailer with a boat. In one embodiment, a method includes: storing, in a data storage device, change in height data associated with the vehicle and the trailer; computing, by a processor, a float point of the boat along a boat ramp at a launch site based on the change in height data stored in the data storage device; and generating, by the processor, guidance data based on a location of the vehicle and the float point.