Abstract: An aluminum alloy and shaped aluminum alloy parts cast therefrom. The aluminum alloy including, by mass, ?about 6.5% to ?about 8% silicon, ?about 0.1% to ?about 0.35% magnesium, ?about 0.2% to ?about 0.25% iron, ?about 0.05% to ?about 0.15% manganese, and ?about 0.1% to ?about 0.2% chromium. The mass percentage of iron (Fe%), the mass percentage of manganese (Mn %), and the mass percentage of chromium (Cr %) in the aluminum alloy satisfy the relationships: (i) [Mn %+(a×Cr %)]/Fe %>1, and (ii) Fe %+(b×Mn %)+(c×Cr %)>0.6%, where about 1.3?a?about 1.7, about 1.2?b?about 1.7, and about 2.5?c?about 2.9.

Abstract: Vehicles and related systems and methods are provided for controlling a vehicle in an autonomous operating mode. One method involves identifying one or more avoidance zones in a vicinity of the vehicle, determining a deadline for completing a lateral maneuver to avoid a priority avoidance zone of the one or more avoidance zones, obtaining an initial reference lateral trajectory for the lateral maneuver based at least in part on the deadline, autonomously operating one or more actuators onboard the vehicle in accordance with the initial reference lateral trajectory, and thereafter obtaining one or more updated reference lateral trajectories for the vehicle, wherein the one or more actuators onboard the vehicle are autonomously operated in accordance with the one or more updated reference lateral trajectories in lieu of the initial reference lateral trajectory.

Abstract: A lamination system is contemplated. The system may have a modular design configured to fabricate a laminate from an incoming material. The system may be configured to produce the laminate with an outer layer comprising the incoming material such that the resulting layer has a width greater than a width of the incoming material prior to lamination.

Abstract: An antenna system for a vehicle includes a first antenna array affixed to the vehicle and a remote antenna system. A first connector is affixed to the vehicle, and is connected to the controllable switch. The remote antenna system includes a second antenna array including a second active antenna and a wiring harness. The wiring harness includes a second signal lead connected to the second active antenna, a ground lead, and a second connector. The signal lead and the ground lead connect the second active antenna of the second antenna array to the second connector. The first connector is connectable to the second connector, and the switch array communicates signals from the second antenna array to the on-vehicle controller when the second connector of the second antenna array is connected to the first connector.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a positive electrode including 90 wt. % to 98 wt. % of a cobalt-free electroactive material. represented by LiNixM1-xO2 (where M is manganese, aluminum, magnesium, zirconium, chromium, or a combination thereof and x?0.75), 0.05 wt. % to 3 wt. % a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) binder having a molecular weight (MW) greater than or equal to about 6,000,000 u, and 1 wt. % to 5 wt. % of a first electronically conductive material. The electrochemical cell also includes a negative electrode including 90 wt. % to 98 wt. % of a graphite-containing negative electroactive material, 0.05 wt. % to 3 wt. % a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) binder having a molecular weight (MW) greater than or equal to about 6,000,000 u, 0.05 wt. % to 2 wt. % of an ancillary binder, and 1 wt. % to 5 wt. % of a second electronically conductive material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of automobile fittings, and discloses a foldable and flexible vent for an air conditioner, comprising a base, a hose and an air guide cylinder, wherein one end of the base communicates with the vent for the air conditioner, and the other end communicates with the hose; the air guide cylinder is arranged at one end of the hose away from the base; the vent further comprises an air damper and a rotating mechanism. The plurality of air dampers are distributed in a circular array in the air guide cylinder with the axis thereof as the center, and then adjusted by the synchronous angle of the rotating mechanism, so that the wind direction of the hose flowing into the air guide cylinder is uniformly discharged in a spiral manner, achieving the effect of simple, convenient and efficient uniform venting.

Abstract: The invention relates to the technical field of automobile accessories, and discloses a semi-automatic telescopic automobile air conditioner air outlet, comprising an instrument panel body, and further comprising an adjustment mechanism and a damper assembly; the adjustment mechanism is provided on the instrument panel body, one end thereof is in communication with the automobile air conditioner air outlet, and the other end thereof may adjust the distance along a straight line and selectively lock the adjustment position thereof, for guiding the wind direction of the automobile air conditioner and adjusting the distance between the air outlet thereof and the instrument panel body; and the damper assembly is provided at one end of the adjustment mechanism away from the automobile air conditioner air outlet, for performing secondary adjustment and guiding on the wind direction of the adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: Methods of forming a battery via in situ polymerization are provided. A precursor of a first blocker composition is applied to select edge regions of at least one bipolar electrode and terminal negative and positive electrodes. The components are assembled to form a stack with at least two insulating interlayers disposed between electrodes of opposite polarities. The precursor is reacted to form a first blocker composition sealing three sides of the stack to define a fillable interior region. Next, a polymer electrolyte precursor is injected into the fillable interior region. A precursor of a second blocker composition is applied to a terminal region of the fourth side of the stack. The precursors are concurrently reacted to form a polymer electrolyte and a second blocker composition along the fourth side. The first and second blocker compositions define a sealed pouch including the stack comprising the polymer electrolyte.

Abstract: A system for multiple wireless systems of vehicle to share cabling. The system may include a plurality of first antennas to interface signals with a first transceiver as part of a first wireless system and a plurality of second antennas to interface signals with a second transceiver as part of a second wireless system. The system may include a first switch configured to selectively connect the first and second antennas to first and second cables and a second switch configured to selectively connect the first and second transceivers to the first and second cables such that the first and second antennas and transceivers share the first and second cables.

Abstract: In various aspects, the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing an electrode for an electrochemical cell. The method includes contacting a solid electrode material and a substrate at an interface. The method further includes preparing a liquid electrode material at the interface by heating at least a portion of the solid electrode material to a first temperature. The first temperature is greater than or equal to a melting point of the solid electrode material. The method further includes creating a layer of the liquid electrode material on the substrate by moving at least one of the solid electrode material and the substrate with respect to the other of the solid electrode material and the substrate. The method further includes forming the electrode by cooling the liquid electrode material to a second temperature. The second temperature is less than or equal to the melting point.

Abstract: Approaches to utilizing contextual right-of-way decision making for autonomous vehicles are disclosed. An autonomous vehicle is operated in a road setting within an operating environment having other road users. The operation of the autonomous vehicle is based on safety constraints providing limits on operation of the autonomous vehicle. The presence of a selected other road user within the operating environment is detected. Potential trajectories for the autonomous vehicle within the operating environment are evaluated with respect to the other road user. The autonomous vehicle interacts with the other road user by generating vehicle control signals based on a machine learned model and within the one or more safety constraints. The machine learned model is based on a hierarchy of costs corresponding to characteristics of maneuvers by the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing guidance when reversing a vehicle towing a trailer. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining, by the processor, a change in vehicle pitch angle based on stored vehicle pitch angle data and current pitch angle data; when the change in vehicle pitch angle is greater than a threshold, determining, by the processor, new mirror position data based on stored mirror position data, the stored vehicle pitch angle data, and the current pitch angle data; and generating, by the processor, control signals to control a position of the mirror based on the new mirror position data.

Abstract: A method for determining flow rates and phase fractions within a throughbore is disclosed. The method includes providing a mixture of one or more fluids through a fluid flow path in a throughbore at a flow rate, reducing the flow rate, slidably moving a first and second sleeve along the throughbore to a first position of a plurality of positions, measuring a first and second differential pressure at the first position, calculating a first loss pressure ratio from the first and second differential pressure. The method further includes slidably moving the first sleeve and second sleeve to each of the others of the plurality of positions in succession after the first position, measuring a plurality of differential pressures and calculating a loss pressure ratio at each of the plurality of positions, and calculating a plurality of flow rates phase fractions of the fluids flowing through the fluid flow path.

Abstract: Use of camera information for radio detection and ranging (RADAR) beamforming is disclosed. Camera information for a scene having a target object is received. Digital RADAR waveforms corresponding to a frame of reference including the at target object are received. Coordinates for the scene in the camera frame of reference are translated to the RADAR frame of reference. A radar cross section estimation is determined for the object based on the transformed coordinates. A kernel is selected based on the radar cross section estimation. RADAR signal processing is performed on the digital RADAR waveforms utilizing the selected kernel. A point cloud is populated based on results from the RADAR signal processing.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle-to-vehicle charging service for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) includes a real-time server (RTS). The RTS wirelessly communicates with communication devices associated with individual PEVs having membership in the charging service and provides to the communication devices real-time positions of individual PEVs on a map of a terrain. The system also includes a first communication device for a first PEV configured to wirelessly transmit, via the RTS, to communication devices associated with the remaining PEVs, a request for an amount of electrical energy to charge the first PEV. The system additionally includes a second communication device associated with a second PEV and configured to wirelessly transmit, via the RTS, to the first communication device an offer to dispense the requested amount of electrical energy. The first communication device is further configured to wirelessly transmit, via the RTS, to the second communication device acceptance of the offer.

Abstract: A three-way catalyst for reduced palladium loading is provided. The catalyst includes an inert substrate and a palladium catalyst material coating the substrate. The palladium catalyst material includes a support material formed from one of 10% CeO2/Al2O3, 20% CeO2—Al2O3 (20CeAlOy), 30% CeO2—Al2O3 (30CeAlOy), Al2O3, and MOx-Al2O3, wherein M is one of copper, iron, manganese, titanium, zirconium, magnesium, strontium, and barium. The palladium catalyst material includes a layer of CeO2 material disposed upon the support material, wherein the layer of CeO2 material is dispersed on a surface of the support material. The palladium catalyst material includes an active component including a layer of praseodymium oxide particles dispersed across the surface of the layer of CeO2 material and a layer of palladium particles disposed upon and dispersed across the surface of the layer of CeO2 material at locations each corresponding to a respective location of each of the praseodymium particles.

Abstract: A method of forming an LMNO cathode with electrolytic manganese dioxide includes dissolving metallic manganese in acid to create a dissolved manganese solution, disposing the solution within an electrolytic cell including an electrolytic cell anode and an electrolytic cell cathode, and applying a current between the cell anode and the cell cathode to the solution. Applying the current forms an MnO2 deposit upon the cell anode. The method further includes harvesting the deposit, creating a manganese precursor by neutralizing the deposit and grinding the deposit to form an MnO2 powder, and mixing the manganese precursor with a nickel precursor and a lithium precursor to create a mixture. The method further includes calcining the mixture to create an LMNO powder and coating a current collector with the LMNO powder to thereby form the LMNO cathode. The method may include testing the cathode electrode in an electrochemical pouch format cell.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for controlling braking of a trailer that is coupled to a vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, a system is provided that includes: one or more sensors configured to obtain sensor data for a vehicle coupled to a trailer, the sensor data including: a measure of engagement of a brake pedal of the vehicle; and a deceleration of the vehicle; and a processor that is coupled to the one or more sensors and that is configured to at least facilitate dynamically controlling braking of the trailer, via instructions provided by the processor to a braking system of the trailer, based on both the measure of engagement of the brake pedal and the deceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present technology is effective to cause at least one processor to instruct an autonomous vehicle to navigate a specific course and to record diagnostic measurements while navigating the specific course, receive the diagnostic measurements from the autonomous vehicle, and analyze the diagnostic measurements from the autonomous vehicle in a context provided by a collection of diagnostic measurement data collected from a fleet of similar autonomous vehicles navigating the specific course.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicles are provided that include: one or more sensors disposed onboard a vehicle and configured to at least facilitate obtaining sensor data for the vehicle; one or more location systems configured to at least facilitate obtaining location data pertaining to a location of the vehicle; a computer memory configured to store map data pertaining to a path corresponding to the location; and a processor disposed onboard the vehicle and configured to at least facilitate: generating an elevation profile along the path using the sensor data and the map data; and providing instructions for controlling the vehicle using the elevation profile.