Abstract: A vehicle, system, and method of determining a velocity of an object. The system includes a radar system and a processor. The radar system is configured to obtain a radar signal with respect to the object over an integration interval, the radar signal including a plurality of velocity samples. The processor is configured to partition the integration interval into a plurality of time segments, each time segment including a subset of the velocity samples, perform a first integration of the subset of the velocity samples within a selected time segment using a first set of velocity of hypotheses to obtain a first stage integration value for the time segment, perform a second integration using the first stage integration value using a second set of velocity hypotheses to obtain a second stage integration value over the integration interval, and determine the velocity of the object from the second stage integration value.

Abstract: Presented are smart vehicle systems and control logic for battery thermal event detection and severity assessment, 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 detecting a thermal event in at least one battery cell in the vehicle's battery system and, upon detection, monitoring the vehicle's surrounding area to detect target objects near the vehicle. Responsive to detecting any target objects near the vehicle, the controller aggregates target object data, including a total number of detected target objects and respective proximities of the detected target objects to the vehicle. Using this target object data, a situational severity level is estimated for the thermal event; the controller determines if the severity level exceeds a maximum allowable severity level. If so, the controller responsively commands a vehicle subsystem to execute a control operation to mitigate the event.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automated detection and disinfection of microbes in autonomous vehicles, to prevent possible transmission of diseases or illness to subsequent users. Automated detection and disinfection of a vehicle includes autonomously scanning various parts of the autonomous vehicle for microbes, selecting a disinfectant based on detected microbes, and autonomously disinfecting at least a portion of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a composite material housing for a battery pack for reducing or minimizing thermal runaway propagation. The composite material housing includes a polymeric structure defining an interior-facing surface and an exterior-facing surface. The polymeric structure includes a fire resistant material layer and a reinforcing material layer, where the fire resistant material layer defines an interior-facing surface, and the reinforcing material layer defines the exterior-facing surface. The composite material further includes a metallic layer disposed along the exterior-facing surface, where in a first operational mode the metallic layer contacts the exterior-facing surface and in a second operational mode, after exposure to a thermal load of greater than or equal to about 500° C., the metallic layer at least partially delaminates from the exterior-facing surface and forms one or more insulating air gaps that define a thermal barrier.

Abstract: A battery cell includes an anode, a cathode, a liquid electrolyte, and a battery cell case. The battery cell case is configured to house the anode, the cathode, and the liquid electrolyte and includes a case interior wall arranged proximate one of the anode and the cathode, a battery case ceiling, and a battery case floor catching and collecting the liquid electrolyte due to force of gravity. The case interior wall defines a pattern of surface tension varying between hydrophobic and hydrophilic along the case interior wall between the battery case floor and the battery cell ceiling. The pattern of surface tension thereby facilitates self-propulsion of the liquid electrolyte in opposition to the force of gravity and a predetermined distribution of the liquid electrolyte along the battery cell wall.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method including determining an operational mode of a vehicle based on data accumulated from at least one vehicle information system associated with the vehicle; selecting one of a plurality of power consumption profiles for the vehicle based on the determined operational mode; and applying the selected one of the power consumption profiles to the vehicle.

Abstract: A thermo-structural spacer is provided. The spacer includes a cylindrical center portion, a first flange connected to a first end of the cylindrical center portion, a second flange connected to a second end of the cylindrical center portion. The second end is distal from the first end. The spacer further includes an annular inner wall configured for providing a through hole extending through a longitudinal axis of the thermo-structural spacer. The cylindrical center portion is narrower than the first flange. The cylindrical center portion is narrower than the second flange. The thermo-structural spacer is configured for restricting heat transfer between the first flange and the second flange.

Abstract: A hybridized lithium-ion battery that includes one or more positive electrode assemblies is provided. Each of the one or more positive electrode assemblies includes a positive electrode current collector and one or more positive electroactive material layers disposed on one or more surfaces of the positive electrode current collector. The hybridized lithium-ion battery also includes two or more negative electrode current collectors, and one or more negative electroactive material layers disposed on one or more surfaces of at least one of the two or more negative electrode current collectors, where a total number of the one or more positive electroactive material layers is greater than a total number of negative electroactive material layers. The hybridized lithium-ion battery also includes two or more separating layers physically separating the positive electrode assemblies and the negative electroactive material layers or the positive electrode assemblies and the negative electrode current collectors.

Abstract: Some autonomous vehicles rely on deep learning models to generate outputs that can be used to control the autonomous vehicle. Deep learning models can be trained to fit datasets collected in a particular environment. These deep learning models may not perform as well in a different environment, and new deep learning models may need to be created and trained. Training new models can be computationally expensive, and the amount of datasets collected in a new environment for training the new models may be limited. Various techniques involving sharing parameters (e.g., weights) between deep learning models can alleviate some of these challenges.

Abstract: A method for controlling an automated driving operation includes setting up respective independent models for executing planning and learning in the automated driving operation, including a vehicle planning model and a cognitive learning model. A semantic layer is generated to act as a bridge between the cognitive learning model and the vehicle planning model, the semantic layer including a first data adaptor and a second data adaptor. The method includes transforming real traffic data to a respective equivalent abstract representation such that it can be used by the cognitive learning model to generate a humanized reward model, via the first data adaptor. The method includes determining a trajectory plan, via the vehicle planning model, based in part on the humanized reward model. The vehicle has a controller that executes the automated driving operation based in part on the trajectory plan.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for downloading of geographic information. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided that includes the following steps: identifying, via a processor using map data, a plurality of geographic areas in which a vehicle is to travel along a selected route to a destination; identifying, via the processor using the map data, a plurality of map tiles corresponding to the plurality of geographic areas, such that each of the plurality of map tiles corresponds to a different one of the plurality of geographic areas; obtaining data access information for each of the plurality of geographic areas; and determining, via the processor, a prioritized sequence for downloading the plurality of map tiles, based on the data access information for the plurality of geographic areas.

Abstract: A system for occlusion reconstruction in surround views using temporal information is provided. The system includes an active camera device generating image data describing a first view of an operating environment and a computerized visual data controller. The controller includes programming to analyze the image data to generate a three-dimensional computerized representation of the operating environment, utilize the image data and the representation of the operating environment to synthesize a virtual camera view of the operating environment from a desired viewpoint, and identify an occlusion in the virtual camera view. The controller further includes programming to utilize historical iterations of the image data identify immobile objects within the operating environment and utilize the historical iterations to estimate filled information for the occlusion.

Abstract: Systems and methods of making a cast steel alloy crankshaft for an internal combustion engine are provided. The method comprises providing a mold of the crankshaft. The mold has cavities to form the crankshaft. The method further comprises melting a first metallic material at between 1400 degrees Celsius (° C.) and 1600° C. to define a molten metallic material. In addition, the method further comprises feeding the molten metallic material at a riser connection angle of between 30° and 75° in the cavities of the negative sand cast mold. The method further comprises cooling the molten metallic material at a solidification time of between 5 seconds (sec) and 20 sec in the negative sand cast mold with at least one chill member to define a solidified metallic material having dimensions of the cast steel alloy crankshaft. Furthermore, the method comprises separating the solidified metallic material from the negative sand cast mold to define the cast steel alloy crankshaft.

Abstract: A dimension calculation system in a host vehicle for dynamically calculating a vehicle dimension using solar shadow information is disclosed. The system is configured to: calculate solar position and an expected vehicle shadow based on geocode location, time and vehicle dynamics; detect an actual vehicle shadow in an image from a vehicle camera; compare the actual vehicle shadow to an expected vehicle shadow; determine a dimension profile and max height point for a vehicle plus vehicle cargo based on a comparison of the actual vehicle shadow to the expected vehicle shadow; calculate a confidence level for the dimension profile and max height point for the vehicle plus cargo; and use the dimension profile and max height point to provide one or more dimension notifications when the confidence level for the dimension profile and max height point for the vehicle plus cargo are above a first threshold level.

Abstract: A system may include a vehicle controller, comprising: a hardware platform, comprising a processor and a memory; and instructions encoded within the memory to: provide an autonomous vehicle control module with at least L4 vehicle control capability; select a semi-autonomous operating mode that uses a subset of the L4 vehicle control capability; and operate a vehicle in the semi-autonomous operating mode.

Abstract: A method for storing shard data and data formats for storing shard data are proposed. Shard data entries are generated and stored, wherein each shard data entry comprises a definition of one or more semantic objects covered by the shard data entry. Shard metadata is generated and stored, wherein the metadata comprises references to the shard data entries and, for each of the shard data entries, data representative of a bounding box indicative of an area in a geographical area that is covered by the shard data entry.

Abstract: A terminal arrangement for high-voltage batteries is disclosed. The terminal arrangement includes a substrate having concentric generally tubular inner and outer walls extending from an upper surface of the substrate, with an annular terminal disposed on the upper surface between the inner and outer walls. The inner and outer walls have respective inner and outer heights above a top surface of the annular terminal and the annular terminal has a radial span between the inner and outer walls, wherein the inner and outer heights and the radial span are sized so as to preclude human fingertips above a predetermined size from touching the annular terminal.

Abstract: The concepts herein provide a method and associated system for charging a battery, such as a vehicle battery that is part of a propulsion system. The method includes determining a charging current profile for a lithium metal anode of the battery, determining an increasing current charging protocol based upon the charging current profile and charging the battery based upon the increasing current charging protocol.

Abstract: A LiDAR resonator with dynamic force equilibrium that includes a spring fork mechanism having a first tine and a second tine with the same stiffness as the first tine, wherein the spring fork mechanism is configured to resonate at a resonant frequency, an optical module, mounted to the first tine, for transmitting a light pulse and receiving a reflection of the light pulse, a voice coil, also mounted to the first tine, for generating an alternating magnetic field at the resonant frequency, a counterweight, mounted to the second tine, having a mass and CG equal to a mass and CG of the combined optical module and the voice coil, and a signal source for coupling an alternating current signal at the resonant frequency to the voice coil such that the voice coil is operative to generate an alternating magnetic force at the resonant frequency between the voice coil and the counterweight.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that include: obtaining sensor data pertaining to a roadway in which a host vehicle and an emergency vehicle are both travelling; generating, using map data pertaining to the roadway, a grid of a plurality of potential cells along the roadway for the host vehicle to pull over to yield right of way to the emergency vehicle; prioritizing, via a processor of the host vehicle, the plurality of potential cells based on a plurality of different criteria as to conditions of the host vehicle and the roadway; selecting, via the processor, one of the plurality of potential cells as an optimal pull over location for the host vehicle along the roadway, based on the prioritizing of the plurality of cells; and taking a vehicle action for the host vehicle, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor, with respect to the optimal pull over location.