Abstract: A system for actuating a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal of a vehicle by hand. The system includes a planetary gear train having a sun gear, a ring gear, and planetary gears meshed with both the sun gear and the ring gear. The planetary gears are mounted to a carrier. A carrier flange is in cooperation with the carrier to rotate with the carrier. A sun gear flange is in cooperation with the sun gear. Rotation of the sun gear flange rotates the sun gear. A lever is mounted adjacent to the sun gear flange. An accelerator actuation assembly is connected to the lever and configured to couple with the accelerator pedal. A brake actuation assembly is connected to the carrier flange and configured to couple with the brake pedal.

Abstract: A method for generating an occlusion map using crowdsourcing includes receiving occlusion data from a host vehicle. The occlusion data includes a plurality of virtual detection lines each extending from the sensor and intersecting an off-road area. The method further includes marking all non-occluded points that are located inside the off-road area and that are located within a predetermined distance from each plurality of virtual detection lines. The method further includes determining a non-occluded region inside the off-road area using the non-occluded points that have been previously marked inside the off-road area, wherein the non-occluded region is part of non-occlusion data. The method further includes generating an occlusion map using the non-occlusion data. The method further includes transmitting the occlusion map to the host vehicle. The method can also determine an occlusion caused by an elevation peak.

Abstract: Presented are oleophobic surface treatments for electric machines, methods for making/using such electric machines, and vehicles employing traction motors having oleophobic treatments on select “non-target” surfaces. An electric machine includes a direct-cooling thermal management system that circulates a coolant fluid to the electric machine's outer housing. A stator assembly, which is attached to the housing, includes a stator core with one or more electromagnetic windings mounted to the stator core. A rotor assembly is rotatably mounted to the hosing adjacent the stator assembly. The rotor assembly includes a rotor core with one or more magnets mounted to the rotor core and spaced across an air gap from the winding(s). Select components of the outer housing, rotor assembly, and/or stator assembly have a target surface with an oleophobic surface treatment that reduces the non-target surface's wetted area and decreases the mass of coolant fluid contacting the non-target surface.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle and a system and method for operating the autonomous vehicle. The system includes a control system and a cognitive system. The control system performs a driving action at the autonomous vehicle. The cognitive system generates the driving action using an evaluation model. The evaluation model is generated by operating the cognitive system in response to a training set of data to generate a planned action for operating the autonomous vehicle by the cognitive system, evaluating the planned action to obtain a system performance grade, and updating the cognitive system based on a comparison of the system performance grade to a human-based performance grade.

Abstract: A robotic system includes a support structure, a platform, a center serial chain, outer serial chains, motors, a sensor, and a control module. The center serial chain connects a center of the platform to the support structure and includes first joints connected to a linear sliding shaft. The outer serial chains are disposed radially outward of the center serial chain. Each of the outer serial chains includes second joints connecting a bar to the platform and the supporting structure. The motors are connected to the outer serial chains. The sensor is connected to the platform and detects at least one of force or torque applied by a human operator on the platform and generates a signal indicative thereof. The control module controls the motors based on the signal to assist the human operator in at least one of moving or rotating the platform.

Abstract: An inverter assembly for a motor vehicle includes a housing with an inlet end for receiving a flow of coolant and an outlet end for discharging the flow of coolant. The assembly further includes a first plurality of power transistors conducting and switching an electrical current and generating a first amount of heat. The assembly further includes a second plurality of power transistors conducting and switching the electrical current and generating a second amount of heat that is less than the first amount of heat. A heat sink includes a plate with a first section adjacent to the first plurality of power transistors and a second section adjacent to the second plurality of power transistors. The heat sink further includes a first plurality of fins for drawing the first amount of heat from the first section and a guide vane directing the flow of coolant toward the first plurality of fins.

Abstract: A vibration monitoring system includes a plurality of encoders and an analyzer. The encoders are configured to generate multiple pulse train signals for multiple wheels. Each encoder is coupled to a respective one of the multiple wheels and generates a single one of the pulse train signals. The analyzer is coupled to the encoders and is configured to generate multiple pulse per revolution signals and multiple angular velocity signals for the wheels in response to the pulse train signals. Each pulse per revolution signal conveys a single pulse per rotation of the respective wheel. The analyzer is further configured to generate an input phasor array representative of the pulse per revolution signals, generate a response phasor array in response to the angular velocity signals for the wheels, and generate a report that identifies at least one vibrating wheel in response to the input phasor array and the response phasor array.

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: A vehicle, and a balancing device and method of controlling a state of charge of a reference electrode in a battery. The balancing device includes a measurement circuit and a charging circuit. The measurement circuit is configured to obtain a measurement of a reference voltage of the reference electrode. The charging circuit is configured to adjust the reference voltage based on the measurement. The state of charge of the reference electrode is controlled based on the reference voltage.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method for adaptive control of electronic power steering (EPS) including sending, a torque control to an EPS that is based on input control signals from a vehicle trajectory control unit and a steering assistive control unit when the vehicle is coupled to a trailer engaging in a trailering action; configuring the steering assistive control unit, to generate a control signal based on an algorithm using an adaptive factor that models steering dynamics impacted by the trailer while engaging in the trailering action and modeling by the steering assistive control unit, an adaptive damping factor modeled on a tongue weight of a trailer coupled to a hitch of the vehicle wherein the hitch reduces a force applied to a vehicle front axle.

Abstract: A method for constructing a lamination for a rotary electric machine includes forming an annular lamination from a ferrous core material having a first relative magnetic permeability. The lamination defines through-openings, e.g., for permanent magnets or conductors. Peripheral bridges of the core material extend between the through-openings and an outer or inner diameter surface of the lamination. The method includes diffusing an alloy material having a second relative magnetic permeability into the bridges to form austenitic bridges, with the second relative magnetic permeability being less than the first relative magnetic permeability. A rotary electric machine includes a stator and rotor. A vehicle includes a rotary electric machine connected to the battery pack and to road wheels, and having a rotor and/or a stator constructed in accordance with the method.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring how level a trailer is and providing trailer levelling guidance. The systems and methods include a vehicle comprising a vehicle levelness estimator, a trailer connectable to the vehicle and a rear facing camera mounted on the vehicle. The methods and systems include capturing an image of the trailer using the rear facing camera, receiving a vehicle levelness parameter from the vehicle levelness estimator of the vehicle, determining a rotation angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle based on the image, determining an estimated trailer levelness parameter based on the rotation angle and the vehicle levelness parameter, and outputting the estimated trailer levelness parameter.

Abstract: A power line communication (PLC) system for a vehicle is contemplated. The system may include a plurality of power lines configured to connect at least a first node and a second node to negative and positive terminals of a vehicle battery. The system may include a filter connected to the power lines. The filter may be configured to attract a first portion of a PLC signal to the negative terminal prior to the first portion reaching the second node and to permit a second portion of the PLC signal to continue transmission to the second node.

Abstract: An electronic solid-state switch assembly includes a base plate and a heat exchanger; an electrically insulating layer and a direct bonded substrate affixed to the base plate; a first terminal and a second terminal; a plurality of power transistors; a plurality of gate drivers; a communication interface, a current sensor, and a snubber circuit; and a controller. The plurality of gate drivers are operatively coupled to the plurality of power transistors. The plurality of power transistors are arranged in parallel on the direct bonded substrate between the first terminal and the second terminal. The plurality of power transistors are electrically connected to the first terminal and to the second terminal. The controller is in communication with the plurality of gate drivers, the current sensor, and the communication interface. The controller is configured to control, via the plurality of gate drivers, the plurality of power transistors.

Abstract: A method and system for smart selection of a charging station is contemplated. The selection may be based on a charging recommendation being generated in reply to a charging request for battery charging. The charging recommendation may identify one or more target charging stations suitable for the battery charging. The charging recommendation may include a state of health (SOH) matrix configured to report charging capabilities of the target charging stations according to vehicle and station charging metrics associated therewith.

Abstract: Presented are vehicle control systems and logic for monitoring device batteries to provision virtual key functionality, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method of operating a vehicle includes wire or wirelessly connecting a remote keyless entry (RKE) system with a wireless-enabled portable electronic device (PED) of a user. A vehicle controller receives a unique virtual key code from the user's PED to enable use of the RKE system and, after receiving the virtual key code, determines a battery charge level of the PED's battery. The vehicle controller then determines if the battery charge level is less than a preset minimum charge level and if the vehicle powertrain is off. If the powertrain is off and the battery charge level is less than the minimum charge level, the controller responsively commands a resident vehicle subsystem to execute a control operation for charging the PED battery.