Abstract: For one embodiment, an autonomous vehicle system interacts with a chassis control system to provide enhanced driving modes based on current sensor signals. A computer-implemented method of selecting a driver mode of an autonomous vehicle is described. The computer-implemented method includes initializing, with a chassis control system, driving operations in a conservative driver mode of an autonomous vehicle. The computer-implemented further includes receiving, with a computing system, sensor signals from a sensor system of the autonomous vehicle and determining whether the sensor signals are received periodically. For periodically received sensor signals, the computer-implemented determines a capability level of a plurality of capability levels for the autonomous vehicle and switches from the conservative driver mode to a permissive driver mode when the capability level indicates full capability of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: Architectures and techniques for initializing a simulation architecture are described. A platform model and an environment model are run on recorded data during a first period of time. The platform model and the environment model provide information to control modules. The platform model is run on a blended combination of recorded data and data from the set of control modules and the environment model is run on processed output data from the platform model during a second period of time. The platform model is run on data from the set of control modules and the environment model is run on output from the platform model from a previous period of time during a third period of time. Output signals from the platform model can be adjusted based on a subset of the recorded data during the first, second and/or third period of time.

Abstract: For one embodiment of the present invention, a computer implemented method for determining force disturbance signals for a vehicle is described. The computer implemented method includes obtaining sensor signals from a sensor system of the vehicle to monitor driving operations and to determine localization of the vehicle. The computer implemented method further includes determining a set of parameters including vehicle pose estimation, velocity, acceleration, roll, pitch, yaw rate based on the localization and the sensor signals and determining force disturbance signals including lateral force disturbances for front and rear axle lateral accelerations and a total longitudinal force disturbance based on the localization and the sensor signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling an active safety feature of a vehicle are provided. The systems and methods receive radar data from a radar device of the vehicle and image data from a camera of the vehicle. Object detection and tracking processes are performed on the radar data and the image data to identify and track objects in an environment of the vehicle. Conditions are assessed with respect to identified objects to ascertain whether a radar track is erroneously reported as a separate object to a camera track. When the conditions are assessed to be true, an object corresponding to the camera track is used as an input for controlling an active safety feature of the vehicle and an object corresponding to the radar track is discounted for controlling the active safety feature of the vehicle.

Abstract: An economy advisory system includes a circuit and a display. The circuit is configured to receive a route plan remainder of a vehicle and receive a plurality of consumption factor values of the vehicle while the vehicle traverses the route plan. The plurality of consumption factor values is controllable by a driver of the vehicle. The circuit is further configured to modify the plurality of consumption factor values based upon a plurality of modification factor values, calculate a plurality of potential range changes of the vehicle based on the route plan remainder and the plurality of consumption factor values as modified, and identify a group that has at least one of the plurality of potential range changes and a corresponding at least one of the plurality of modification factor values. The display is in communication with the circuit and is configured to present the group to the driver.

Abstract: A low phase noise radar system is disclosed. The system has a signal generator having a stable oscillator that outputs a first lower-frequency signal, a direct digital synthesis circuit that outputs an analog waveform, and a mixer to receive the first lower-frequency signal, and the analog waveform, the mixer to mix the first lower-frequency signal and the analog waveform to generate a signal generator output signal. The system further includes an up converter coupled with the signal generator to filter and to increase frequencies of the signal generator output signal to generate a filtered and frequency multiplied signal to be transmitted.

Abstract: A layered catalyst structure for purifying an exhaust gas stream includes a catalyst support and a palladium catalyst layer including an atomic dispersion of palladium ions electrostatically adsorbed onto an exterior surface of the catalyst support. The catalyst support includes an alumina substrate, a first ceria layer disposed on and extending substantially continuously over the alumina substrate, and a second colloidal ceria layer formed directly on the first ceria layer over the alumina substrate. The palladium catalyst layer is formed on the exterior surface of the catalyst support by applying a palladium-containing precursor solution to the exterior surface of the catalyst support and then heating the catalyst support and the palladium-containing precursor solution. The palladium-containing precursor solution includes a positively charged palladium complex in an aqueous medium and has a pH greater than a point of zero charge of the second colloidal ceria layer.

Abstract: A system for predicting a door opening event of a vehicle includes an identity recognition device associated with an individual occupant profile. The system also includes one or more controllers in electronic communication with the identity recognition device, where the one or more controllers store one or more individual occupant profiles in memory of the one or more controllers that includes historical occupant behavior exhibited by one or more occupants associated with the identity recognition device. The one or more controllers execute instructions to determine a predetermined condition has occurred, where the predetermined condition indicates the vehicle is undergoing a potential engine off event. The one or more controllers determine a door opening event probability value based on at least the gear position probability value and the engine off probability value.

Abstract: A sunshade system of vehicle roof includes a sunshade formed from a fabric material including a plurality of pleats arranged across a lateral sunshade width and extending along a sunshade length. At least one sunshade guide extends along a length of the sunshade and retains a lateral width edge of the fabric material, and guides the sunshade along a path between a stowed position and an extended position. The sunshade has a variable sunshade width along the sunshade length in the extended position by expansion and relaxation of the plurality of pleats.

Abstract: A method for identifying a cell quality during cell formation includes: conducting a beginning of life cycling following an initial cell formation charge of multiple cells; collecting and preprocessing a discharge data set generated by one of the multiple cells during the beginning of life cycling; calculating a statistical variance from the discharge data set identifying an estimated probability of meeting a target cell usage time; and projecting a life span of the multiple cells.

Abstract: A rotor core for an electric machine of an automobile includes a core stack including a plurality of lamination plates. Each lamination plate includes a plurality of apertures formed therein. The plurality of apertures of each of the lamination plates are axially aligned and define and a slot extending through the core stack and shaped to receive a corresponding insert. The rotor core also includes at least one insert received by the slot that provides radial structural stability to the plurality of lamination plates to prevent portions of the plurality of lamination plates adjacent the plurality of magnet slots from flexing due to radial forces exerted on the plurality of lamination plates during operation of the rotor core. The rotor core includes a load bearing polymer disposed within the aperture of the rotor core that provides contact between and the insert and the lamination plates.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to an autonomous vehicle computing device for an autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle computing device includes a printed circuit board, a heat sink, and a thermal interface material layer between the printed circuit board and the heat sink. The autonomous vehicle computing device further includes a barrier layer between the thermal interface material layer and the printed circuit board. The thermal interface material layer can be formed of a two-part thermal interface material that cures in place. The barrier layer between the thermal interface material layer and the printed circuit board enables separation of the printed circuit board from the thermal interface material layer if reworking or modification of the autonomous vehicle computing device is desired. The barrier layer can enable the printed circuit board to be separated from the thermal interface material layer in a manner that mitigates damage to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: The present technology is effective to cause at least one processor to collect sensor data from at least one sensor on an autonomous vehicle, wherein the sensor data includes a plurality of measurements from the at least one sensor, identify, from the sensor data, at least one measurement from the plurality of measurements that is outside a threshold measurement for the at least one sensor and is indicative of an impact incident, send the sensor data to a remote computing system, and receive, in response to the sending of the sensor data that is indicative of the impact incident, routing instructions from the remote computing system.

Abstract: A powder bed fusion system includes a powder bed including a build surface and a vacuum system. The vacuum system includes a collection device positioned over the build surface. The collection device includes a body, a pathway defined in the body, wherein the pathway ends in a passageway opening, and a particle retainer connected to the body near the passageway opening. A method of forming a component includes forming a layer of unfused metal powder on a powder bed with a recoater, introducing gas to the powder bed and applying a vacuum with a collection device, fusing a portion of the layer of unfused metal powder on the powder bed with a heat source to form a component layer and generating contaminants, collecting the contaminants from the powder bed with the gas and the vacuum applied by the collection device.

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: Methods and systems are provided for continuously producing cast metal components. An exemplary method includes feeding molten metal into a first mold at a fill station; maintaining a pressurized chamber at an elevated pressure; moving the first mold into the pressurized chamber, wherein the molten metal solidifies in the first mold under the elevated pressure; and removing the first mold from the pressurized chamber.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a first surface value associated with a first road surface area in an upcoming environment of the vehicle; receiving a second surface value associated with a second road surface area in the upcoming environment of the vehicle; determining a change in surface value based on the first surface value and the second surface value; and in response to the change in surface value being greater than a threshold, adapting at least one of vehicle collision warning messages, vehicle braking control, vehicle steering control, and path planning based on the second surface value.